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

[Vivigirl10]

The level of frump gathered at that conference boggles the mind.   

[galaxychaser]

10 minutes ago, Zella said:

Only a bit? 😉 

I was being nice 🤣🤣🤣

[Triple P]

5 hours ago, Jeeves said:

IIRC, a year or two ago JillR posted one of her gushing "updates" on their blog, saying that a woman who'd been the long-time organizer of that women's retreat in Sugarcreek, OH, was no longer going to do it because of her health, and asked JillR to take it over. So IMO all Jill had to do was to just repeat what the original organizer did. Probably there's a faithful core of repeat attendees, so unless JillR sharply disappoints them with the content/facilities etc. of "her" conference, it will keep going on as usual. 

I thought that the homeschool conference was the one she took over from the woman with health issues.

IIRC, Jill held the homeschool conference in a park and there were maybe 3 other families in attendance and 2 of those were her sisters' families.

 

Oops, I stand corrected. Thank you Jeeves!

Edited March 19, 2020 by Triple P
I was wrong

[Minivanessa]

14 minutes ago, Triple P said:

I thought that the homeschool conference was the one she took over from the woman with health issues.

IIRC, Jill held the homeschool conference in a park and there were maybe 3 other families in attendance and 2 of those were her sisters' families.

I found it, and it is the Sugarcreek conference. On one of their blog update pages, dated June 2019, she wrote:

Quote

 

What an honor it is to have been asked by Mrs. Judy Edmunds to take over the Annual Ladies Retreat held in Sugarcreek, Ohio at the Carlisle Inn each March. This is in the heart of beautiful Amish country and FILLED to the brim with beautiful gift shops and loads of things to do. Judy has been doing this retreat now for 19 years and due to fragile health conditions, felt that she needed to pass the torch on to someone else.

Praise the Lord for this incredible opportunity! I have had a burden to encourage my fellow sisters in Christ since I was a teenager and this opportunity is SUCH an answer to prayer! I already have several facets of ministry (ministering to my sisters in Christ), and this opportunity expands that.

In fact, some of you may remember that a year and a half ago I even planned my own Ladies’ Retreat at Stonewall Jackson Resort in West Virginia. However, rather than continuing to build that up from scratch, I will now channel all my energy into this retreat.

***See pics below of the GORGEOUS resort this ladies retreat will be held at! We are expecting such a large crowd of ladies, that we booked the ENTIRE hotel (except for one room that was already reserved)! God is GOOD!

Pictured below is Judy Edmunds turning over everything to me and teaching me the “ropes”.

I am THRILLED to announce the theme for the 2020 Annual Ladies Retreat. *See picture below*

Isaiah 61:3
“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”
King James Version (KJV)

 

(The blog page is a mess to look at because apparently all the links to photos are dead.)

[ginger90]

 

 

[GeeGolly]

Fuck you JillR, fuck you.

Edited March 19, 2020 by GeeGolly

[Zella]

It's a low bar for sure, but I don't think I've ever so wanted to punch her sanctimonious fucking face as right now. 

[BradandJanet]

4 hours ago, farmgal4 said:

The decorating that Jill did to that conference room is the tackiest-looking mess I’ve ever seen.

She'll now add as much of that crap as possible to her warehouse home decor. She must have bought that stuff for the event and now has to do something with it. Yay. Free stuff! 

[Ijustwantsomechips]

That sanctimonious, grifting bitch sure is talking a lot of shit for someone with vulnerable, malnourished kids.  I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, but that bitch needs to be brought down a peg or two.

Edited March 20, 2020 by Ijustwantsomechips

[Sew Sumi]

Jill's decorating philosophy is More is More. 🙄

And let me get in line to punch her smarmy face.

[galaxychaser]

5 hours ago, Ijustwantsomechips said:

I simultaneously felt the urge to scratch my arms, sneeze and shake dust out of my hair.  

Her kids must have SEVERE allergies to the dust in their house 

[emma675]

What a royal bitch Jill is.

[galaxychaser]

New post up. Amy sings.

[galaxygirl76]

Someone on Reddit saw a post by one of the ladies who was at JRod retreat and is now complaining about fever, body aches, and a terrible cough...

The mod is trying to get confirmation so take this with a grain of salt for now.

[Sew Sumi]

11 minutes ago, galaxygirl76 said:

Someone on Reddit saw a post by one of the ladies who was at JRod retreat and is now complaining about fever, body aches, and a terrible cough...

The mod is trying to get confirmation so take this with a grain of salt for now.

