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

[Zahdii]

4 hours ago, louannems said:

Again, someone on FG who admitted to actually talking to Jill, said he was a dental student, but failed David's and Jill's questioneer about viewing porn.

No, the porn thing was about another fellow (nicknamed "Camo" by FJ) that many people have suggested would be a good match for Nurie.  Supposedly Jill and Nurie found out Camo had viewed porn and they were so disgusted that niether of them could ever consider him good courtship material.  It wasn't made clear that Camo ever admitted to the porn or if they somehow worried that it might have happened.  It was also never made clear that Camo ever sought to court Nurie.

Someone else suggested that Jill and David sits potential courters down and grills them about their beliefs, past sins, future plans, etc.  But if a possible mate were ever serious about entering a courtship with a Rod child, they'd say whatever the Rod parents wanted to hear to make that happen.  Conversely, if someone wanted to make sure they weren't in consideration for marrying into the family, I'm sure they'd say something to put themselves out of contention.

As for the mysterious dental student, who knows what happened there?  After he and his family visited the Rods last year (I can't remember if it was during the Thanksgiving or Christmas season), he was never heard from again.  I personally think that after he and his family got a good look at what it would mean to tie themselves to the Rods they beat a hasty retreat.

Can you imagine what it would be like to have Jill R for a MIL?  Everything would be about her all the time, she has no boundries, and until recently she'd post anything that crossed her narrow little mind.  She'd expect spouses for her children to follow her lead and would try to dictate everything about their daily lives.  Can you imagine Jill calling you up and telling you that she'd decided you needed $600 worth of Plexus, and she's sending it today?  She might need someone to watch her kids so she and David could go on a much needed week long vacation.  She'd probably assume that you'll spend all holidays with her, and be astounded and hurt if you missed one.  Jill also has a habit of making controversial statements and assigning them to others, so when she went on a rant you could be the one that people are mad at because she'd say she was just repeating something that you said.

[Westiepeach]

Was Dental Student the one that gave Nurie ... GUM? Among other delightful WalMart treats? Or was that another potential suitor?

[riverblue22]

Camo sounds like the guy that brought the bubble gum and other purple stuff to Nurie for her first failed courtship.

[Westiepeach]

20 minutes ago, riverblue22 said:

Camo sounds like the guy that brought the bubble gum and other purple stuff to Nurie for her first failed courtship.

That sounds about right. Because Gum Boy was all set to be "The One." Then he disappeared without a trace.

Edited April 21, 2018 by Westiepeach

[Temperance]

Nurie's suitor (who gave her the gift basket with gum in it) posted quite a few pictures of himself in hunting gear including camouflage, which lend himself to the nickname camo. 

I don't remember the dental student, and I don't remember camo's family. For some reason, I thought they were the same person. 

[Sew Sumi]

The Pecan Thief and his consort are having another girl slave to help Davia. Please try to ignore Smuggar.

[PikaScrewChu]

That was anti-climatic. You could see the pink smoke flowing as Anna was running out with the box.

[BitterApple]

Yikes, it looks like Anna is packing on the pounds as quickly as Josh. I don't expect her to look like a fitness model after five kids, but she doesn't appear to be on any better path than her sleazeball hubby.

[Catlyn]

31 minutes ago, Sew Sumi said:

The Pecan Thief and his consort are having another girl slave to help Davia. Please try to ignore Smuggar.

Whoever made the comparison between children and flowers never did much gardening. Yes, you can have too many flowers. They strangle each other if you don't thin the beds. Usually, you  take up the weak ones to give the strong ones room to grow. If they are going to make the comparison, then they better get bigger houses, and Josie better watch out! Actually, if they keep comparing many children to flowers than their stance on abortion doesn't make sense: get those weedy kids out!  Children of course are not flowers.

[BitterApple]

11 minutes ago, Catlyn said:

Whoever made the comparison between children and flowers never did much gardening. Yes, you can have too many flowers. They strangle each other if you don't thin the beds. Usually, you  take up the weak ones to give the strong ones room to grow. 

