Sweet Fellowship: Duggars and Friends (aka the Bates Family and Other Featured Families Thread)

[precious pupp]

1 hour ago, oliviabenson said:

hunk went skiing with I don't know who.

What can he be pointing at?  I notice that Jill has "the finger" as a "trademark" on reddit!

Grifting for a living must pay well enough for ski trips and lift tickets, not to mention the equipment cost.  Who knew?
 

[zoomama]

5 hours ago, smallfry said:

I am glad Amy is on the mend. My husband has been in the hospital since Nov. 16th - 3 weeks in ICU and now the step down unit. Every time I left I made sure to thank the nurses, aides, and the sitter he had in his room with him. I had many people praying for him as well. If it was not for the highly trained nurses and doctors he would not be with us today. Yes prayers work but so do the caregivers. 

i feel ya. it is hard having your husband being down in the hospital for such a long time. i pray for recovery for your husband. its the after time that really seems to take a toll -- he wants to do more but doesn't have the stamina. getting older (speaking for us here in my house) is no joke!!!

[Salacious Kitty]

2 hours ago, precious pupp said:

What can he be pointing at?  I notice that Jill has "the finger" as a "trademark" on reddit!

Grifting for a living must pay well enough for ski trips and lift tickets, not to mention the equipment cost.  Who knew?
 

He's signaling I love you in sign language. 

[Lady Edith]

Cruises.  Beach trips. Ski outings.  New holiday decor. Fresh cut Christmas trees. Trip to Oglebay Resort for the yearly “prom replacement” outing. NONE of this is cheap or free. When are people going to stop giving these grifters money?!?!?

[BradandJanet]

8 hours ago, Lady Edith said:

Cruises.  Beach trips. Ski outings.  New holiday decor. Fresh cut Christmas trees. Trip to Oglebay Resort for the yearly “prom replacement” outing. NONE of this is cheap or free. When are people going to stop giving these grifters money?!?!?

And yet, we know, 2025 will bring video tears of financial neediness from Jill about the broken-down stink bus, a wedding for one of the kids, a trip to see Amy and redecorate her bedroom, trips to see a pregnant-again Nurie, a car for one of the Rodlets, a new car for David, homeschool graduation trips, help for Ma Turtleneck, better musical instruments for the family singers, attacks by Satan, etc., etc. 

Grifting has been such a lucrative sideline for Jill, she's not about to let it go. David has no intention of working for a living, so that door is closed. 

However, if the price of eggs skyrockets, Jill's supporters may have no choice. but to curtail their love offerings and fade away like the Dinguii. 

[AstridM]

13 hours ago, ginger90 said:

“The guys” the day after Christmas.

Women can’t ski???? I sure did a lot of it when I was a teen. 

[CalicoKitty]

1 hour ago, AstridM said:

Women can’t ski???? I sure did a lot of it when I was a teen. 

I wonder what "outfit" she would wear to ski.  She won't wear pants, and she can't even walk in her new skirt. Although she does swim in street clothes.  I'm sure someone somewhere makes a ski skirt, but I'm also sure the price would be very high.  I would laugh if she posted a request for money for "modest" ski ware. 

Well, I guess I was wrong.  There are ski skirts available.  Etsy has a couple, but there are actual web sites that sell "modest" ski clothing.  The "ski sari" is something Jill might actually wear. It is very attention-grabbing.  Oh, my.

[Salacious Kitty]

2 hours ago, CalicoKitty said:

I wonder what "outfit" she would wear to ski.  She won't wear pants, and she can't even walk in her new skirt. Although she does swim in street clothes.  I'm sure someone somewhere makes a ski skirt, but I'm also sure the price would be very high.  I would laugh if she posted a request for money for "modest" ski ware. 

Well, I guess I was wrong.  There are ski skirts available.  Etsy has a couple, but there are actual web sites that sell "modest" ski clothing.  The "ski sari" is something Jill might actually wear. It is very attention-grabbing.  Oh, my.

I tried googling the ski sari, but I came up empty. I can't picture how that works. 😀

[CalicoKitty]

1 hour ago, Salacious Kitty said:

I tried googling the ski sari, but I came up empty. I can't picture how that works. 😀

It's like a big blanket with velcro to go around the waist.  It is bulky and would be warm, but it looks very strange.

[libgirl2]

1 hour ago, CalicoKitty said:

It's like a big blanket with velcro to go around the waist.  It is bulky and would be warm, but it looks very strange.

If you can't wear ski pants, then don't ski. 

[CalicoKitty]

2 minutes ago, libgirl2 said:

If you can't wear ski pants, then don't ski. 

I was surprised to see ski skirts that were worn over ski pants so the skier was still "modest".  I would think an extra padded skirt would make it more difficult to ski, but apparently there are women who feel it is necessary.  It certainly would draw attention to the "skirts only" skier.  And attention seems to be very important. 

[Notabug]

8 hours ago, AstridM said:

Women can’t ski???? I sure did a lot of it when I was a teen. 

The wimmin were too busy cleaning up after Christmas and restocking the larder so the menfolk wouldn't go hungry to be going skiing.

[crazy8s]

Jill also had a shopping trip planned to the Salt N Honey or store with Nurie before Nurie went back to fla.

Jill wore her new sparkly dress to church this morning. She looked ridiculous sitting up front with the choir and everyone else wearing regular clothing. She probably had on the new sparkly shoes too.

