Tuesday, September 8, 2020

'From Snow to Sand' Recap

Counting On "From Snow to Sand"

  • James and Seung Hye, friends of the Vuolos who knew Jeremy before he met Jinger, arrive in Los Angeles for a visit. “I fee like I know them quite well,” says Jinger, who has spent time with them on multiple occasions.
  • Just a couple hours away from the Vuolos’ house, in Big Bear Lake, is a snowy mountain. They head out there with James and Seung Hye to go snow tubing. A friend comes along to watch Felicity. Jinger suggests that they brave the alpine slide, as well.   
  • The next day, they enjoy Venice Beach. When they pull out kites, Jinger expects Felicity to be enthralled, but she doesn’t seem to care. “I flew kites growing up all the time,” says Jinger.
  • “Felicity loves the sand between her toes,” says Jeremy. “You can tell she’s going to be a beach girl.” She also very much dislikes having dirt (or sand) on her hands. According to Michelle, Jinger was like that as a child, as well. Jeremy and James plunge into the Pacific Ocean.
  • In Arkansas, the guys throw John a “dad-chelor” party at Jeremiah and Jedidiah’s house. Gracie arrived early, but they are still going ahead with the party. Spurgeon is excited to join in on the fun.
  • They fill diapers with water and try to make baskets, a game that quickly becomes very competitive. Justin is the champion. For the meal, they eat steak, with no sides. “That’s guys for you,” says Johannah.
  • After eating, they share words of encouragement with John. “He definitely kept an eye on us boys and kept us in line,” says Josiah.
  • “John’s been a good example of just a go-getter,” says Jason. “I know that he’s a good man, a good man to look up to.”
  • “He’s been a great role model for me to look up to and say, ‘That’s somebody I want to be like,’” says Austin. “He’s wise beyond his years.”
  • “It’s always great to have fun, but it’s also important for us guys to affirm one another, encourage one another,” says Ben. 
  • Abbie says that the hardest thing about being a mom to a newborn has been having to stay at home. John says his biggest challenge has been diaper changes.
  • Later, Joy and Austin gather their families and prepare to announce the gender of their baby, which they found out by doing a blood test. “Because you grieve the loss of that baby, another baby doesn’t replace that baby, but it does give you an expected hope for another child,” says Michelle.
  • As everyone stands in the yard, John flies a helicopter overhead and releases pink confetti into the air. 

170 comments:

  1. What a WASTEFUL MESS they made in this episode. They wasted an entire sack of perfectly good diapers to play some dumb game. They wasted paper plates and plastic silverware. They wasted helicopter fuel and dumped paper all over the environment. They just about melted the siding off that rental house with the BBQ. The Duggars really don't care about anyone but themselves. It's so obvious! They ought to adopt a highway and pick up trash or go clean up a lake. Maybe they'd get a clue about what they waste and what messes they make.

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    1. Yes, I agree with you. I am disappointed that the Duggar family are not better caretakers of our planet.

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    2. Look on the bright side, they didn't start a huge wildfire with this gender reveal like the one that was started in California. I'm not sure the Duggars actually have regular plates as they always seem to use paper ones.

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    3. To be honest, I've never understood what this huge amount of plastic dishes is all about. Why are they doing this? In the age of dishwashers that shouldn't be necessary. But you see that a lot in American series, it's totally unusual in Europe. You don't throw your clothes away because washing is too exhausting ...?

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    4. Remember the "flour bombing"? This family loves doing stunts involving aircraft.

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    5. They should have donated those diapers to a shelter and skipped the game. I was waiting for the house shutters to catch on fire from the BBQ. Who grills that close to the house?! It's illegal to where I live.

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    6. Why are you even hear at a "fan" site? If you were a real fan, you'd know about all the good this family has done -- volunteering after natural disasters, e.g.... Some people just come here to complain. I guess it's out of boredom?

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    7. lol we got an environmental crazy Karen here!

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    8. 5:02 You cited one example of something good the Duggars did, but that volunteering after the hurricane last year had its own questions and doubts if you followed the story. This topic has brought up far more things the Duggars did that were not good. What you do in your everyday life at home is not canceled out by one good thing you might do sometime, somewhere other than home!

