CNN is clarifying and re-stated that 2 planes crashed into the trade center, don't know where you heard otherwise DWiltshire but that's according to AP
Esmeralda
JoinedPosts by Esmeralda
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Esmeralda
It looks like a scene from a movie...doesn't look real... :(
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"Mom, I hate the Kingdom Hall"
by Esmeralda ini think that they are making all this stuff up.".
this is the breakfast conversation that i had with my five year old daughter this morning.. "oh, really?
" i said, trying not to choke on my coffee.. "mom, what if i get disfellowshipped someday?
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Esmeralda
Hey Bluesapphire...thanks for your e mail last night! I will reply to it, honestly! It was so sweet of you to think of me :)
you said:
I worry when you say this because I know that if my ex had told me that my girls had told him they hated meetings and couldn't 'take it anymore' I would have really laid on the guilt trip. Just looking at it from both angles. You don't want to add to her burden.
Thanks, I will definitely think about that. The last thing I want to do is make more stress for her.
I'm not trying to get him to stop taking her to meetings completely (because I know if I did that, he'd only push harder in the other direction just to be obstinate) I am trying to get him to stop taking her to a Saturday morning bookstudy, then a Sunday meeting. It's just too much for one little kid in two days. On top of that sometimes they go in service too. She hardly gets to really 'see' her Dad, because her bottom is too busy warming a seat at the KH. I will definitely think about what you said, thanks *hug*!
Ray, nice to meet you. I appreciate your thoughts so much. It's funny because I actually said to her today, if you get bored during the meeting think about all the things you can do at home that you can't do at Dad's. She said "Like Christmas? Birthdays?" I nodded. She already has a great imagination so I'm hoping that will help to get her through some of the boredom.
I know I excelled in daydreaming to get through meetings! *lol*
Thanks to everyone who replied to this thread for all your encouragement. I posted this for myself, to get input but also so that others who are going through this will know they're not alone.
I appreciate all the warm responses. I'll say goodnight now, off to sleep early tonight.
*hugs* and thanks
essie -
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Speculation on special October 7th meeting
by Seeker inwe have been discussing the special meeting being held in various locations on october 7th.
note, this is the day after the annual meeting, not part of the annual meeting itself.
reports have come in that certain individual congregations have been invited to attend.
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Esmeralda
Thanks Expatbrit! Don't worry...I'm not a scared little girl anymore going to whimper in the corner if I get yelled (or sworn) at. I've come a long, long way since the beginning of my board tenure back at the old H2O. Now that board had trolls that make our buddy MadApostate look like a choir boy.
I will be around, in some capacity or another, for the foreseeable future. My levels of participation will vary with my health, of course. But I work here. And there is a LOT to be done.
I really appreciate your taking the time to say that you're glad to see me. Always nice to hear :)
For the children!
*hugs*
essiep.s. I kinda thought I'd been back for awhile *lol* I started posting again when my Dad fell ill, as a way to reach everyone quickly. Then I just kind of, hung around. :) And here I am.
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OH man, can I just like...
by Esmeralda inlive in this forum??!!!
song quotes, art...i think that if there was heaven that this is what it'd probably look like *lol*.
essie.
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Esmeralda
Thanks, Seven! I think I'll be moving in here, and "there" the cafe on H2O) as well!
Gotta run, love ya!
Essie -
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Kindness, and Sticking Together
by Esmeralda inwhile going through some old files, i found this.. it's a copy of a post i submitted on an e mail list a long time ago, when there was dissent and a lot of people were thinking of leaving.. it seems to fit what's been goin' on around here lately, so i'm posting it here.
please indulge me.
i tweaked it a little, but the original sentiment is still there.. thanks,.
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Esmeralda
Hello all,
While going through some old files, I found this.
It's a copy of a post I submitted on an e mail list a long time ago, when there was dissent and a lot of people were thinking of leaving.
It seems to fit what's been goin' on around here lately, so I'm posting it here. Please indulge me. I tweaked it a little, but the original sentiment is still there.
Thanks,
es-----------------------
If we turn our backs on eachother,
who will be left for us in our grief, and
happiness?Those of us who have lost mothers,
and daughters.
Sisters, and spouses.
Friends, and aquaintences.Lost fathers, sons,
uncles and cousins,
who will fill
that void in our souls?If we close the door of compassion on eachother,
what is left?
Darkness, emptyness.
Anger, bitterness.If we can't see through our own hurt
to offer kindness and understanding to eachotherTo give the benefit of the doubt
and realize that words on a screen
can come across many ways,
how will we ever survive real life,
real world relationships?Did we forget to leave our judgemental tendencies
inside as we walked out
of the Kingdom Hall?Did we turn all of our sorrow internally on ourselves
to make us so sensitive
that we can't listen to other's words
without jumping to conclusions
and then running away?Are we so positive that our way is right
that we can't entertain other's points of view
to respect that their beliefs are as valid to them
as ours are to us?Tolerance, Kindness, Mildness,
Humility, Gratefulness, and Love:
with these you can't go wrong,
can't we stick together,
hold hands, and give eachother the kindness
that we all ached for when we were still
simply drones?I cherish my freedom, and that of all my 'sisters' and 'brothers':
especially the ones who follow a path I wouldn't choose for myself:
because I know that my life is richer
because of all the things that I have learned from them.I've learned from you all. I want to keep learning.
