Posts by kitten whiskers

16

Holidays

by IronHill in

jw
friends

as the holiday season approaches, me and my wife (yes finally married!

) are looking for ways to celebrate the holidays, secretly.

i think we both would love to partake in them publicly, but our current status and relationships wont allow that just yet.

Snowflakes and Snowmen are pretty safe. You can usually decorate with them without backlash. Get a cute snowman for the front door area and hang a pair of ice skates over a sled leaning against the house.

For fall...pumpkins and scarecrows are great! Leaves or acorns and pinecones are pretty too.

There are some really pretty "ornaments" for christmas that can double as tassels to hang from a dresser knob or door knob.

There are usually really pretty deer statues to use around the fireplace or on the porch. These can be purely winter decoration!

If you want a little more Christmas like decorations maybe put some in your bedroom or another room no one else would enter. Keep the curtains closed, and the door, and no one should ever happen upon by accident!

Enjoy! I remember the first times I went shopping for Christmas items! It was so much fun to finally embrace that this world of Christmas was now open to us! I hope you find a way to celebrate! They also have mini trees for desks. Maybe you could do a mini tree and if necessary, stash it in a drawer if someone stops by!

Get a couple Christmas movies and some music to listen to in the car! You'll know the words in no time!

57

Rehab has been very interesting, but ended nightmarishly....

by oompa in

jw
friends

hi guys...oompa here.

was i in rehab for alcohol addiction or jwd addiction!?!?

!......no computers or cellphones allowed so i have been awol awhile..... ya, i finally made my self sick enough on booze to realize i was really sick and tired of being sick and tired....so checked myself into rehab without any planning at all and while wife was out of town on a family retreat...it was a a very desperate moment in my life, and i was extremely physically and emotionally sick....i was so desperate i took zero time to reseach where to go, but called an old school friend who said rehab had saved his life and he made the calls and actually took me and helped me check in to the place he went to 5 years ago.

kitten whiskers

Hey Oompa! Glad to see you!

What a crock of bologna you were put through! So sorry to hear that. But on the flip side...yeah for you! Keep moving forward friend! Keep moving forward!

33

So I did it - almost!

by wantstoleave in

today, i'm not quite sure how it started, but i voiced my concerns about the religion i've been brought up in since i was 3. my dad went straight on the offensive, though kept nice and polite.

i told them that someone can not be df for accepting a transfusion.

not sure why i started with that example, but nevertheless... dad said 'since when' and started pumping me for information, when, where, what...you get the picture and biggest one of all 'how do you know this'.

kitten whiskers

Dear wantstoleave,

Your first thought is going to be your children. Protect them. I wouldn't let anyone study with them. You know what it is and if you want that instilled you can do it.

On the other hand, celebrating Christmas and Birthdays takes much thinking on your part. You are right in saying you don't want to give it and then take it away. When you know that it is not "the truth", and that they have lied on so many things, you will do your own research and make your own decisions concerning holidays. It is at that moment, when I decided for myself that I finally felt like an adult. I was 33 years old and finally was able to make a decision for myself. We missed the first christmas we could have had because I wasn't ready. I wish I could have been! But I wasn't ready in my heart and conscience yet. By Valentines day...I was set and determined. I had done my research, analyzed things for myself and looked at them form a different perspective. It's your right to do that. You get to decide. You get to weigh information. No one has the right to tell you what you should do.

The kids by the way will adjust just fine! Mine did! They know why we don't believe what other family does. We tell them that family doesnt' talk to us or celebrate with us because they listen to what other people tell them. We tell the children to never let another tell you what the bible says. All you need is the bible and God's spirit. That's it. God will direct you. I also tell them, just because grandma and grandpa and aunts and uncles are JW doesn't mean they are bad people. They are misled. They aren't listening to God, they are listening to what some men tell them. That is wrong. You shouldn't let someone else tell you that you can't talk to your family. That isn't what God wants. Jesus wouldn't like that.