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    9. Why do the Duggar kids bother to put plates and silverware on their wedding registries if they use nothing but paper and plastic? I thought I saw a dishwasher in Jed's house so why aren't they using "real" dishes?

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    10. Just because the family does some good doesn’t mean you can’t be disappointed with the bad things they’re doing. Maybe people are “fans”, but are disappointed in some aspects of their behavior and hoping to see some change. You don’t have to agree with EVERYTHING even if you are a fan of someone

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    11. Exactly..I never say much..why haters waste their precious time keeping up with the Duggars if they hate them so much. The truth is they like to watch them. If they would stop for one minute and think if they didn't keep up with the Duggars they wouldn't be on TV. Haters keep the Duggars going and I'm a fan and thanks haters.

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    12. @7:38 What have you got against people who are concerned about our environment?

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    13. The men grill meat. That is all. They can't cook any side dishes and certainly can't wash dishes. There, now I've explained it for you.

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    14. There has to be some latitude granted to the show. It just exposes small thinking to get so angered. What if one day they are dropping essential supplies somewhere?
      That skill would come after much 'practice'. And I don't know that there is not a clean up crew dispatched immediately after the game and filming. It seems very likely. One persons' perspective is just that, but is it the only or most right one, from what context of analysis?

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    15. Oh my....the show is meant to be entertaining and while I may not be willing to waste diapers or overuse disposable dishes, I set that aside and just enjoy the fun they are sharing as a family. As for their volunteer efforts, they are able to do more than I can do and their name probably helps generate donations.

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    16. Wasting diapers and disposable dishes for a party. Huh. Sounds like a lot of peoples' baby showers. Paper plates, plastic cups, plastic tableware, supplies like diapers for the games. Are you scornful of all those people too, or just these people because they happen to be Duggars?

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    17. Do you guys really think they used an entire pack of diapers for that game? Most likely they threw the same diaper over and over again. Beyond just making sense, from a competitive standpoint, one could say different diapers rolled up slightly differently would throw and go in the hoop differently. Also, many people who use normal plates in general don’t have enough for parties. If I were to have a party with more than eight people, there would be paper plates being used.

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    18. @7:32 We saw them fill many diapers and at the end, there was an empty (totally or nearly) diaper package on the table in front of them, plastic bag overwrap completely collapsed from the diapers that had been removed. So yes, they were all wasted for that game.

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    19. This comment is over the top. I won't comment on the BBQ as I didn't notice that but I think they said the home was Jed's (not a rental). However, the only other legitimate complaint is the confetti. I don't believe in littering so I would't want a family member of mine doing that but I don't think it's that big of a deal. I see this kind of thing on TV frequently for big occasions (like putting a bunch of lanterns and balloons in the sky) so it's not uncommon. The paper plate thing - MANY people use paper plates when having people over so you are condemning most of the country. The diaper thing... Really?

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    20. Why does it matter if they used a whole pack of diapers for their game? They paid for them. The diaper companies made more. I doubt anyone was deprived of a pack of diapers because the Duggars used them. If it had been during Covid when paper products were hard to find, then yes, I can see being upset. But it wasn't.

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    21. @2:19 You see nothing wrong with wasting things? You don't know about the mothers out there struggling to buy even a single pack of diapers? Food pantries and women's shelters are begging all the time for those to be donated. There was no need to waste them for a game that the guys weren't even enthusiastic about. A Nerf ball would have done the job. I'm sure there are tons of balls lying around at the big house. That wasn't exactly a baby shower or baby party that needed baby-themed decorations anyway.

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    22. @9:44 That house is not in Jed's name. If he loses the election, he has no reason to stay there since it's not in his home town, it's simply in the district where he chose to run. Most likely it's rented or borrowed from someone they know. You can tell by the amount of furnishings that they haven't really moved in all the way and probably won't. It's being used as an address for election purposes, foremost. That would also explain why Jed was allowed to move in there while unmarried.

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    23. Posters are complaining because the Duggars seem to be totally out of touch with the reality of life these days. Their lack of awareness can only, being kind to the Duggars, due to their limited education.

