Posts by kitten whiskers

28

Santa Claus

by Joshnaz in

jw
friends

i was thinking about if i should start telling my 2 year old about santa claus.

after realizing that i've been lied to my whole life from all the jw bullcrap should i lie to my child about santa claus?

do you think its ok to say, "be good or santa wont bring you any toys this christmas.

kitten whiskers

Santa is real! If you believe in God and a heavenly reward...he's up there! His spirit is alive and well...in both ways!

If it wasn't for him and his example...would there be any gifts at all under the tree?

That being said...we divide the loot up as some from us and a little from the big guy. Hubby didn't want him to have all the credit! So stockings and specific gifts are from Santa. The rest go under the tree earilier! Santa has left foot prints around the house, the reindeer have gotten in the fridge and made a mess of the carrots and veggies! They've left foot prints too! (footprints were baking soda sprinkled on the floor in shapes! The little guy tasted it and said he knew it was Santa. At first he said he thought I put salt on the floor...but it wasnt salt! I told him it was the residue of the snow from the other places he's been!)

The Easter Bunny also found us when we had to travel and were in a hotel. Again, the youngest knew he would find us.

The tooth fairy is forgetful at times and has left notes that her bag was too full and heavy with teeth and she had to come back to collect his later!

Our oldest was unfortunately originally given the JW version of the holidays until she was 7. We tried back peddaling and telling her how we didn't believe that way anymore. Santa brought her what she wanted and she was happy!

They know the Santa's they see are just helpers. They found that out by accident! I bought a Christmas CD and listened to it with them the first time and it had the Beach Boys song about taking a boy to see Santa and the kid pulling the pillow/beard off and finding out he wasn't really Santa Clause. OOPs! It was a blessing in disguise though! They love it and know when they see one he's just helping! The real one is at the North Pole!

Two years ago we mailed a Santa letter and actually got a reply! I was more excited I think! It was awesome! But I heard the Post Office isn't doing that this year. :o(

Just enjoy! Have fun...but be prepared! You don't want to get caught with no cash when the Tooth Fairy needs to call! If I had it to do over, I would have stocked up on $2 bills or those gold coin dollars! Go get them now before that first tooth falls out in another 4 or 5 years!

10

Christmas Tips

by cognac in

jw
friends

do you tip your mailman, newspaper, oil delivery persons?

if so, what do you normally give?

who else do you tip?

kitten whiskers

I thought I read somewhere you could tip/gift the mailperson in a value up to 20/25 dollars.

I usually give them some boxed candy with a ribbon and christmas card on it. It's not expensive, it' sealed so they can be sure it's safe, and it's a nice way to say thanks for holding my mail when I'm on vacation and such! Mine even left me a thank you note after the holidays for remembering her!

My garbage men use a truck that doesn't require them to actually touch the garbage. They grab the can with a lever and flip it. I don't know how to leave them something! They probably wouldn't see it! They don't get out of the truck!

I'm thinking of baking something for the pediatrician, dentist and vet. They know us, so they would trust a homemade gift!

I'd stick with a box of candy or homemade goodies for the oil man too! I need to order some more propane soon...so thanks for the reminder!

63

I need a hug

by wouldacouldashoulda in

jw
friends

without posters asking why.. .

w.

kitten whiskers

Hope you are feeling better soon!

9

You know you are rich when....

by wouldacouldashoulda in

jw
friends

the memories of you playing barbie with your sister always include you buying up all the other barbie's houses and foreclosing on their mortgages.. .

do you have any other signs?.

.

kitten whiskers

...your bed is dry even though it is pouring rain outside.

...your children are tucked in safe and warm.

...your spouse rushes home from work each night to be with you.

...no matter the house, your family is there to make it home.

...your dog will love you no matter what religion you are!

...you have eyes that "feast" upon nature and the world's charms around you.

...you have enough in your bank account to keep the bird feeder full! LOL!

11

Email sent, I did it

by Heartbreaker in

jw
friends

i sent an email detailing why i am not ok with my kids being with my (in the past) abuser father, and in turn mother (forgiver, hider, fascilitator).

i also touched on the fact that we do not consider ourselves to be jws, or held to the laws and rules of such, nor do we view the elders or congregation as an authority on us.

that she could print the email and give it to the elders if she wanted, but it would surely hasten the announcement of our disfellowshipping if she did.

kitten whiskers

Angel eyes is right on with this Heartbreaker!

You did what you needed to do, and you explained your stand and why. It is what it is. You didn't make it that way. They did. You are doing what you have to do. Hugs for taking the first step and much comfort to you as you heal and work through this.

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.

kitten whiskers

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!