This is the same girl who has this blog:
http://sweetpotatopeachtree.com/?p=12
Im happy that she and her husband have decided to make a YouTube channel so we can better get to know them! :)
stephanie61092
JoinedPosts by stephanie61092
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12
Jake and Steph Introduction
by Jehalapeno ina new exjw couple started a youtube channel.
found on reddit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wenk0_vhp9k.
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34
Hello
by WITNESS-FOR-WATCHTOWER-REFORM injust to say a big hello.
i have been reading this site for some time now and have been very unhappy with some of the things emanating from watchtower head quarters in new york.
the final straw for me is the upcoming watchtower study this weekend encouraging us to shun our own family members (our own mothers if need be) if they are disfellowshipped....a step too far for my liking.
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stephanie61092
Welcome WFWR! So happy to have you and please don't stop posting :) good luck on your endeavors in writing to the GB. I for one have simply been contemplating sending them glitter bombs every so often!! -
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Why are witnesses all so highly stressed?
by stuckinarut2 inwitnesses are so anxious, stressed, highly strung..... so much for ones who are supposed to be "the happiest people"..... thoughts?.
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stephanie61092
There's always so much to do, in and outside of the organization. I remember when I was a kid my mom would freak out on Saturday afternoons. As a kid I HATED Saturday afternoons because I knew this was coming. But it was the only time during the week that the house could be cleaned, so everyone had to pitch in. It was so much crammed into a little period of time since during the week we had the book study one night and TMS another night. Trying to work full time to pay your bills, make it to the meetings, be prepared for the meetings if you're a really good JW and go in service at least once per week...it's exhausting and would stress any normal person out.
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I need food for thought..
by raven inhi friends,it has been 20 years that i've slaved for the wt and through out the past couple of years i could feel myself fighting an urge to accept that something was not right.
i fought it off for so long only for it to resurface frequently throughout my years of pioneering, assembly/convention parts, & speaking with people about the "truth", slaving and giving to try to be a "spiritual person" but in reality i was not spiritual because spirituality (according to the org) is doing all of the things they want you to do.
which then will label you as spiritual... no !!!
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stephanie61092
Again, I am in your shoes. I'm on a search for spirituality. I actually bought this book and have been enjoying it:
I was able to let go of the idea of JWs having "the truth" after reading Crisis of Conscience and Combatting Cult Mind Control. Reading these showed me that:
A) the WT is a very large, highly organized cult
B) the WT is a BUSINESS
C) the WT is filled with inconsistences
I've found a wealth of information on just this forum to further support those ideas too. It was really devastating because to this day, there was something about being a JW that I haven't personally seen or experienced with other groups. For example, you can always recognize JWs when they're out and about and when you tell them you're a witness too, you're treated like family. I've been on vacation before and randomly saw JWs preaching and introduced myself and ended up getting free lodging and meals from them being hospitable to me. However, being DFed now, seeing how people who were supposed to be my "spiritual family" not just shun me but gossip about me has shown me the true colors that I think I knew were there all along. Where is the "love that does not rejoice with unrighteousness"? JWs are a kind, loving people on the surface but when you get to the nitty gritty, not many are true friends. Whereas my "worldly" friends have been supporting me and helping me without any hesitation.
Anyway, maybe try to just focus on things you enjoy and let the others fall into place. Enjoy this man you're dating, maybe get more involved in work or school or some kind of extra curricular. Knowing now that Armageddon is not "just around the corner" has lifted such a weight off my shoulders. For once in my life, I'm able to wake up on Saturday morning and enjoy the beautiful nature outside of my apartment and not feel guilty that I wasn't able to go out and preach to people.
I wish you all the best on this new journey you're taking! xo
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Any one from Colorado?
by raven inany one on the forum in the colorado area?.
i would love to get to know local ones who are out of the organization or who are currently df'd da'd faded.
i am going through some tough times trying to endure the journey of fading out of the organization and would love to get to know all of your stories as well as those locally!.
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stephanie61092
Ok I sent you another PM! Lets chat and I'll try to plan my next vacation :) -
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Any one from Colorado?
by raven inany one on the forum in the colorado area?.
i would love to get to know local ones who are out of the organization or who are currently df'd da'd faded.
i am going through some tough times trying to endure the journey of fading out of the organization and would love to get to know all of your stories as well as those locally!.