      @9:44, I would hope that MANY people in the US do not use paper plates. They are not only wasteful and destructive to the environment but expensive. For a family that preaches living within their means and buying second hand, the Duggars' use of paper plates is strange.

      The Duggars have many "fans" that they influence by their choices in life. Wasting diapers, for such a frivolous reason, is just one more example.

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    24. Wasting things the way the Duggars do shows they are not the perfect examples people try to say they are. Their love of using Styrofoam cups and plastic utensils is the worst. The waste is multiplied by the number of people in their family, so it's worse than the average family.

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    25. 4:33, their using a pack of diapers was not taking it away from some single mom. The diapers would have been there on the store shelf and someone else would have bought them. They were not literally depriving anyone of diapers unless it was the last pack in the shelf and the store was not restocking them.

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    26. If you can't afford to buy diapers, then do more laundry and use cloth diapers. If you are going to a food bank, stop having so many children and get your life under control.

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    27. 7:23 - There are people right now who rely on food banks because of the pandemic. It's similar to the economic crash in 2008 where people who never needed help before and had been financially stable found themselves in need. For the past few months, whether because of the pandemic or natural disasters, many feel like they don't have life under control by no fault of their own. Have compassion and empathy for others. You may need it sometime in the future.

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    28. @7:23 But I've read on this very blog that it's God who determines how many children you have!

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    29. 7:23 If you can't afford diapers then chances are you can't afford to do more laundry either. It costs my child $2.75 a load to wash and $2.75 more to dry at their apartment building laundry room. So $5.50 per load of laundry, plus detergent cost.

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  2. Time 1:28AM Wed 9/9/20
    Great recap

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  3. I really enjoyed, the Sept. 8th, episode of Counting On. I thought it was really sweet of John's brothers, as well as John's brother's in law, to throw John a Dadchelor Party. I also enjoyed, Joy and Austin's gender reveal.

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  4. I thought that was a real slap in the face to Josh, the way the boys all sat around and sang praises to John about being the older brother they looked up to and the one that kept them out of trouble. I really wondered how Josh would feel hearing that, and if nobody thought about that in advance. I also wondered how much fell on John to "parent" the brothers in the boys' dorm room once Josh started getting in trouble. They've talked about sister-moms but not about brother-dads, although it sure sounds like that had to happen too.

    That whole scene in last night's show did not evoke the good feelings it was supposed to. It reminded us of the dysfunction that happened, and it was not flattering to Josh.

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    1. Who cares if it wasn’t flattering to Josh? He deserved not to be looked up to.

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    2. Josh was not exactly an older brother to be looked up to. Someone had to step into that role, and it sounds like John took it on. Josh knows why John was looked up to and he wasn’t. It was Josh’s own doing that caused the disrespect.

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    3. Josh did some disgusting, horrible things. He does not deserve any praise or flattering words in the least!

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    4. They couldn't very well include Josh in their "man party" as it was being filmed so it was best not to mention him. Nice that they now have a place to do some manly chest thumping.

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    5. Who cares?
      Josh was not a good role model to them. John was. Why shouldn't that be celebrated? If it hurts Josh's feelings, too bad. His actions are what caused the younger brothers to look up to John instead and John clearly stepped up, so he should be celebrated and recognise for it.

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    6. One of the brothers told John in last night's show that John's been a good role model and he "wants to be like him". And that reminded me of John talking about Josh years ago, and how he "DOESN'T want to be like him".
      I wonder if John was thinking about that?

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    7. Have you ever heard the phrase “credit goes where credit is due.”? John gets credit for being an honorable man, while Josh has lost that standing. Let’s not make Josh the victim here, his poor choices in the past have lost him credibility within the family. He has not earned respect. His mistakes were not minor infractions, they were very serious, and he repeated them. Of course we can all be forgiven by Christ, but that doesn’t change the fact that the family might have questions about his trustworthiness. I don’t think the family has to take Josh’s “feelings” into consideration when they are giving John his due credit. John has earned it, and the LAST thing the family should be worried about is what looks “flattering” to Josh.