Lulz! The other day I was reading one of those click-bait articles entitled "Fun Facts About Versailles". Apparently, the opulent gardens surrounding the palace were jammed with so many tube roses visitors became nauseated from the smell. So yes, apparently you can have too many flowers!

[Mollie]

22 minutes ago, Catlyn said:

Whoever made the comparison between children and flowers never did much gardening. Yes, you can have too many flowers. They strangle each other if you don't thin the beds. Usually, you  take up the weak ones to give the strong ones room to grow. If they are going to make the comparison, then they better get bigger houses, and Josie better watch out! Actually, if they keep comparing many children to flowers than their stance on abortion doesn't make sense: get those weedy kids out!  Children of course are not flowers.

That quote is actually from the Catholic nun Mother Teresa: "How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers."  Michelle never credits Mother Teresa when she quotes her.

[dargosmydaddy]

Darn. I was hoping for a boy so we could see whether the Wallers are going back and forth between letters each time, or sticking with P for boys and D for girls. But I'm glad Davia doesn't have to be a sister-mom by herself. Hopefully the new baby looks as hilariously over it as Davia and Phillip do.

[Nysha]

2 hours ago, BitterApple said:

Yikes, it looks like Anna is packing on the pounds as quickly as Josh. I don't expect her to look like a fitness model after five kids, but she doesn't appear to be on any better path than her sleazeball hubby.

I don't think she's gaining weight, she just hasn't lost any of the weight she gained when she was pregnant with Mason. Which is what would happen if she's cooking and eating the typical high-carb, high-fat Duggar meals that Josh grew up eating. Not that it matters. Being overweight is a not a moral issue. Josh is a sleazeball because of the things he has said and done, not because he's fat. 

[Fuzzysox]

Just when you think that the mustard sweater is gone and done we get the mustard dress. No, Jesus, why?

[Heathen]

1 hour ago, Nysha said:

I don't think she's gaining weight, she just hasn't lost any of the weight she gained when she was pregnant with Mason. Which is what would happen if she's cooking and eating the typical high-carb, high-fat Duggar meals that Josh grew up eating. Not that it matters. Being overweight is a not a moral issue. Josh is a sleazeball because of the things he has said and done, not because he's fat. 

Decent-fitting clothes and a proper bra would help her a lot. Jeez, I thought she was going to give herself a black eye when she ran down the steps. 

[OpieTaylor]

Does Law Bates' social media photos irritate anyone else besides me? He's always posing like a model and he strikes me as vain. What does he do all day, every day? Is he actually making a living as a singer?  Wasn't he the one who had a successful yard work business when he was younger - so successful that his parents were borrowing money from him? Something about his photos get on my nerves.  For example:

[BitterApple]

His photos are cringeworthy, especially the ones with his siblings' kids. I swear the only reason he's always posing with babies is because it draws tons of "awwww, you're so cute/awesome/amazing" comments from female fans. 

I can't blame Lawson for using his looks to his advantage though, because based on that concert on this week's BUB, a pretty face is all he's got going for him.

Edited April 22, 2018 by BitterApple

[Heathen]

He's very much like his sisters Erin and Alyssa (and @BitterApple is right about his voice). 

Edited April 22, 2018 by Heathen

[bigskygirl]

I am surprise he knows who John Wayne is.

[awaken]

Such an example of humbleness, meekness, and lack of pride. Jesus would be proud. 

[Heathen]

13 minutes ago, bigskygirl said:

I am surprise he knows who John Wayne is.

It's just a quote he likely saw somewhere -- he probably doesn't know John Wayne from Gary Cooper. 

[Scarlett45]

36 minutes ago, OpieTaylor said:

Does Law Bates' social media photos irritate anyone else besides me? He's always posing like a model and he strikes me as vain. What does he do all day, every day? Is he actually making a living as a singer?  Wasn't he the one who had a successful yard work business when he was younger - so successful that his parents were borrowing money from him? Something about his photos get on my nerves.  For example:

He is attractive- I give him that. 