To those who want to leave this...think about it...
if these people, who've been where we've been and have seen what we've seen
can't understand us, and us them...
then how the hell will we get through dealing
with the rest of the world,
who have no chance of being able to fathom
what it's like to be, and leave the Jehovah's Witnesses?Please think. I know that I'm tired and it's late...but I think that at least a little of my ramblings make sense.
Love you all
Essie
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14
"Mom, I hate the Kingdom Hall"
by Esmeralda ini think that they are making all this stuff up.".
this is the breakfast conversation that i had with my five year old daughter this morning.. "oh, really?
" i said, trying not to choke on my coffee.. "mom, what if i get disfellowshipped someday?
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Esmeralda
Hi All, thanks for your comments.
Andi, thanks for supporting my belief that no five year old should have to deal with religious issues this way. I don't delude myself into thinking that JW's are the only ones who brainwash their children this way (I saw part of a children's show on the Catholic channel while I was surfing over the weekend...a teenager explaining to a group of young kids about confession. I swear the word "guilt" was used a dozen times in three minutes) but that doesn't make it any easier. My child is afraid that no matter what she does, someone will be unhappy. We just keep telling her that as long as she's herself, we'll love her. I hope it wins out in the end.
Freepeace! I've been thinking of you! I have to click over to your site and catch up. I want to re-link it to mine, I think the url changed, yes? Your writing is excellent, and I know it helps a lot of people. I'm sorry your son is going through this. I'm sure with you beside him that in the end, he'll be okay...
TR: I already talked to my lawyer about this. He told me that it's nearly impossible to get a joint custody arrangement overturned in this jurisdiction. He told me that he's even seen fathers who were abusive or drug addicted get slapped on the wrist; meaning temporary supervised visitation for a few months then back to normal. But I will tell you what I am going to do. I am going to once again, sit my ex down and tell him that he has to stop taking her to meetings two days in a row on the weekend. It's too much for a little one. She said to me this morning "I can't take it anymore."
Those words should never come out of the mouth of a five year old. I am definitely going to have to come up with some adjustment in her schedule...
Thanks for the support guys. It's helping me pick my chin up off the floor this morning.
*hugs*
essieedited to add:
expatbrit: I asked my lawyer the same thing and he said that the fact that this is a 'free country' is exaggerated when it comes to children. That until they're older (I take him to mean 10-12, somewhere in there) that the court has no interest in what they have to say in this kind of case.I know, I know. Find a new lawyer. I'm trying to effect change without an all out war. I just realized this morning that I have got to bring this issue up again with my ex...*groan*
And a p.s. to TR, I love the quote at the end of your posts, it's become one of my favorites now. I think of it often.
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OH man, can I just like...
by Esmeralda inlive in this forum??!!!
song quotes, art...i think that if there was heaven that this is what it'd probably look like *lol*.
essie.
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Esmeralda
live in this forum??!!! Song quotes, art...I think that if there was heaven that this is what it'd probably look like *lol*
*hugs* to all
essie
(just a flaky artsy type! *lol*) -
14
"Mom, I hate the Kingdom Hall"
by Esmeralda ini think that they are making all this stuff up.".
this is the breakfast conversation that i had with my five year old daughter this morning.. "oh, really?
" i said, trying not to choke on my coffee.. "mom, what if i get disfellowshipped someday?
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Esmeralda
"I wish I didn't ever have to go there again. I think that they are making all this stuff up."
This is the breakfast conversation that I had with my five year old daughter this morning.
"Oh, really?" I said, trying not to choke on my coffee.
"Mom, what if I get disfellowshipped someday? Then Dad won't talk to me."
"Why are you worried about that?"
"Well because dad said when you get disfellowshipped, that you're not doing stuff Jehovah's way and so your family can't talk to you anymore."
"You don't ever want that to happen to you?" I asked. She nodded, leaning forward and averting her eyes. Her dark hair covered her face.
"You don't have to worry about that. If you don't get baptized, you won't be a Witness and they can't disfellowship you." I said. She looked confused.
"But what if they just do it to me?"
"Baptize you?"
"Yeah."
"They can't just do it to you, honey. You have to answer all kinds of questions with the elders. Believe me, they can't just sneak and do it to you. And you don't ever have to do it if you don't want to."
"Mom, I just hate the meetings. I hate the Kingdom Hall. I wish I never had to go there again. Why can't Dad just be like you?"
Round and around we went awhile longer, but it's plain to see that the child is suffering.
"I hate going back and forth, Mom."
"I know, but the only other choice would have been to have to do things Dad's way all the time, honey. Aren't you glad that at least most of the time you're here with us and you don't have to worry about this grown up stuff?"
"It's too grown up. I'm just a kid."
"I know, and I love you just the way you are."
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Sounds like my ex is doing a great job at inculcating the love of God into her, isn't he? HA!
No kid should have to deal with this garbage...
*sigh*
essie -
17
Sharon's memorial
by Mulan inthe memorial for my cousin, sharon, who died of breast cancer on september 6, was yesterday.
it was standing room only, and it was obvious how many people really loved her.
i couldn't help but think of all the absent ones, who had been her lifelong friends, and how sad it was that they stayed away.
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Esmeralda
((((((Marilyn))))))))
Memorial services two days in a row...and such different circumstances. It must have been like going from scalding water to ice, shocking both times.
I am so glad that they vindicated Sharon that way. The fact that she 'rose above her raising' as Dr. Phil would say, learning to love even though she grew up among people who, in the end, were anything but speaks volumes about her.
I salute her, and you. Please take care of yourself, you must be exhausted.
love
es