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    8. I’m sure the words were intentional. John had to step up after everything happened. I agree that the scene didn’t evoke the good feelings it was supposed to given everything that is known now. In my honest opinion, Joshs feelings about it shouldn’t be pondered much. He did horrible things, and hearing how his little brother stepped up to fill the role of big brother to look up to should make josh feel proud of his brother. But if it was intended as a back handed slap to the face, I’m sure it worked. I hope josh feels regret and remorse for his past “mistakes” ( cough cough crimes cough cough). I hope he sees how much his actions hurt others and I truly hope he is a changed man. However I have a strong feeling he hasn’t changed much. The type of sickness he has can not be cured by prayer alone

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    9. Josh's behavior was a slap in the face to his family.
      Josh made selfish and damaging choices and is the only one to blame if his brothers do not view him as a role model. They shouldn't have to hold back their admiration for John because of Josh's poor decisions.

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    10. Well, Josh squandered his opportunity as the big brother. The bigger slap in the face was his trashing the respect and trust that his younger brothers used to have for him. Actions have consequences.

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    11. I remember how emotional John was, when he spoke about feeling the need to be a good role model after Josh's actions were made public. It was a very difficult time for him, which was made clear in his interview at that time. John deserves the praise, as he stepped up and gave his siblings a reliable role model, and he never seems to be looking for any recognition or praise. He looked very humbled and touched by the remarks made by his brothers and brothers-in-law. In my humble opinion, Josh should still be reflecting on his past behavior, as it was very harmful behavior. I think Ben has become a well-spoken, thoughtful man. Fatherhood seems to suit him😊

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    12. I HOPE Josh feels bad "hearing that" after what he did to his sisters. No sympathy here whatsoever.

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    13. Josh gets no sympathy from me either, but it's curious why the show would feature that talk last night, like the producers were rubbing Josh's nose in it on purpose. "Look what a great big brother John David was for all those boys when you weren't."

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    14. Totally agree with these replies. Josh destroyed being the boys’ leader. John deserves the praise for stepping up into that role.

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    15. I'm sure John had a lot to take on after the incidents. I'm sure Josh regrets what happened everyday and if he feels bad about it then that's on him. John definitely earned the title.

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    16. John might deserve the praise, but in a family that features forgiveness so prominently, it sure was strange to hear them sit around and talk as if Josh didn't exist and meant nothing to them. It was not only what was said, it was what was NOT said.

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    17. @3:50 Not everyone is cut out for leadership. It could be that the pressure of it was too much for Josh and he acted out in the ways he did because he couldn't handle it. It is not an excuse for anything he did. It is just a possible theory.

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    18. 8:56 - What do you want them to say about Josh? Why should Josh be mentioned when the focus was on John and how he impacted the brothers' lives? Forgiveness doesn't mean rewriting history. They're being kind not to mention Josh and his failure to be a good role model.

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    19. John was the big brother in the house before the scandal. Josh married and moved out when the middle boys were very young. John was the oldest in the boy rooms and the “leader” for almost 10 years before he got married.

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    20. David was a man after God's own heart... I have always understood that to mean God has a heart for those who return to Him and humble themselves before God's perfect Holiness and repent and seek to restore the relationship

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    21. I'm reading these comments with interest, wondering how the commenters feel about King David of the Bible. King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, who was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, a loyal and respected soldier in David's army. David then ordered Uriah to the front lines of battle where he would be surely killed -- and he was killed. So King David, whom we all revere and about whom we teach our children, was an adulterer and murderer. Yet he repented and begged God for forgiveness and is referred to as "a man after God's own heart." For all we know, Josh has also repented and asked for forgiveness from God and his wife, yet the bashing continues. It's sad to see. I'm gathering that many commenting do not understand or respect what it means to follow Jesus.

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    22. I hope Josh has repented for his actions against his sisters and wife. It doesn't change that he made those decisions. He can work to rebuild his relationship with his siblings and Anna. Even with forgiveness, it doesn't change that he let them down. Again, John stepped up when Josh wouldn't be the big brother that they needed. Hopefully, Josh has changed his heart, mind, and treatment of others. Maybe in the next few years his family will be able to say he is the good example they always expected him to be. Josh needs to put in real work before he gets praise.

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    23. 6:03 - God would not allow King David to build a temple in his name due to the amount of blood David shed. David's son Solomon had to then build the temple with David's input and material support. This shows that, even with repentance, actions still have consequences.

