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

[sondraK]

Enya,ty for the welcome! I love to read here. I'm always interested in what everyone has to say.       :)

That's a shame that neither of them will get a real job so they can qualify for benefits.It certainly would pay them to do so,so they can feed their large family properly.

I've never seen such a large family who isn't willing to work hard to provide for them.David at the least should feel ashamed.

I do wonder if Jill makes some money doing haircuts on the side.She has the barber chair and set up in one of the rooms

[Temperance]

24 minutes ago, sondraK said:

I've never seen such a large family who isn't willing to work hard to provide for them.

Well the Duggars' main source of income seems to be tv. JB did some kind of property management/ownership to provide for them before the show. (Actually he still owns quite a bit of property.)

Gil and Kelly Bates's  main source of income for a while was tree service primarily run by their son Lawson. Now they have a tv show. 

If you go to Free Jinger (FJ), they are quite a few large families that work off doing some sort of "ministry" usually without any formal credentials. (A lot of ministers, priests, rabbis etc. of more established churchs and ministries usually have some education and training to be  in the ministry.)

Jill and David may seem different to us, but I'm not sure they're that different from others who share their beliefs. Welcome to Fundieland!

Edited December 2, 2018 by Temperance

[Lukeysboat]

That ring ticks me off. I don’t care if it was $50. You can buy a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, milk, and bananas for $50. 

[sixlets]

Mods--I apologize ahead of time if this is not in accordance with the rules.  Everything I found is public record.  I just did some in-depth searching :)

Because I'm bored or my self-esteem hit an all-time low, I went digging for some records on our 2nd favorite family.  The lot is only .45 of an acre.  It appears that WV also has something called Personal Property Tax Records, which shows 5 vehicles. The real estate property taxes appear to be very low.  Then again, WV is a poor state with a lot of issues (drugs and social services at the top of the list).  I wasn't able to find anything on when the deed was transferred though.  

Just when I thought these parents were scraping the bottom of the barrel, Jill comes along and takes them down a peg.  Someone needs to throw that ring back in her face and remind her she has 12 children to feed.  I hope and pray Timothy never returns to his roots.  

[Lady Edith]

Wait...they own FIVE VEHICLES????? I can only think of three...the Stinkbus Jr, the griftmobile, and Timmy’s car.  There are others???  

[Fostersmom]

On 11/28/2018 at 10:34 AM, BitterApple said:

Ugh, I hate to pay this woman a compliment, but the patio came out nice. 

If they've got three deer in the freezer, why do the children still look so starved? You can buy bags of frozen veggies cheap at Walmart and bake your own bread for pennies. I don't think they're getting adequate portions of whatever's being served.

I agree the patio looks nice. I'm also going to slightly defend them here too. I took her post as they have 3 deer now, but got all 3 the same day. If it was the day she posted the picture, it was just last week. Even if they ate all 3 deer in the same day, those poor kids would still look starved though. 

On 11/29/2018 at 9:39 PM, farmgal4 said:

Is no one going to mention that FILTHY blanket??  Gawd!!! 🤦🏼‍♀️

That was the first thing I noticed, but I also know my sister and then her kids years later were blanket kids and no matter how many times their blankets were washed, they looked disgusting. And good luck trying to replace the nasty blanket, it's like the grosser the blanket, the more the kid was attached to it. 

[McManda]

1 hour ago, sixlets said:

Mods--I apologize ahead of time if this is not in accordance with the rules.  Everything I found is public record.  I just did some in-depth searching :)

Because I'm bored or my self-esteem hit an all-time low, I went digging for some records on our 2nd favorite family.  The lot is only .45 of an acre.  It appears that WV also has something called Personal Property Tax Records, which shows 5 vehicles. The real estate property taxes appear to be very low.  Then again, WV is a poor state with a lot of issues (drugs and social services at the top of the list).  I wasn't able to find anything on when the deed was transferred though.  

Jill and David have also made their address public on their website.

FJ did a bunch of sleuthing when JillR announced that they were grifted a house and found a listing from September 2015 in the Charleston Gazette of a land transfer from the owner of the property to Jill and David for $125,000. It was probably FSBO, because it never got listed in the MLS (which means it was never listed by a Realtor). It's also not clear how the owner was compensated, (if she was given a down payment and they're essentially financing through her, they're renting to own, or they obtained traditional financing, etc).