Phillip was shown with the choir today. He looked uncomfortable and his right leg was doing a frantic nervous twitching/tapping the entire time.

Renee, Hannah, Tessie, Olivia and Gabe performed after the choir sang. It was dreadful.

[Salacious Kitty]

Here's Jill all dolled up in her shiny new holiday blouse. 

[laurakaye]

Church is all about Jill.  Other people are just bit players in the Story of Jill.  Just stay out of the spotlight that shines always and forever on Jill - she's not a fan of sharing.  

There is always one person at any given church who warbles every single song loudly and off-key, despite the constant furtive glances from the people around them - that person has to be Jill.

Also, video of Dave skiing or it didn't happen.  He does not strike me as particularly graceful.  Or athletic.  Or wanting to be outside.

Edited 3 hours ago by laurakaye

[farmgal4]

14 hours ago, crazy8s said:

Jill also had a shopping trip planned to the Salt N Honey or store with Nurie before Nurie went back to fla.

Jill wore her new sparkly dress to church this morning. She looked ridiculous sitting up front with the choir and everyone else wearing regular clothing. She probably had on the new sparkly shoes too.

Phillip was shown with the choir today. He looked uncomfortable and his right leg was doing a frantic nervous twitching/tapping the entire time.

Renee, Hannah, Tessie, Olivia and Gabe performed after the choir sang. It was dreadful.

I can guarantee that she wore the sparkly shoes.  Kaylee is either pregnant or has gained weight.  In the last few sightings of her, she looks miserable IMO.

[BradandJanet]

Has Jill positioned herself in front of the microphone for maximum effect? 

Oh, that blouse. She knows how to stand out in a crowd. 

[ginger90]

More words by Jill:

 

While this 2024 year has been hard, it’s also been beautiful.  It seems that social media is a platform that we show the good and blessed parts of life. 😬  But, let's face it, life is messy.  🤪  Sometimes I long to peel back the layer of this "social media" mask and allow each hurting heart to see into the DEPTHS of my hurting heart.....

*To see the grief from the pain of watching my precious sister suffer.  
*To feel the pain from the hate of many people's ill treatment towards me/our family.
*To be real, raw and honest.  
*To see the sorrow.
*To see the financial struggles. 
*To see the sacrifices made.  
*To see the sleepless nights to be there for my children.  
*To see the tears that wet my pillow.  
*To see the taxing sacrifices made to serve Christ full time.   
*To see my MANY short comings.
*To see that I am (at best) only a frail human.  🥴

But, I refrain.  Why?  Because those tender moments are my greatest moments of growth in my walk with God.  They feel sacred, special, private......but oh, SO real!  

I think God is looking for those moments of trial to allow the dross (filth) of my flesh to rise to the top so that He can lovingly skim it off and then begin to mold me more into His likeness.  

He desires for me to praise His Name in SPITE of my circumstances.  He wants me to.....

💕Find JOY in my sorrow.  
💕Find peace in the storm. 
💕Find gratitude instead of complaint.
💕Find victory instead of defeat.
💕Find praise instead of slander. 

So, I grab my phone and put my "fingers to the screen" and type out the good.  The lovely.  The beautiful.  The happy.  ❤️ 

It is NOT a facade, but a choice.  A choice to find daily victory.  A choice to LIFT UP THE  NAME OF CHRIST and proclaim that.....

God's Way is the BEST way!  👌 😁

If I chose to only let people see bitterness in my life towards the injustices of life, then I fear I would not represent Christ well.  I do, however, want people to see authenticity and allow my readers to be comforted in knowing that my life has thorns mixed in my "bed of roses".  😉

If others look at our lives with envy, please don't.  Instead, find that life of victory for YOURSELF as well!  It is a choice ONLY you can make.  What will YOU turn the "lemons" of your life into?....a sour, puckered face OR delicious lemonade?!  😋 

As I look into 2025, I reflect back on all that God blessed us with in 2024, we simply stand in AWE with astounding THANKSGIVING!  😊

Highlights from 2024......

*Many souls were led to Christ
*Many Gospel Tracts Distributed
*Another (nearly) three quarters of a MILLION Gospel Tracts printed in our little Print Shop and distributed around the world.  
*Our Printing Ministry is growing in demand.
*Our family & marriage was strengthened. 
*Our children grew.
*We traveled to Punta Cana.
*We traveled to several more churches.
*A new music CD was produced by our family.
*Samuel graduated from our homeschool.
*We gained a new granddaughter. 
*Our oldest son got married.
*We gained a new daughter in love (law).
*We celebrated 27 years of marriage.
*We gained a precious puppy.
*We enjoyed the holidays. 
*We stand in AWE of God's Goodness! 

We want to......

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  Psalm 100:4

Because.....

This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.   Psalms 118:23  🤗🤗

Farewell, 2024.  Hello, 2025.   

Love you, all!  ❤️  Jill

 

[Salacious Kitty]

🙄🙄🙄

[CalicoKitty]

I have no words...

 

[Minivanessa]

51 minutes ago, CalicoKitty said:

I have no words...

 

That's because Jill used them all up.

[AstridM]

2 hours ago, ginger90 said:

It seems that social media is a platform that we show the good and blessed parts of life.

Not a sentence, Jill. 🤦‍♀️BTW, social media is 100% OPTIONAL. You can choose not to use it. 
 

ETA- no one envies you. No one. 

Edited 12 minutes ago by AstridM