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    24. @6:03 Oh we know about Jesus, but we wonder if Josh does. Haven't seen behavior yet that indicates that.

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    25. 6:03, but that wasn't really the point. I'm a Christian, but I don't see why John shouldn't receive deserved accolades because of Josh's feelings. Josh has consequences because of what he did. That's the law of sowing and reaping. John has been the example his brothers needed. He has earned their praise. Like the Proverbs 31 woman deserved to have her family rise up and call her blessed. John shouldn't be deprived of praise when he has earned it. He is also reaping what he has sown.

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    26. Yes, John does deserve the praise, but in lavishing it on him, it only served to remind everyone that Josh, an even old brother, is not worthy of the same comments.

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    27. 4:45 - That scene didn't make me think of Josh.
      How sad though that Josh's actions have made it controversial that his brother to receive affirmation. It's ridiculous that Josh's feelings would or should take precedence over his 9 brothers. Josh has been coddled enough.

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    28. 4:45, so they should just tiptoe around and never praise any of his brothers because Josh's feelings might get hurt? That is unfair to the others.

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    29. At 4:45 PM, what difference does that make? People do not forget something that’s as serious as what Josh did. They may forgive, but they will never forget. It’s too big. John deserves his day in the sun. They shouldn’t hold back because of Josh’s situation. John deserves the praise and then some

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    30. Well what he did to Anna was so much more than a slap in the face.

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  5. I can't help but think of the wildfires caused by gender reveals (one burning right now) when I see another goofy Duggar gender stunt. Why do they think they need to do something like that all the time? I would hope this is it for the stunts.

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    1. Don't count on it. I wonder if they bill the people who start wildfires for the cost of fighting it.

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    2. My favorite of all the gender reveals or pregnancy announcements by the Duggar family was Jinger's gingerbread house. Nothing dangerous about that.

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    3. I'm sure they wouldn't do anything with fire. I did read the family may be responsible for paying for much of the damage. California has a fire season and the couple should have known better.

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    4. @10:35 I heard a news report say that the people who did the gender reveal could be held liable for millions, if someone wanted to prosecute. Think about what could happen for loss of life too. All for a gender reveal!

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    5. For 10:35 AM, They should definitely have to pay for the damage they did and for the cost of fighting the fire IMHO! It is nothing short of reckless and careless and selfish behavior and they need to pay for what they did.

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    6. Duggars beware!!!

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  6. Why would Jinger expect a child Felicity's age to be interested in flying a kite? The "manly" men eat steaks and nothing else. That figures.

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    1. "Manly" hunks of meat on the wimpiest paper plates they sell, with cheap plastic silverware. Makes me wonder how much time they truly spend in that house they moved into for election purposes, if it doesn't have basic household equipment.

      Years ago, I picked up a second set of silverware at a thrift store (bought used, saved the difference!) to have on hand for crowds. Same with extra stoneware plates. It's not that hard to think ahead and be prepared, and it doesn't cost much. The amount of paper plates, plastic cups, and plastic silverware this family throws out each year must be staggering.

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  7. Poor Abbie, now she has to "stay home". What DID she expect after having a baby? Totally strange comment from her.

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    1. I think she was talking about staying home because of the coronavirus and not going places with John.

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    2. I didn't find it strange at all, just refreshingly honest. She probably expected it, but she doesn't have to like it anyway. It is just necessary. Of course you know that beforehand, you just have to accept it because that's the price of having children.

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    3. She likes to get out of the house so John can't keep doing her nails. lol

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    4. She sure didn't stay home in an upcoming episode preview. She took the tiny baby to a beauty salon with Jana and exposed the baby to all the chemical smells there!

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    5. Maybe she's just simply missing her job. Maybe she didn't think she would. I see the point you're trying to make, but it's delivered rather harshly. Before I had my 4 kids, I worked in a law firm, so I did both sides of the fence -- career v. mom staying home -- and I understand where Abbie may be coming from. Maybe you haven't had that opportunity, so it's easy to judge Abbie.

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    6. Knowing something intellectually and experiencing it are two different things.

