Posts by mamochan13

19

Do y'all celebrate Christmas in the same way every year?

by panhandlegirl in

like me, most of you never celebrated christmas when you were growing up or when you were raising your children.

because of this, i don't place a great importance on celebrating christmas.

i do love the holidays because everyone seems so happy and i like the hustle and bustle of it all.

mamochan13

I've struggled with trying to develop a family tradition. But it's hard to come into this as an adult with absolutely no familly history to build on. I did have xmas at my paternal grandmothers, which is where I learned to sing carols and make pumpkin pie. But that was it. My maternal grandmother hated the JW religion for taking xmas away from her. She used to buy gifts for herself and tell her friends they came from her children.

The first year we had a big celebration on xmas eve, with all my daughters friends coming by three days in a row for leftovers. I made paella (which is always our xmas dinner tradition), tabouli, nachinka, hummous, perogies, pumpkin pie - we had a real ethnic mix. My youngest and I decorated the house to the hilt and had a blast shopping for gifts. We sang xmas carols and went on a crazy gift frenzy.

OVer the next few years we toned things down on the gift part. By the time the grandkids came along, we started to limit the gifts to kids only. We've had a few xmas's where one family member acts out (not always the same one).

So far we haven't settled on any particular way to do it. I still make paella and we eat very late. We always do it on xmas eve and we open our gifts throughout the evening. So I guess those are our main family traditions. Last year my grandson's father was an asshole and wouldn't let the boys come on xmas eve (the custody agreement alternates the holiday but he doesn't celebrate, he just wanted to ruin things for us.)

I used to love the decorating part, but over the last few years I'd be just as happy to not bother with a tree. I do it for the grandkids but usually we set it up only a day or two before - they love helping decorate it. I've been trying to establish a tradition of taking them shopping for gifts and encouraging them to buy for others.

47

Part 02: Compares And Contrasts From Any of The Following Posters.

by Scott77 in

this thread posted under 'fun and humor section' is intended campares and contrasts and to acknowledge the unique contributions of each poster and how he or she has affectedyou over the years.all are welcome.

you are free to compare and contrast each # 1-20. for example, how poster #15 differs from poster # 13?

anything in common you know of?

mamochan13

I don't know all of these posters very well, but here's my best shot.

1)mouthy - a great lady with lots of history. Has survived in spite of what the WT has done to her.

2)Marvin Shilmer - a go-to guy for anything related to blood issues.

3) OnTheWayOut - Always makes interesting comments worth reading.

4)leavingwt - same as above, plus the avatar makes me feel like singing.

5)Terry - practical and reasonable

6)Billy the Ex-Bethelite - quite the joker. Makes me laugh. Sounds like his picture.

7)botchtowersociety - I learn a lot from BTS's posts, offers some very profound ideas

8)Kudra - very smart. I'm jealous of the PhD!

9)Band on the Run - not afraid to be controversial. Knows a lot about a lot of things.

10)DaCheech - interesting posts, often brings in an idea I've not considered before

11)DesirousOfChange - thoughtful and insightful

12)144001 - well-researched posts, not afraid to stand by a belief even if others don't agree

13) AnnOMaly - provides unique perspectives on things and makes me think

14)00DAD - I think we have a lot in common - teaching, music. Someone it would be fun to hang out with.

15)cedars - hardworking and passionate about his topics. Sensitive and caring.

16)wha happened? - great posts, always offers an opinion respectfully. Interesting life history.

17)Dogpatch - What can you say about Randy that hasn't already been said? He's like the original "get out of jail" card. Hard worker who deserves a rest!

18)RayPublisher - fearless and has the courage of his convictions, with a bit of an ego (in a good way). Would like him on my debate team.

19)mind blown - well-read, always adds a valuable perspective.

20)Lady Lee - the ultimate survivor. Lives by my own philosophy - that which does not kill me makes me stronger.

23

Hell Exists

by breakfast of champions in

jw
friends

.and it's also known as new jersey.. although we now have a generator to heat our house and run the water, we abandonded ship tonight because of the snow/wind, and we're staying with family.

my work days run about 14 hours/7 days a week, and then i have school at night two nights a week.. brutal.. it's a nightmare out there.

still huge trees down all over, all utilities on the ground, and now snow and wind.

mamochan13

Thinking of you BOC...glad you are staying positive and coping okay.