It was originally posted on the conference group's FB page, so it's legit. Her name is Judy, and she's pictured with JRod in one of Jill's conference posts.  She was the original coordinator of the event. She's a senior, so I'm worried about her.

Edited March 20, 2020 by Sew Sumi

[GeeGolly]

5 hours ago, Sew Sumi said:

It was originally posted on the conference group's FB page, so it's legit. Her name is Judy, and she's pictured with JRod in one of Jill's conference posts.  She was the original coordinator of the event. She's a senior, so I'm worried about her.

Oh no. That's concerning for Judy and everyone else. Hopefully it's a cold, allergies or a mild case of the flu. This is a great example of why the JRods and Caldwells should not be traipsing about as if everything is fine. I hope this Judy person recovers fully and quickly.

[galaxychaser]

Jill and her stink bus bunch will get 1000 people sick. 15 people go to Walmart and beg for supper at any church. This retreat easily can get 1000 people sick. Doubt Jill and family practice good hygiene to begin with.

[ginger90]

5 pictures, including 1 video:

 

 

[LilJen]

On 3/16/2020 at 8:12 PM, Enya Face said:

Thank you for that, @LilJen. I hope you weren’t offended by my angry remark. I absolutely appreciate your insight 🙂

Ha! Not at all. His remarks make me angry too.  I dislike hateful misguided God-botherers as much as the next person.

 

[scar111]

10 minutes ago, ginger90 said:

5 pictures, including 1 video:

 

 

I thought Precious Nurie and the sort of precious NotNuries were your best friends , Jill!

[LilJen]

On 3/16/2020 at 8:09 PM, ginger90 said:

3 pictures, 1 video:

 

 

 

3rd picture: how JRod imagines all her slaves, and everyone else in the entire world, should gaze upon her wonderfulness.

[LilJen]

On 3/19/2020 at 6:08 PM, ginger90 said:

 

 

"They don't care what you think, until they know you care. . . about your plastered on makeup and forever posting selfies online of yourself, heavily filtered. Then they KNOW you don't care about them."

[Sew Sumi]

2 minutes ago, LilJen said:

"They don't care what you think, until they know you care. . . about your plastered on makeup and forever posting selfies online of yourself, heavily filtered. Then they KNOW you don't care about them."

She's such a see you next Tuesday. 

[Ljohnson1987]

Oh JillRod... I prayed for you, too. I prayed that you open your eyes, and stop being an asshiole. It'll be an unanswered one, but it's a prayer. 

[ginger90]

2 pictures:

 

 

[Temperance]

1 hour ago, Ljohnson1987 said:

Oh JillRod... I prayed for you, too. I prayed that you open your eyes, and stop being an asshiole. It'll be an unanswered one, but it's a prayer. 

Amen.

[galaxygirl76]

12 minutes ago, ginger90 said:

2 pictures:

 

 

Anyone taking any bets that the kids will be allowed near it?

[JoanArc]

 Watch out David, those Jacuzzi Jets could replace you. Then it will just be the Jill show.

[galaxychaser]

44 minutes ago, galaxygirl76 said:

Anyone taking any bets that the kids will be allowed near it?

Only to clean it.

[BradandJanet]

If anyone at the conference had a virus to pass along, poor Amy is a target. Who knows what medical problems she might have that affect her immunity. Jill wouldn't bother to think about it since this conference is Jill's chance to look important. Poor Amy is a prop (and maybe a willing one) in the life of Saint Jill. 

[BradandJanet]

Another thing, Jill claims that she came home from the conference to find that David put in the tub. David was photographed at the conference. He must be a miracle man. 

[Jynnan tonnix]

8 minutes ago, BradandJanet said:

If anyone at the conference had a virus to pass along, poor Amy is a target. Who knows what medical problems she might have that affect her immunity. Jill wouldn't bother to think about it since this conference is Jill's chance to look important. Poor Amy is a prop (and maybe a willing one) in the life of Saint Jill. 

Wow, yeah...I was just thinking and worrying about how all her undernourished kids would do if they contracted it, but had forgotten about her sister,,,

[Sew Sumi]

10 minutes ago, BradandJanet said:

If anyone at the conference had a virus to pass along, poor Amy is a target. Who knows what medical problems she might have that affect her immunity. Jill wouldn't bother to think about it since this conference is Jill's chance to look important. Poor Amy is a prop (and maybe a willing one) in the life of Saint Jill. 

Judy posted that she had a cough and a low-grade fever but was feeling a bit better today. Hopefully, just a cold.