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    7. I think she meant staying home, in regard to quarantine. Even a sahm usually gets to get out and about, but not during covid.

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    8. She's a first-time parent - even women who want to be stay-at-home mothers can find it hard to adjust to that with the first baby. Cut her some slack.

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    9. It’s because of Covid.

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    10. She is not in jail for goodness sake. She does not have to stay home. She chooses to stay home. She could leave her house and still take measures to stay safe. It's a prison of her own choosing.

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    11. Gee, it's a shame Covid is inconveniencing so many people WHO ARE STILL ALIVE. Staying home is a small price to pay for an already SAHM.

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    12. Maybe she wants to get a nanny and go back to work. Go for it!

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    13. Oh my, can't someone make a honest comment about their feelings without being slammed? It doesn't mean she is miserable. It's just an honest comment about COVID limiting where she can go. If what she said is so terrible most of the people in the country should be shamed because almost everyone I know has voiced regret for not being able to go out more. This is from people who have different feelings on the lock downs. Rather you agree with all the lock downs or not it stinks to not see your friends as much and this comment was made months ago (probably during the height of the lock downs).

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    14. 10:51am— So no one is allowed to share what they miss about being free to leave their homes without being painted an enemy to all people who have been affected by a virus? Thousands of people in the media and online have been asked what they missed most during the quarantine lockdowns. Abbie is allowed to miss being able to go hang out with her husband outside her home. I would say that’s a pretty healthy and commendable response. She enjoys her marriage and her spouse and she appreciates not being a hermit. Just because someone shares what they missed during quarantine doesn’t mean they are negating the effects of the virus on those who are sick or have lost their lives.

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    15. She can go out but chooses not to. She should not complain.

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    16. 11:54, she was not complaining. She was answering the question that was asked of her.

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  8. I wish the Duggar family would be better caretakers of the Earth. Pink confetti released into the air soon lands all over the earth. Will they clean it up? Unless they released it over a hard surface like cement, it's almost impossible to clean up. With their use of plastic and Styrofoam products for meals and now, confetti for parties, the Duggar family is not being good "stewards" of the Earth as God has commanded us.

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    1. omg the Karens are out in full force with this lol!!!

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    2. everyone's a critic...

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    3. Oh please 9:53am... it’s their land they can do as they please .... I so sick of all of this ... if you don’t like what they do.... stop watching...... with that many people I’d be eating off of paper plates etc too.... Its what people do when there is large gatherings....

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    4. I believe there are many confetti mixes that are biodegradable and made from recycled materials. I’m thinking assuming they didn’t clean it up is just that... an assumption. There was nothing on the show stating no one cleaned it up or what material it was made out of etc. Using plastic when you gather so many people together is not unheard of. Also, if they used a ton of dishes that needed washing, all of the people bent on criticizing them would claim they are using up way too many natural resources. I believe if people have such deep issues with the family it’s time to stay away from the fan blogs and stop watching their show. It only makes such people appear bitter and miserable. Go find something positive and constructive to do to give back to the world instead of nitpicking a family who has done a lot of good. This family has invested their time, energy, and talents into so many positive areas to help people. They are not the villains the critics are attempting to paint them out to be. Sow love, not hate <3

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    5. @8:17 They are hardly villains. However, the Duggars are not the heroes or saints some fans make them out to be. This is the same family that featured an episode where they demonstrated how they frugally made their own laundry detergent, yet they use disposable dinnerware pretty much all the time because it's always a crowd.

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    6. Calling someone a Karen is extremely derogatory. Those of you doing it should be ashamed of yourselves because you're no better.

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    7. I must say I totally agree with OP 9:53. Having 19 children and - as it seems - teaching them not a thing about living environmentally friendly (plastic dishes, flying around for fun, ...) doesn’t strike me as being caretakers of neither the earth nor other human beings, as future generations are likely to suffer the consequences of such behaviour. Isn’t religion also about taking care of those things? Or is it only about being self-centered within their own communities and trying to get as many people into their community by having as many children as possible or converting others?

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    8. I'm sure I've seen shiny mylar confetti in their gender reveals, something that definitely would not biodegrade.