I try to keep it simple, but the children never have to feel bad for what we do. If anyone would try to make them feel guilty or "teach" them, that would be the end of their contact with them. You don't do that. You had your turn to raise your child...this is mine. You will not turn my children against me or make them think God is angry with them and displeased. So far, one grandparent doesn't have any contact and the other two I think are well aware not to cross the line. I wish you all the peace possible as you chart your course! Don't hand over your parental rights to your dad from pressure. It's not his place. It's your right and privelege...don't let him take that from you!

6

A Self Pleasing & Amusing Story

by Cthulhu in

jw
friends

i've not been to a meeting in quite some time, but occassionally i talk to this witness couple in the area and ask if i have missed anything good lately.

on a recent visit with them i was told this story.. for some months now a semi retarded fellow has been attending the meetings at the hell, and as many of us know, a couple of weeks ago at the constipated bible study the subject was masturbation.

this new meeting attender, who often incorporates space travel, ufo's, and star trek into his comments was present, but was exceptionally wired.

kitten whiskers

Poor man. Very funny, but poor man. He is trying so hard to fit in and was probably put to shame. I hope he never goes back.

48

MY FIRST DOUBT

by goldensky in

jw
friends

dear all,.

i posted my first thread a few days ago and some of you asked me questions i'm more than willing to answer.

but there is so much i want to say to you there's no way i can convey all the information at one sitting, so i've decided to tackle one subject at a time, both for the sake of not boring you and because i'd love to know how you feel about each individual topic.

kitten whiskers

I don't know. That's all I have. I hate the animal sacrifice and don't understand either. But I am grateful Christ came.

I guess, if we can look at it differently than we did as a JW, and consider Jesus was actually God in man's form, it was the ultimate self-sacrifice. If God has come and sacrificed a part of himself, then it doesn't seem cruel to send Christ. It seems like a parent, sacrificing for our children. We do it willingly, no matter the cost to ourself! If we can see it that way, it reveals the deep love God has for us. He stepped up and it did it for us by taking something from himself. I never thought of it like this until you posted this question.

As far as animal sacrifices...I never understood that. But it also makes me ill to see shows or read articles on how the meat on the shelf in supermarket gets there! There is so much cruelty in it's manufacturing. It sure smells good though when I pass a steakhouse and they are grilling! It makes me think of how the fat smoked and was a pleasing smell to God. I don't really understand the need, but I also know the lifestyle back then was so different than today! PETA wasn't around, although God did decree that man was to care for his domestic animals and help his neighbors animals that were in distress. Animals were highly valued...I guess it was a great donation/sacrifice of their livelyhood or family to give it to God. It sure makes it wonderful that Christ ended it. Although the sacrifice of the Lord tugs the heart and hurts worse than any animal sacrifice could hurt our heart, in my opinion.

I hope my thoughts have helped a little. I know your post has helped me! It made me think about Christ differently and understand God a little more this morning! I hope you get more helpful comments...I'll be back to check! Keep praying and asking for the Spirit to lead you. He can take you places no other person or their ideas can go! He can make your heart understand. It takes time though. It hasn't come to me quickly. But when I get a "revelation" or new way of understanding that is different from what we were taught, it really makes sense and I can see scriptures differently. I don't tear apart each verse but am able to read it in context...which the Society claimed they did, but now I know was a lie! They twisted so many scriptures that it is shocking when you see what the bible really said!

P.S. Get a new bible! I love, love, love the side by side translations of four different versions I bought! It was my first non-jw bible and I felt so guilty standing in the "religion" section at the book store. I was sure I would be caught and get in trouble. Silly fear of man! It was the best purchase! I love comparing how the different versions read and get a better understanding of what the origianl writings were trying to convey. It's nice to be able to compare rather than to be told what we must accept! Let your mind explore the possibilities and process all the new information!

