Bramble

We're big fans here--our family's version of watching Lawrence Welk with the folks. Our kids vote, my sister and I IM through the whole show. Amy was the girl with the wild hair. We liked her. Latoya should have been in the top three, but she's so talented she'll make it without winning.

Quote from Schwaigers: We aren't good enough to just rely on ourselves, but if we rely on somebody else, they will destroy us. *** Great observation. I know that since we have been 'on our own,' after we left the exway groups and church hopping, we have weathered some difficult things on our own (Except for siblings) --parent's deaths, illness, etc. And things have turned out all right. We have far more financial abundance than we ever did while IN, which is a big stress reducer. While we don't have close friends, we do have family if there's a big need, and day to day living is pleasant, not hectic and stressed. Friends are starting to fit in with our hobbies/activities. Just not close ones. In the Way we had instant friends. People in the twig or branch. I'm thinking it really takes longer.

Jezusfreaky--you sound like such a good and kind person, I bet you are a lovely friend. I hope you find a good friend who treats you right. Valerie--I understand what you mean about the recruiting. Sometimes I think I would actually have closer friends if I pursued people more, but that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I think the timing of life is part of the problem , too. I am so busy with work, kids activities, home, some volunteer work, and hubby works lots of overtime and I don't want to not be around when he is home. Plus, for the first time in my adulthood, I can spend time on my own interests and hobbies, and I don't want to give that up!

Risk--that's it. I no longer have friends that I will risk pain over. All the friends I have now could drop out of my life tomorrow--except my sister!--and there would be no upheaval, no children's tears, no heartache, so significant change. I have some friends on the net--I'm in a journal loop, hang out at a few chat rooms--that know more about my emotional life than my in the flesh friends. Perhaps as time goes by and I heal I will again have fuller friendships.

When I was in the Way I had friends that I treated and trusted like family--they could visit without calling first, had keys to my house, swapped babysitting, had lots of planned and unplanned playdates, did family stuff together. Then things changed--scheduling, two by two rules, fellowships split into different branches etc. Plus we were on the ****e list with the new limb coordinator. But we still found time to get together. Then later, we left TWI and were slandered and M&A. I lost all those friends, who I looked upon as sisters. We moved home, and my real sister and I have become very close--she's the only person who has a key to my house or can drop by anytime she's in the area, we talk several times a day, or IM, and our families get together. Other friends are based on whatever activites I enjoy. One lady from work enjoys plays and theater, so we go to stuff in our area, but we've never planned family activities, and probably never will, even though we have children in the same age range. I have some friends in the pagan/wiccan community, we meet for coffee a couple times a month, or join up to go to a larger meeting together,email alot, but don't visit much(don't all live in the same town, either.) And don't do family stuff together. I don't tell people about my years in TWI much or 'share my heart,' like I did in the past with my TWI friends. Don't want people to know deeply personal things about me.

My question: Why couldn't a Biblical research ministry figure out what 'present truth' meant?

I saw it, and the Friends final ep, since my hubby likes both those shows. Both were all right. 'Angel the Series' ends next week. The Jossverse is gone. Weeping a little weep.

Quote ------------------------ Each opinion is a religion unto itself ------------------------ A list i'm on uses UPG (unverified personal gnosis.)

Rosie is pretty ugly, but she can't spoil my memories of Amazing Sea Monkeys. Their fav song, 'Hey, Hey We're the Monkeys' keeps rolling through my mind today. They seem very close. I think they kept some unamazing door knockers from my door today!!!!

Quote from Ckeer ******************** Another example from TWI 2- anyone else remember what I called loyalty/humility tests? one example might be to require a believer to do repairs on his home within a certain period of time- or some other task- perhaps lose weight. Or tell one spouse that they could not come to twig or fellowship with believers for a week or two to see if that lead to "Godly repentence" and then when that spouse squared away pull the same stunt on the other one if they got out of line. I belive it may have contributed to if not caused divorces.I know it strained my marriage. *********************** Ckeer, we went through all of that from '96 on, until we left in '99. I believe the HFC was trying to bust up our marriage. He was a major LCM wannabe--even grew a goatee like LCM's. Yeah, we couldn't keep up, either. Just a matter of time before we were kicked.