[Absolom]

I have a particular fondness for his happy birthday wish to Kelly where he is dead center in the photo and Kelly is half cutoff. ;)

[Patricia07]

He had to show off his muscular arm.

[OpieTaylor]

1 hour ago, Scarlett45 said:

He is attractive- I give him that. 

I can see his mom in his face though, so that diminishes some of his good looks

[EVS]

He and Jeremy should take a trip together and take lots of pictures. They would totally try to out-pose (is that a word, lol?) each other. 

[CalicoKitty]

My dad celebrated his 94th birthday this week.  I have the original bills from his birth.  $25.00 for the doctor, and another $25.00 for 10 days in the hospital.  Fifty bucks total.  We keep reminding him you get what you pay for.  I guess a 10-day hospital stay was common in the 1920's.

[floridamom]

Referencing the Waller gender reveal video......I wonder how bored Josh is with all those hoakey social activities these groups seem to love. The adults seem to be  quite child-like to me.  I'm sure Josh hates the way Anna dresses. She doesn't have good taste in clothing, IMO. Most of them don't.

I also noticed that it was Anna who carried that heavy box.

[Pollypam]

15 hours ago, Sew Sumi said:

The Pecan Thief and his consort are having another girl slave to help Davia. Please try to ignore Smuggar.

SOMEONE once said!!!???? It was Mother Theresa, now known as Saint Theresa of Calcutta. Are they not allowd to give credit to the evil Catholics for anything???

 

edit: sorry, saw that Mollie beat me to it. But, my outrage still stands.

Edited April 22, 2018 by Pollypam
Posted before reading all responses

[lianau]

Quote

Children truly are a gift from the Lord and we are excited with each child God is given to us!

 

I'm still not sure if this is a grammatically mangled way to say that they are excited for the children God has given them or if they mean that God is given to them through  each child .

[OpieTaylor]

1 hour ago, lianau said:

 

I'm still not sure if this is a grammatically mangled way to say that they are excited for the children God has given them or if they mean that God is given to them through  each child .

The "God is given" threw me too. I wonder if they believe it's correct to always say "God is" (as in "He is risen" vs "He has risen").

[Fuzzysox]

12 hours ago, awaken said:

Such an example of humbleness, meekness, and lack of pride. Jesus would be proud. 

Y'all are just jealous of his beauty!

[tabloidlover]

Jill Rodrigues posted her update on baby Janessa

http://rodriguesfamilyministries.com/main/?p=3606 

Edited April 22, 2018 by tabloidlover
fixed link

[Zahdii]

4 hours ago, floridamom said:

I also noticed that it was Anna who carried that heavy box.

Because of the above statement, I finally watched the video.  I was wondering if it was a repeat of the touching scene when Josh and Anna were followed by a camera crew to the motel where they were to spend their first night as a married couple.  As Anna unpacked the luggage and hauled it into the room, Josh stood outside and talked to the camera about what a nice wedding they had, thanks for everything, gotta go now, and then he sauntered into the room and shut the door.  At least that's how I heard it went, I have never seen that episode.

Anyway, back to the present.  The box didn't look that heavy to me.  Anna was pretty fast in bringing it out from the house, probably because she was trying to make sure that the box didn't start leaking smoke out, which it did.  How is that smoke created?  Does someone light up a couple of pink smoke bombs and throw them in the box, then rush it out to the big reveal before the whole box catches fire?  I'd move pretty fast if I were worried about something like that. 

I don't think it mattered that some of the smoke leaked out before the lid was removed, as I'm pretty sure that most everyone already knew the sex of the new baby.  The whole thing smacked of a fake reveal for the cameras.  As it happened, enough smoke billowed from the box that we never saw the "Oh my gosh, it's a GIRL!" looks that Pris and Pecan probably practiced all week long.  I think I even heard someone cough.