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stephanie61092
I'm not from Colorado but it's my favorite state and I visit often! Maybe next time I'm out there, we can meet up! I love garden of the gods :) -
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Suppose I ought to introduce myself.....
by Andy Dufresne ini've left a couple of semi-"humorous" remarks, but not yet said a proper hello....but firstly thank you, to all, for this site and all its comments.i have been lurking on this site for 4-5 years, awake for 5-6 years and seriously fading for the last 4 years.
i am now "out" and widely considered "out" by the congregation but due being very cautious and playing a very long game, (and having a wife who understand the repercussions of blowing the whistle on the few viewpoints i have discussed with her) i have not been df'd of da'd.
this forum has been a crutch and guide as well as helping me wake - and the humour many on here use has been a welcome relief.
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stephanie61092
Love the username! Shawshank is one of my favorite movies ever! -
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Feeling anxious, venting...
by stephanie61092 ingood morning all,.
this is just a rambling post.
at the meeting yesterday during the wt study, i started flipping through the magazine to try to pass the time.
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stephanie61092
Thank you for your kind thoughts. I know that even if this article "makes waves" with my family, it will probably be very temporary. I used to do the same thing, I would be invigorated after a convention and for a few weeks be a super JW but sure enough would go back to my old (much more normal) habits.
TheListener..thank you for the hugs. I am seeing a therapist once a week and have been since January. It does help a lot and I'm learning about inner peace, contentment and genuine happiness. I'm just not at a point yet where I can say that I'm comfortable living without my parents in my life to some degree.
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What should they really do?
by Gratefullyunstuck ini am now seperated from my jw husband.
he cheated twice on me, once while i was pregnant.
he hasnt been to meetings for approximately 2 years.
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stephanie61092
For a group that claims that they are soooo unlike Christendom and that they don't make use of "titles", most JWS sure do rely heavily on titles to make their decisions.
Not DFed? Okay, I'll keep in contact with you even though you're doing what you're not supposed to. Officially DFed? SHUN!
Interested in a nice brother? Not an MS at 23?! Not a good marriage prospect. Officially an MS? "I DO!!"
Makes me sick.
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Feeling anxious, venting...
by stephanie61092 ingood morning all,.
this is just a rambling post.
at the meeting yesterday during the wt study, i started flipping through the magazine to try to pass the time.
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stephanie61092
Good morning all,
This is just a rambling post. At the meeting yesterday during the WT study, I started flipping through the magazine to try to pass the time. I only study one lesson a week (I can only handle so much rubbish at one sitting) so I was surprised when a certain word caught my eye... "Loyalty"
I think, "isn't 'loyalty' the theme of the convention this year? Oh boy, they're doing a little pre-brainwashing to get everyone prepped for the giant 3 day brainwashing session in a few months - this outta be good!"
So I start reading (btw it's "Learn From Jehovahs Loyal Servants" in the 02/16 WT study edition) and my heart dropped when I get to paragraph 7...
7 A conflict of loyalties may arise when a close relative is disfellowshipped. For example, a sister named Anne[1] received a telephone call from her disfellowshipped mother. The mother wanted to visit Anne because she felt pained by her isolation from the family. Anne was deeply distressed by the plea and promised to reply by letter. Before writing, she reviewed Bible principles. (1 Cor. 5:11; 2 John 9-11) Anne wrote and kindly reminded her mother that she had cut herself off from the family by her wrongdoing and unrepentant attitude. “The only way you can relieve your pain is by returning to Jehovah,” Anne wrote
The rest of the meeting was spent trying to keep my anxiety under control. I knew about the "shunning" talk at the convention coming up but I've been able to keep it out of my mind and even hope that maybe I'll be reinstated by then. I'm just so, so upset and worried that this "loving reminder" will readjust my parents thinking.
Currently, since I'm "coming back", they talk to me freely and hang out with me whenever I tell them I'll be in their area. I hope that this WT doesn't make them recant. My mom told me as soon as I told her that I was getting DFed that she would always pick up the phone for me, because I'm her daughter. But having that social contact these past few months has been making all the difference in keeping on vs feeling suicidal.
I keep telling myself that if they didn't want the social contact, they wouldn't have it...they've been JWs long enough to know what's "expected" of them, they've seen quotes like these before, what is one more WT article going to do? But you never know..
Sorry for the long, rambling post. Sometimes it just feels really good to get my thoughts written out, especially to an audience that understands. Have a good day everyone!