14

atrapado's story parte 1

by atrapado in

so it was only my mother, two of my sisters and i that had to move.

you cant really play soccer by yourself.. i turn to the jws for friends but there were no kids my age and kids a few years older than me started to hate me.

i liked the elder saw him as my dad i didnt want to say no.

mamochan13

great story, thanks atrapado. Look forward to the next part.

21

American Elections - From an outsider

by LouBelle in

jw
friends

i am not huge into politics but i follow the american elections and kind of keep my finger on it.

i have my own strong views on sa politics.. i just want to applaud you, the american people for going about your elections in a very fair, democratic and peaceful manner.

it certainly came across very polished and well run.

mamochan13

There was a little clip in the paper: "perhaps if the Americans don't want Barack Obama for president, they'll let us have him instead of Zuma." ... Yes he would be most welcome here.

I actually heard similar comments tonight in Canada - that Americans don't know how good they've got it with Obama. I'd certainly trade Stephen Harper in a heartbeat.

13

This is for all who remember what a typewriter was!! enjoy

by finallysomepride in

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=g4nx0xrn-wo&sns=em.

mamochan13

Thanks for this. One of my daughters did a tap dance to this piece years ago, I've never seen it performed this way, though!

27

Our First Halloween

by Red Piller in

(i grew up in the "truth".

) very risky, considering we are still active in the cong..... so we started at the first house and methodically walked up and down each driveway as worked along the street.. we were quickly over-taken by kids who were zig-zagging across lawns and doing houses in random order.

suddenly, it dawned on me.

mamochan13

I felt that sadness this year, too, that I had deprived my own kids of a tradition that is so much fun. I think my grandkids and I have more fun getting ready than actually going out - creating costumes, deciding who we want to be, etc. Most people in my neighbourhood don't participate, but there is a nearby community that has adopted Halloween - every single house is decorated and pretty much all of them answer their doors. Lots of them do fun stuff like ask the kids extra questions or do something a bit scary. It's really neat.

Unfortunately I had to work this year and couldn't go along, plus it was really cold, but the kids went down a couple blocks and had their bags half full of candy so they were happy.

79

Have you given up on humanity?

by d in

i was thinking to myself today,people suck humans suck.i know that when i was younger i used to see myself helpng people.but now i could care less.the reason is because in reality things will never get better.i am not saying god is going to help us.i do not believe in god.i feel that no mattr what charity you give to an organization in the end it is all futile and pointless.this life we live is hard and can seem pointless.does anybody else feel that way..

mamochan13

Never. I believe most people are inherently good and caring.

60

What attracted you to the Watchtower?

by Christ Alone in

jw
friends

what attracted you to the watchtower?

were you raised in it?

if not, what caused you to convert?

mamochan13

I think the days if those sorts of resilient and resourceful JW women - they far, far, outnumbered men - are long gone: Women who lived and breathed their devoion to their "god" who, sadly, turned out to be The Watchtower Society.

So true, STeve. There were many like my aunt. I think a lot of people, women especially, were attracted to the religion for similar reasons and the resources did not exist that effectively exposed it.

During those years (in Western countries at least) maybe JWs also represented an option for people who wanted a moral faith that promised something positive for the future. For members of my family it also represented a break from the darker aspects of the Catholic religion (Greek Orthodox). It may have seemed fresh and new.

94

Its sad how Americans think they are the center of the world regarding Sandy...

by mP in

jw
friends

the storm was much more intense and killed many more in the caribbean and yet i see practically nothing mentioned about them here or in the media.. .

pathetic..

mamochan13

haha. Caliber. Love it.

I don't think the comments about Americans being at the centre of the world are necessarily meant in a derogatory way. Those of us who live in privileged countries do tend to be a bit insular about things. A tragedy or disaster on our doorstep is going to consume our attention, and the media will rightfully focus on matters that are of immediate interest. I'm sure most New Yorkers (and the other hard-hit areas) are aware that Haiti and Cuba also suffered from Sandy and understand that comparatively it is far worse for them. But they need to get their own front yard sorted out before they can be of much assistance elsewhere.