Next time they should just fill the box with pink balloons and let them drift up with the joyful news.  They could probably fit 20 of the smallish ones in that box, and if they tethered the balloons to the bottom of the box they could then hand them out to the kids to carry around after that.  Knowing that bunch, they'd make the tethers just long enough to rise up and block the Pecans and we'd still miss their 'surprised and delighted' expressions.

[ginger90]

Jill R’s blog post:

Baby #13 – Janessa Ruth – is HERE! Details enclosed plus MORE!

Posted on April 21, 2018 by Rodrigues Family

Our precious Janessa (the Lord is gracious) Ruth (friend/companion) arrived at 5:27pm on Wednesday – April 11th at 8lbs. 7oz. at 21 1/2 inches long.  She is PRECIOUS and we are THRILLED to have her!!  

What can I say other than this midwife- Sandra Cottle- ROCKS!  She and the assisting physician worked MIRACLES and I was able to have a safe, natural delivery….the true desire of my heart.

Thank you also Doctor Thomas! I love you both and literally owe you my DEEPEST gratitude for the REST of my life! Janessa is showing EXCELLENT skills thus far! Also, we owe a thank you to all of our followers prayers too! We serve an awesome God!

The day after Janessa was born, she had quite a bit of testing to see what the exact damage there was to her little brain.  We were hoping for a RAVING review, but the diagnosis was disheartening. Honestly, it is too early to draw conclusions or diagnoses, so I simply let my tears run as I CHERISH every moment with this precious, perfectly fashioned by God baby girl.   

When we got back the results from the MRI, it was disheartening. Not only did it appear she had a possible in utero stroke but also her brain was formed differently. She is missing a large portion (if not all) of her Corpus collasum. Her brain is slightly swollen in places it shouldn’t be. And, she has a cyst. In a nutshell, those were the discoveries. Thank God, NONE of them are life threatening to her at this time! Again, the doctors assured us it was nothing we did, but a malformation that occurred in her developmental process. 

The doctors are THRILLED that she is already acting SO normal despite the significant malformation in her brain.  It reminds me of how GOD formed and fashioned her in my womb.  She IS perfect in His (and our) sight! 

We already have doctors appointments scheduled with neurologists in the near future and we are on a journey that will entail many doctors visits in the future to monitor her progress closely.

However, the doctors simply will NOT give a definite diagnosis of what her possible damage may be in the future…..because they don’t know. At this point, there are NO signs of damage, but that could change as she grows – but our prayer is that we will see God work a MIGHTY miracle on her behalf!!

I am BLESSED to be a child of the KING! A Master that is kind, loving and gracious! The Bright and Morning Star! The Fairest of Ten Thousand to my soul! A Jesus that STILL works miracles. A God that will give the grace NO MATTER WHAT! A Saviour that will work ALL things together for His Good! That is MY Jesus! I am HONORED to know Him and have Him in my heart! He knows the future! I worry, shed tears, and cuddle Janessa a bit more closely. It is then I am reminded that my Father God is doing the same for me. Holding me (and Janessa) lovingly in the palm of His hand! 

I LOVE you all and thank you a MILLION times over for your love and prayers! 

Thankfully though, up to this point, she has shown NO signs of distress whatsoever.  So even though the MRI results weren’t good, but her actions say (so far) that she is doing excellent! The brain is a unique organ that can overcome odds in a way the doctors can’t explain. We are excited to see how God will work through this little girl!

We are HOME sweet HOME for a little over a week and we are SO thankful!  Janessa already LOVES the sound of her siblings, the vacuum, etc.  Below are some PRECIOUS pictures of Janessa’s siblings “loving” on her and seeing her for the first time.  Nurie said that she loves her so much, it makes her heart ache.  I think ALL her siblings feel the same.  We are indeed SO blessed! 

Below are some pictures (including my DEAR sister – Amy Foster and her family) of the PRECIOUS people that have visited us to see sweet little Janessa.  We are thankful to have SO many kind, thoughtful, Christian friends.  Our church even rallied together and delivered meals to us during my recovery time.  We are blessed!!  THANK YOU!