90

Baby??? honeymoon??? a certain time to have them??

by angel eyes in

has anyone ever heard anything wrong with having a honeymoon baby??.

just wanted to ask as i was told by an elder two weeks before i married "dont you dare have a honeymoon baby"......

kitten whiskers

On a side note, to just answer your title...I recommend not having the baby on your honeymoon! I suggest the honeymoon first, the baby later! *snickers* (At least I made myself laugh...hope you found it funny!)

90

Baby??? honeymoon??? a certain time to have them??

by angel eyes in

has anyone ever heard anything wrong with having a honeymoon baby??.

just wanted to ask as i was told by an elder two weeks before i married "dont you dare have a honeymoon baby"......

kitten whiskers

I haven't heard of anything wrong with it. There are just always busybodies and gossips who have to count and "see" if something looks wrong.

It was very rude and unchristian of that elder to have said such a thing. I am assuming he is speaking to a young virgin and implying improper conduct. That is spiritually devestating to someone who is following all the guideline. It gives off the feeling of distrust. What a jerk.

I think he was implying, " Don't have a baby too close to the wedding date. We would have to count out the 40 weeks and that could put conception before the wedding. Even if the baby is naturally early, we would have to form a judicial committee and may have to disfellowship you." It is just a veiled threat. It is a terrible and evil way of thinking. It is JW thinking!

50

I made it!!!

by purplesofa in

jw
friends

to fifty!!.

never dreamed life would be as it is now, .

there are times i did not think i would make it.

kitten whiskers

Happy Birthday!

8

The long term effects of losing friends and family through shunning

by finding my way in

jw
friends

i've recently been thinking about this topic as i've been finding old friends on facebook etc.

that were just gone one day because either their whole family da'd themselves or they had been df'd.

not to mention the friends i lost when i myself was df'd.. most of my life i found this losing of friends normal because it was what i was used to.

kitten whiskers

Finding my way,

When we are raised to treat people who displease us like a used kleenex to be thrown away, that messes us up! A true loving relationship tries to work through problems. When we discard people, we aren't learning the skills we need for long term relationships. It is hard to develope them later in life than it is as a child!

I know I found that when I bought an "American Girl" book on how to make friends, that there are some useful skills that children use that I can use. We were taught to ignore and not feel a kinship toward those we went to school with, toward unbelieving relatives, toward people in general. It is a warped way of thinking and behaving. It takes time to overcome. We have to learn skills that should be deeply ingrained by now. I guess it's like learning the alphabet when you are 40. You should have already been taught this by those responsible for your care in your youth...but you can do it now. It will be harder and require more dedication, but it can be mastered. Don't give up. Baby steps. Keep taking baby steps!

All the best to you!

25

boozing as a jw

by Adrianoblue in

jw
friends

i got babtized at the age of 23. i was not a so called born in guy.

i started studying the bible at 20, and before that i never heard of the jw-religion.

so everything was pretty new for me.. to make a long story short: a month or so after baptizm, i felt probably lonley one evenig and got drunk right out of my brains.

kitten whiskers

I can't touch the stuff...not for lack of wishing I could have a nice drink and relax at times...it just has an almost allegic reaction in me. I hit the floor with Ny-Quil! It's a wonder I can bake cookies with vanilla extract! (Yes, I know the alcohol cooks off...that's why I use it in cooking pot roast! At least I get some flavor if not the real deal!)

But I know all the younger ones we were friends with rely heavily on booze for a good time. Their Facebook pages all show them with a drink in thier hand. It makes me sad. It's their way of coping...hanging out and drinking. Most of them started before being of legal age. They all were raised in the religion and keep a tight circle with each other. They play instruments, play pool, ski, dirtbike, skateboard...do normal young adult activities. But drinking is always prominent.

I know one couple with two beautiful little girls that have left and are now having drinking parties and smoking weed and just behaving indecently. It's like they want to leave JW world, but have lost all moral values along the way. I don't understand it. They were such a nice couple. I worry about their kids, and hope they are at Grandma's when Mom and Dad are doing all this. I haven't talked to them in years, but I saw the pics on thier MySpace page and it repulsed me. It's not a good environment.