[sondraK]

3 hours ago, Lady Edith said:

Wait...they own FIVE VEHICLES????? I can only think of three...the Stinkbus Jr, the griftmobile, and Timmy’s car.  There are others???  

The Rv.By stinkbus jr,I'm, presuming you mean the big van

[AnnieBeez]

4 hours ago, mynextmistake said:

It’s unfortunate that they’re so overburdened that they can’t step in to protect starving children. That’s probably why the Rodrigueses live there. 

Child Protective Services can take steps between doing nothing and pulling kids from homes. Those kids do look malnourished, at the least. 

[Marshmallow Mollie]

Jill doesn’t like her ring so makes her own money, and buys herself a new ring. Sounds downright radical for a fundie.

[Normades]

3 hours ago, AnnieBeez said:

Child Protective Services can take steps between doing nothing and pulling kids from homes. Those kids do look malnourished, at the least. 

Unfortunately, taking any step takes time and resources.  Even if they took a role of oversight without removal and placement, it would take resources away from kids in very dire circumstances.  It isn't right and I think Jill's look malnourished, but from what I've heard there are some horrific situations in that area with kids at immediate risk.  Jill's kids may be in a bad situation, but they aren't at immediate risk.  Kids like Jill's fall through the crack because they are doing the bare minimum to avoid investigation.  Frustrating and sad, but true.

[Absolom]

Jill's kids are all as filled out or more so than my grandson.  They're thin, but unpopular as it may be to say it, I'd wager all or almost all her children fall within the normal range of BMI for their ages and height.  Do I agree with Jill's financial decisions?  Never.  Do I agree with the photos she's posted of feeding the kids? No.  Many of them would probably weigh more if fed as well as my grandson.  He's never lacking for food and he's all muscle.  

[madpsych78]

I think what gets to me is that a lot of the younger kids appear to have dark circles under their eyes. It's more than just looking thin.

[Absolom]

Dark circles can come from allergies, lack of sleep, or simply be hereditary.  I think they take after their father.  It could be also that they get barely enough calories, but too many of them are empty.

[Portia]

That otherwise cute pic of Sofia really emphasizes that curious yellow tint Jill and Chubby's kids all seem to have.  I should be ashamed of myself for complexion-shaming anyone, especially since I'm very fair and get tired of people talking about how unattractive it is to be pale. But I've honestly never seen anything like it in either Caucasian or Latinx children. 

To me the funny thing about Jill R's obsession with the trappings of materialism (that is, a blingy wedding set) is that so many godless Millennials seem to be choosing a more pared-down lifestyle. I know several young adults who opted for silicone wedding bands, and I work with a sluttish 30-something pagan woman who has a simple line tattooed on her ring finger. 

[BradandJanet]

22 minutes ago, Portia said:

That otherwise cute pic of Sofia really emphasizes that curious yellow tint Jill and Chubby's kids all seem to have.  I should be ashamed of myself for complexion-shaming anyone, especially since I'm very fair and get tired of people talking about how unattractive it is to be pale. But I've honestly never seen anything like it in either Caucasian or Latinx children. 

To me the funny thing about Jill R's obsession with the trappings of materialism (that is, a blingy wedding set) is that so many godless Millennials seem to be choosing a more pared-down lifestyle. I know several young adults who opted for silicone wedding bands, and I work with a sluttish 30-something pagan woman who has a simple line tattooed on her ring finger. 

I thought the lighting or maybe a curious filter choice made Sofia look jaundiced in that photo. I hope it's nothing more. 

Jill's obsession with bling, material things, and celebrations for herself doesn't seem to match her religion with its focus on piety and modesty. I wonder what kinds of battles of values go on in her head. She seems to enjoy sacrifice if it involves someone else giving up something for her. If Jill is a prosperity gospel believer, the train has long left that station. 

[Lady Edith]

On 12/3/2018 at 1:04 AM, sondraK said:

The Rv.By stinkbus jr,I'm, presuming you mean the big van

Lol...no, to me the RV is Stinkbus Jr.  The Duggar’s have the original Stinkbus and, seeing how the Rodriguii emulate the Duggs I found it fitting to call their RV “Stinkbus Jr.”. I have other names for it...Griftmobile is probably the most tame of those LOL!!!

[sondraK]

1 hour ago, Lady Edith said:

Lol...no, to me the RV is Stinkbus Jr.  The Duggar’s have the original Stinkbus and, seeing how the Rodriguii emulate the Duggs I found it fitting to call their RV “Stinkbus Jr.”. I have other names for it...Griftmobile is probably the most tame of those LOL!!!