I was switching over my maternity clothes to normal clothes.  Well, Sadie (4 yrs.) LOVES to dress up and be just like Mommy.  Here (below) was her outfit choice.  She even did her own hair! Isn’t it gorgeous? 

Before Janessa came, she CONSTANTLY had a blanket rolled up and stuffed in the belly of her clothes – to look “pregnant”. NOW, she is always nursing her baby dolls. SO cute!

Mamas, teach your little ones to EMBRACE AND LOVE motherhood. 

Thank you for going down this incredible journey with our family as we serve Jesus Christ- striving to make a difference for the Kingdom of Christ!  Thank you for your prayers as we walk through the valley in areas of our life.  We appreciate you all!!

On another note……….A VERY Happy 19th Birthday to our OLDEST child!!

How was it that 19 years ago today, I gave birth to this beautiful, godly, kind, thoughtful, respectful, obedient, hard-working, LOVELY Nurie Katelin Rodrigues?!!

She has set a STELLAR example to her younger siblings and we are honored and blessed to call her our daughter!  

Today David and I (for fun) figured out how many birthdays we have celebrated with our children……to make them feel honored on their special day.

Guess what it totalled to? 137 birthdays (so far)! Wow!

We are blessed!  

We feel that we are the most BLESSED people on the face of the earth!!  God is MUCH better to us than we EVER deserve!

We are THRILLED that our printing ministry continues to grow in leaps and bounds and David is SO busy in there now.  It is a FULL time job and a half for him to keep up with it all!  We are so blessed to see our burden to spread the Gospel through printed material come to a VERY sweet reality!

I am SO grateful to have a godly mate (husband) walk by my side in this journey of life.

David is SO sweet and was a HUGE support to me through labor, delivery, comforting me when we got the sad news of the condition of Janessa’s MRI results, etc.

He is always there to wrap his arms around me and tell me it will all be okay. He gathers the family and asks them all to lay their hands on Janessa’s head as we say a family prayer for her.

He is the ONE person in this world that SHARES the deep love I have for each of our children. 

Thanks, Babe, for loving me and our 13 children. You are a RARE man of GREAT faith. Many live by faith, but not in the area of child-bearing.  You encourage my heart. Thank you for the lovely gifts (pictured below) you got me in the hospital.

My Love Always, Your Jillybean  

Well, I guess I will end with this.  I am one of the richest women in the world.  I am surrounded with a loving family and I could not ask for more!  I am content.  I lift the name of JESUS as the answer to EVERYTHING!  HE brings peace that passes ALL understanding.  I am SO thankful for the HONOR that God bestowed upon me to allow me to bear a child once more in my womb.  Below are some pics of the pregnancy from beginning to GLORIOUS end!!  Janessa, WELCOME to this world, honey.  We love you MORE than words can EVER describe!!

 

She posted SO MANY pictures, my phone would blow up posting them. But they are here: 

http://rodriguesfamilyministries.com/main/?p=3606

[Heathen]

Oh my DOG, please don't COPY and PASTE any of Jilly Rod's BLOG posts like that AGAIN! I need a day to RECOVER from just READING that NONSENSE! 

My love always, Your Heathen 

Edited April 22, 2018 by Heathen
To further Jill-ify

[ginger90]

9 minutes ago, Heathen said:

Oh my DOG, please don't COPY and PASTE any of Jilly Rod's BLOG posts like that AGAIN! I need a day to RECOVER from just READING that NONSENSE! 

My love always, Your Heathen 

My apologies!

[DragonFaerie]

Ugh, I went to the blog and almost fell asleep with all the photos she posted - Not only one of every kid holding the new baby, but a picture of her every month of pregnancy, starting at 2 months.  And is it me or does she have the WORST handwriting - like Josie Duggar.  I need to remember - only go to the blog AFTER having an alcoholic beverage.

[Westiepeach]

ODG. I went down the rabbit hole. Geez Louise, somebody just hold the knife and I will run to you. 

First, the RANDOM capitalization makes me want to SLAP ? her upside the head repeatedly. Sheesh. 