Household fellowship teachings were deadly boring. One HF was a regurgitated Way Mag Article--current Way Mag--, the next a regurge of the Sunday night Service tape(most recent,) the third a segment from Craig's class. 'As we stand in the Household and follow our leadership . . . blah de blah de blah.'

Insurgent--I remember this, too, but can't remember the where or when. Adv class '98?? I do remember the attitude--Man, he is a big spiritual dawg. Rowf

In the late nineties we had a dress code--casual (jeans), casually nice (no jeans), casually elegant (dresses, nylons, sport coats, suits.) Even children were expected to follow the dress codes. We went to a weekend camp/limb meeting in 97 that was 'casually nice', so the kids couldn't wear denim shorts. Eventually household fellowship was deemed 'casually nice' so no jeans or tank tops etc there. Branch/ limb meetings were casually elegant, so we were as dressed up as the local churches on Sunday.

:(--> Can't get connected.

I,ve been thinking, hmmm. Maybe my Amazing Sea Monkeys didn't really die. Maybe. . . it was all a plan to foil the DARK MONKEY!! Maybe they faked their deaths by floating, and escaped through the sewer system to go MOW. Have a great year , my lovelies. I'll see you at the MOA!

Gosh, didn't the preparation and 'believing' of TWI prevent Y2K from being a world shaking disaster?

Imbus, I'm sorry you had to go through that, both the past ugliness and being being treated badly by that poster. Oh, Cleaning! We had the blessing of cleaning the limb home--or doing their enormous lawn-- every other month or so. They rotated it around the branch so every one got to 'give.' The LC was married with teen age children, neither worked outside the home--full time twi, mid nineties-- but they needed help cleaning their home. Sheesh.

Here's one: Preschoolers can't have an imaginary friend because it is a devil spirit.

IMHO LCM meant that if you leave the Way, you will be a greasespot--as in you will be hit by a mack truck and after your remains are scraped away all that will be left of you is a greasespot on the road. People left because they were weak, slothful and/or hardhearted, in TWI's view. And weak equals evil, unproductive evil. Hiding out in the household, causing weakness to spread etc. Weakness brings down strength, ya know.

Obituary The Amazing Sea Monkeys, not from Mars but from Wal Mart, have left this troubled world to join their Brethren in the Great Briny Deep. They were hatched two weeks ago, lived long and happy lives, and reached the Amazing size of 3/4 of an inch!! They died of natural causes (and, um, a shocking water change,) and were flushed this morning in a lovely blue swirl. I am assurred in my heart that they will reach the Pacific. I think I can hear them singing. . ."Monkeys, Monkeys, Monkeys, Sweetest Name we know. . . " in their teeny tiny voices.

On the thank you letters--a bunch of people in my fellowship had to rewrite our letters. Not gushy enough?? We had to be 'more specific' about the changes WAP made in our lives. I spent the whole class kind of stunned and couldn't remember what was taught once a segment was over. Yikes, I had to drag out my sylabus.

Okay, a shallow moment-- One of my kids was in a music thing at the Episcopal church. Their choir sang, mostly middle aged and elderly folk. They wore lovely mauve(matched the pew pillows) choir robes with those pointy stoles, with gold embroidery, very flattering. No chubby ladies stood out like they were wearing a shiny tent.In fact, I don't recall much about the ladie's(or men's) weight issues. They should spend some ABS and get some flattering choir robes--far less distracting(and embarassing.) They could embroider a way logo on them.

Okay, when will I learn??? That was twenty minutes I'll never get back.

The SIM worked!! Mittens has left the Amazing Sea Monkeys from Wal Mart not from Mars ALIIIVE!! The Dark Monkey has been defeated!

Oh no! Now my fuzzy black cat has noticed my succulent monkeys! Could the cat be working for the Dark Monkey?? I've often suspected a dark side within Mittens!