 

Ok,I thought you meant the big white van they have.I think it says The Rodrigues Family on the side.Like they are famous,lol

Edited December 5, 2018 by sondraK

[ginger90]

10 pictures 

 

 

[PradaKitty]

Is that Sadie’s food allotment for the year? 

[Ijustwantsomechips]

Say what you want but that looked like more fun than those lame parties the Duggars throw.

Edited December 6, 2018 by Ijustwantsomechips

[Temperance]

I'm surprised that Disney isn't too mainstream for Jill R.  I know quite a few fundies who hate Disney (even the old school Disney) for various reasons. 

[Portia]

21 minutes ago, Temperance said:

I'm surprised that Disney isn't too mainstream for Jill R.  I know quite a few fundies who hate Disney (even the old school Disney) for various reasons. 

Disney's not just mainstream; it's gay friendly! When my kids were coming g up in the '90s, we knew people who boycotted Disney for that reason. 

[awaken]

 I’m really surprised they would have a secular theme like Cinderella! And the five-year-old already looks like her hair is teased and done up like the older girls and jill! 

[sixlets]

Good grief, those children just look sick.  I hope poor Sadie enjoyed that one slice of pizza and one cupcake.  It will probably be the last time she has it again until her next birthday.  I'm not up-to-date on the Rod kids, but the one in the black dress and white headband is a pretty little girl.  Color me shocked on the Disney theme.  I pictured them having Noah's Ark every year for every kid.  

[Lady Edith]

But Cinderella has a positive message!  Work hard, be beautiful and your Prince Charming will come and claim you as his property. That, and don’t date. Meet and marry because you will lose pieces of your heart otherwise.

[Lady Edith]

22 hours ago, sondraK said:

 

Ok,I thought you meant the big white van they have.I think it says The Rodrigues Family on the side.Like they are famous,lol

The Partridge Family did it better. 

[awaken]

Well, good for her- glad she seemed to have a fun birthday, with outside friends apparently, and a party just to celebrate her!  

[Temperance]

Allison Bontrager has a post about being positive about being single.  She's only 24, but I'm sure that seems older in her world, especially since two of her younger brothers are married with a child each. Her close-in-age older brother is married and expecting his first child, and so is her bestie oldest sibling Chelsy Bontrager Maxwell. 

(As an older single person) I actually kind of liked her post. She points out that single people can do great things. She says we can dream big and think of things we want outside of marriage. And my favorite part was when she said  it helps to be less focused on your "season of life", but on your life as a whole. Of course she put God into all of this, but still a nice post. 

[sondraK]

3 hours ago, Lady Edith said:

The Partridge Family did it better. 

Yes,comon' get happy...

[ginger90]

Not one mention of serving......

[Catfin]

45 minutes ago, ginger90 said:

Not one mention of serving......

Lot of food mentions. Someone must be reading here.

[Ohiopirate02]

5 hours ago, ginger90 said:

Not one mention of serving......

Their Xmas traditions sound very secular.

[louannems]

I never put out our kids' christmas gifts till they were asleep on christmas Eve. I doubt if I could have kept them from shaking and poking around the gifts for that many weeks.  But then, we didn't have severe consequences.

[Lady Edith]

Even now, for my sweet blessings (aged almost an old maid and almost ready for marriage), I still make them go to bed and put the gifts out and stuff the stockings on Christmas Eve. It’s such a precious season of life!  😂

[PradaKitty]

What a frightening looking family....

[Libby96]

I know it is silly and petty, but something about Jill wearing a sleeveless top while a couple of the little girls sport black tights with white sandals just makes that picture even more bizarre.

[drafan]

14 hours ago, ginger90 said:

Not one mention of serving......

Look closely...the headship, who I will not comment on because it's Xmas, is giving us all the finger.

((I have no idea who these people are, but I've known families who look just like that...the genetics, when young, are the pale skinny type....then they fill out when they get older. Aaaaaand, even though they look like an ad for Good Will, showing how to put together outfits from their store...... at least they get to wear what they want.))

[andromeda331]

On ‎12‎/‎5‎/‎2018 at 6:22 PM, Lady Edith said:

But Cinderella has a positive message!  Work hard, be beautiful and your Prince Charming will come and claim you as his property. That, and don’t date. Meet and marry because you will lose pieces of your heart otherwise.