And ... “Jillybean?” I just can’t. Off to pour some wine. Don’t judge me. 

[DragonFaerie]

I would say we could do a drinking game and every time Jillybean capitalizes a word we take a sip, but we'd all be plowed before we got halfway through the post - same with every time Jill D says yaaaaayyyy in a video.

[Sew Sumi]

We'd all be getting our stomachs pumped.

[Madtown]

All I can say is that those kids(minus the baby)are the creepiest homliest kids I've ever seen..I'll be in the prayer closet with a vat of bleach to recover from those pictures..

1 hour ago, Heathen said:

Oh my DOG, please don't COPY and PASTE any of Jilly Rod's BLOG posts like that AGAIN! I need a day to RECOVER from just READING that NONSENSE! 

My love always, Your Heathen 

Laughed out loud...Don't go and look at the pictures is all I can say...

[Albanyguy]

2 hours ago, ginger90 said:

Again, the doctors assured us it was nothing we did

Boy, she can't repeat that enough, can she? 

[Nysha]

39 minutes ago, Madtown said:

All I can say is that those kids(minus the baby)are the creepiest homliest kids I've ever seen..I'll be in the prayer closet with a vat of bleach to recover from those pictures..

Amen. It's like they got the worst of both David and Jill's features, and then the children's pasty grey-green complexion and starved, sunken faces make them so unattractive. 

[DragonFaerie]

When Jill talked about putting away her maternity clothes and getting out her regular clothes, all I could think was - Why bother? You'll be pregnant again in like what? a couple of months?

[Sew Sumi]

Chimpy has "good" features?

[DragonFaerie]

9 minutes ago, Sew Sumi said:

Chimpy has "good" features?

Um, well, there's.......

Oh wait!  He has a better hairline then the Duggar boys???? - That's all I got

[Normades]

59 minutes ago, Madtown said:

All I can say is that those kids(minus the baby)are the creepiest homliest kids I've ever seen..I'll be in the prayer closet with a vat of bleach to recover from those pictures..

Laughed out loud...Don't go and look at the pictures is all I can say...

Oh my! I don't find her kids to be homely.  They do seem to go through some awkward stages, but overall some of them are quite attractive.  I think Nurie, Kaleigh, and Renee are pretty.  I think Renee was once very awkward but might grow into the prettiest of the girls.  The boys have grown better looking as they get into their teens.  Tim is cute and I think Sam is the best looking of the boys.  Now, if they'd lay off the make up, 80's hairstyles, put on some weight, and get some color in their cheeks, they'd really be attractive.  There are other kids in this thread I find much more homely than the Rod kids.  I won't name them, tho cuz I'd feel bad if there was even a small chance one might read it.  

It sounds like Jill is getting some emotional support from her church.  I was glad to see the preacher had visited them.  I hope they hang in there for her emotionally because I really worry about what might be ahead for her.

[Catlyn]

Jill should layoff the racoon eyes or go lighter. She's looking rough now. I don't mean the after she birthed Janessa. No one should remark how a woman looks after she's given birth unless she's really changed, such as grown another eye or turned magenta with powder blue spots, then you'd have to remark. But, she's really looking like she'd be walking the streets if her skirts were higher. 

Her daughters look dated also. How old is the third daughter? She looks as lamb dressed as mutton, way too old looking. Maybe if the makeup were toned down, Nurie would have a chance.

Edited April 22, 2018 by Catlyn

[Temperance]

2 hours ago, DragonFaerie said:

When Jill talked about putting away her maternity clothes and getting out her regular clothes, all I could think was - Why bother? You'll be pregnant again in like what? a couple of months?

Maybe..., maybe not... Jill's second youngest is almost 3. Jill is pushing forty and her fertility is thankfully slowing down a little. I know that people in this thread like to believe every woman can unlimited kids in their forties, but that has not been true for my friends and family.  

Of course since these are quiverful people, it wouldn't surprise me either if she was pregnant soon. 

Edited April 22, 2018 by Temperance