[ginger90]

3 pictures:

 

[Sew Sumi]

Now we know what happens to Jill's hoard of teddy bears. 

[ginger90]

[BradandJanet]

Here I go again. Jill is bragging because her child is stuck in a crowded van playing for three days with a dirty ladder and a bunch of building supplies (paint cans, solder, etc.) However, the children of normal parents who have normal lives have mushy brains. If anyone has a mushy brain, it's the narcissistic mother of these poor, undernourished, uneducated kids. 

How's Tim doing in school, Jill? 

[ginger90]

Ooops posted out of order....

Edited March 21, 2020 by ginger90

[galaxychaser]

The teddy picture and Sofia duplicating the stink bus with 100 teddies/kids is just depressing. 

The kids can be an ad for third world countries feed me charity. $20 a month can feed this hungry child.

[Sew Sumi]

Who needs food when Jill wants a spa tub? We know who rules the roost in that family.

[Jynnan tonnix]

The fact that those kids are all looking at a gummy vitamin as a big treat does not speak as well for their typical daily diet as you might think,, Jill...

 

[galaxychaser]

Yay momma we each get 1 gummy bear! 
 

I bet the kids get a bowl of cereal a day if that.

[Temperance]

The Maxwells have a post on homeschooling and things to do while school is out. They always homeschool. However this blog post is good. Even though it's typical Maxwellian, it may be helpful for parents whose kids are home for the rest of the year.

No news from/about Anna Marie, but probably there will be soon.

Chelsy Bontrager Maxwell also has a new post on her blog about motherhood, marriage and pregnancy. She is quite the fundie mother about everything. The blogpost is too long to put all here. She is currently 27 weeks pregnant.  Her oldest is about 14 months old.  She likes to give Axton raw cow's milk to drink, which she gets from a local dairy farm.

Here is excerpt from her post:

"Motherhood is amazing. A number of people have asked me if having babies this close together is an overwhelming thought for me. Honestly, it isn't! Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I will have moments, especially in those early days of adjusting to caring for two babies instead of just one! But I saw my own mother have five babies in six years, and if I can do it with half the grace and energy she did, I'll be just fine. 😃 I suppose I would be much more overwhelmed depending on what kind of a child my current son was, but we have been pretty intentional in ordering his life, and not letting him run ours, and as a result, he is a super happy and very scheduled little guy. I don't say that in a prideful way, at all-there have been many learning moments for me and many times when consistency has stretched me as a mama! I have failed often and growing in this is a continual process. But having him on a schedule early on, and giving him a little life of order and routine, has paid off HUGE dividends in our quality of life now, and I am confidant that will just continue as we transition this summer into life with two babies."

To see the full blogpost, you can google Chelsyrenee and the blog should come up. The rest of the post from here is just we are so blessed with babies and marriage.

The Bontragers had to cancel their singing tour. They were intending to head to Bolivia, which apparently has some Mennonites living there. I didn't know that. (The Bontrager parents were Mennonites when they were children.) 

 

 

[Sew Sumi]

Bolivia closed its borders Thursday. I guess the Bontragers couldn't get there before that. 

Edited March 21, 2020 by Sew Sumi
Thursday is still yesterday here, it not East coast

[galaxygirl76]

Hey Jilly, you know what helps children's immune systems? Food. Actual food.

[galaxychaser]

Unless a sweet friend buys them food the kids aren’t going to get enough. 

[Zella]

6 minutes ago, galaxychaser said:

Unless a sweet friend buys them food the kids aren’t going to get enough. 

I really worry about that right now for those kids. I mean, Jill's fucking crazy enough to do anything, but I could definitely see them not getting fed well indefinitely while the pandemic keeps the Rods at home. 

[Temperance]

48 minutes ago, Sew Sumi said:

Bolivia closed its borders Thursday. I guess the Bontragers couldn't get there before that. 

I think the Bontragers were probably planning not to go after this last week. It probably didn't matter than Bolivia closed it's borders. 

[Sew Sumi]

As of Tuesday, the trip was still a go. I saw an IG post Thursday morning that said they weren't going. It seems to have been a last minute call. Who knows when they found out the borders were closing. Wednesday?

Edited March 21, 2020 by Sew Sumi

[Temperance]

1 minute ago, Sew Sumi said:

As of Tuesday, the trip was still a go. I saw an IG post Thursday morning that said They weren't going. It seems to have been a last minute call.

Did they actually say they were still going like on Instagram or something or was the information just still listed on their website? It may be that they just needed to notify venues/contacts in Bolivia before they made the official announcement.