Plus her home life really isn't that different from most Fundie daughters who slave away cooking, cleaning and doing all the work while treated like crap.  

[PikaScrewChu]

15 hours ago, ginger90 said:

Not one mention of serving......

I'm distracted by that massive suit on David... It could fit him and some of the kids in there.

[latetotheparty]

1 minute ago, PikaScrewChu said:

I'm distracted by that massive suit on David... It could fit him and some of the kids in there.

Same. He looks like a hobo. 

[Lady Edith]

2 minutes ago, latetotheparty said:

Same. He looks like a hobo. 

Maybe like, with the littles, clothes are sized bigger to allow for “room to grow”. 

[andromeda331]

On ‎12‎/‎5‎/‎2018 at 4:35 PM, Portia said:

Disney's not just mainstream; it's gay friendly! When my kids were coming g up in the '90s, we knew people who boycotted Disney for that reason. 

I remember that! God it was so stupid. Southern Baptist tried to convince everyone to boycott Disney. They made a huge deal because Disney was gay friendly. It was so stupid. 

[CalicoKitty]

5 minutes ago, Lady Edith said:

Maybe like, with the littles, clothes are sized bigger to allow for “room to grow”. 

Maybe he has been getting into the Plexus.

[Jynnan tonnix]

10 hours ago, CalicoKitty said:

Maybe he has been getting into the Plexus.

His face and neck do actually look quite a bit thinner than they have in the past. And it's hard to see what his midsection looks like from behind the fence, so maybe he has actually dropped some weight.

As for the kids, I do agree with @drafan to an extent. Mr Jyn and his family more or less all follow that pattern. All extremely thin as children and young adults; Mr. Jyn is built like a spider anyway - all arms and legs with an extremely short torso. At 5'7", he weighed 115 lb when we first met, and could plummet 10 lb over the course of a few days if he was under the weather. The only place he (and most of the rest of his family) ever gain weight is in the face and around their middle. And once they get past 35, they are apt to gain quite a bit of it even if they eat a reasonably restrained diet. Mr Jyn weighs around 160 now, which is fine for his height, really, but has a very pronounced tum while still being arms and legs otherwise. So I will give Shrek a slight benefit of the doubt on that, even if I do pretty much despise everything about him otherwise.

[Guest]

14 hours ago, PikaScrewChu said:

I'm distracted by that massive suit on David... It could fit him and some of the kids in there.

Is there some Biblical rule that prevents the tailoring of garments or something? (Proverbs 3:2 "Weareth the clothes bestowed upon you AS IS from the Salvation Army and ye shall become a Versace catwalk god.")

But all I see is a guy with a 28-inch inseam wearing a 38-inch inseam pair of pants and a jacket made for a Kenmore refrigerator. 

[galaxychaser]

I see David is too cheap to have the suit tailored.

And looks like Timothy is wearing a purity ring.

[GeeGolly]

JillR is making it clear that Santa is not part of their celebration. The kids gifts already placed under the tree and then she mentions gifts again - that they're giving each other. And no Santa emoji. I'm surprised she didn't write CHRISTmas.

It's like she needs to humble brag but is afraid Jesus will read her post.

Even if JillR wasn't Fundy she would never be able to handle giving Santa credit for the gifts.

[Sew Sumi]

17 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

JillR is making it clear that Santa is not part of their celebration. The kids gifts already placed under the tree and then she mentions gifts again - that they're giving each other. And no Santa emoji. I'm surprised she didn't write CHRISTmas.

It's like she needs to humble brag but is afraid Jesus will read her post.

Even if JillR wasn't Fundy she would never be able to handle giving Santa credit for the gifts.

She did write CHRISTmas in a separate IG post with just her and Shrek.

eta the pic.

Edited December 7, 2018 by Sew Sumi

[Ohiopirate02]

4 hours ago, Giant Misfit said:

Is there some Biblical rule that prevents the tailoring of garments or something? (Proverbs 3:2 "Weareth the clothes bestowed upon you AS IS from the Salvation Army and ye shall become a Versace catwalk god.")

But all I see is a guy with a 28-inch inseam wearing a 38-inch inseam pair of pants and a jacket made for a Kenmore refrigerator. 

Even if they were against having a tailor or someone else measuring the inseam, they should be able to realize the pants are too long and get a shorter length.   It's not rocket science.