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    9. Karen, do you realize how fast a small piece of confetti will biodegrade? It'll be gone with the first rainfall, at least.

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    10. Unless that confetti is made with the same paper as TP, it will not degrade easily, and certainly not in one rain. TP is the only paper made to disintegrate, on purpose. Pink dye used in the confetti is probably not BIOdegradable anyway. If you want to really talk environmental impact, have you seen what it takes to mill paper? Ever driven past a paper mill and smelled it? All so the Duggars could fuel up a helicopter to announce a gender. Why gender reveals have had to become circus acts for anyone is beyond me. Used to be the baby was born, the doctor took a look, and there was your reveal. It worked fine. That California fire is not the first one caused by a reveal.

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    11. 9:33AM How about just stop watching the show if you are so bothered by how they live? Or are you one of those watching just to come here and complain and cause discord?? Please go and do something constructive with your life. Leave the fan blogs to the actual fans and supporters of the show and family. If you are that concerned for the pollution of the earth then go spend the time you waste watching a show of people you don’t agree with and complaining on a blog to adopt a highway and pick up trash or join a non-profit that plants trees and cleans up fields. Complaining gets the world nowhere... actions get things done. You will never change someone through sideways criticism and complaining. You be the change you want to see and leave others to be responsible for themselves.

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    12. 7:07 Maybe you should take your own advice. In reading your post, it all applies to those who complain about what other people have to say here.

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    13. The Karen name calling needs to stop. It is rude and bullying and if I were a Karen I would be very upset.

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  9. That comment from Austin to John made me tear up.

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  10. Please no more gender reveal stunts! If you must have a party let it be with a cake in pink or blue!! I’m in So Cal and watching a fire that has burned 12,000 acres because of a stupid gender reveal gone wrong!

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    1. they used pyrotechnics... the Duggars did not. Quit judging!!

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    2. another Karen... or it's the same one who keeps posting the same stuff over and over..lol

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    3. I know...I was thinking what if that helicopter rotor failed, or that confetti got sucked into an engine... I would not want to be standing under a low-flying helicopter with engine trouble. The stunts are going too far, and the one that caused the fire is beyond terrible. I don't know how you could live with yourself if you knew you caused it. I hope you're able to stay safe and are not in the path @5:19 My heart goes out to those in the path. I lost a home in a natural disaster.

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    4. That's my favorite,cut the cake to see if it's blue or pink inside.

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    5. I wish the people who are calling the blogger a “Karen” would stop. It’s like you are ganging up on someone. I’m not a “tree hugger” but people worried about the environment have a right to do so without being called names. I’d like to see posts with obvious name-calling eliminated.

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    6. Please stop posting comments that call others Karen's

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    7. I really don't know when they started using the name Karen as a put down but my Aunts name is Karen and she is one of the nicest and kind people you will ever know. I don't appreciate my Aunts name being used as an insult now. If anyone has a problem with what I just said then let's use your name as an insult and see how you like it.

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    8. Yes, the calling of others, "Karen", is rude and not necessary, not humorous, and certainly not appreciated. I think it's very immature.

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    9. Name calling needs to be banned.

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  11. I have never understood why they use paper plates and plastic all the time. They have plenty of people capable of doing dishes. It would take any time at all to clean up with that many helping hands.

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    1. 8:13am: I agree with you. very true. But...last time I brought up the nasty paper plate issue, I was told washing dishes causes pollution! Imagine that!!!! So, I gave up complaining about their paper plates, lol, can't win.

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    2. Maybe they burn the garbage and keep their floors warm.
      They have a system that's pretty ingenious.

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    3. It’s the same reason they “cook” things like tater tot casserole and no-bake “cheesecake” - lazy!

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    4. They also have big batches of food delivered from restaurants ($$$) or get those big supermarket deli trays. It's been forever since we've seen them actually cook food from scratch for a crowd. They have that big industrial kitchen and a lot of people to do the work! Don't understand what their problem is.

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    5. @10:21 They don't burn garbage, they have big dumpsters that we've seen on the show. They also live across from a landfill and take stuff there.

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    6. I don't blame them for using paper plates, cups, etc. It's way less work for clean up, faster, young children can throw their own trash away, and it's cheaper on the water bill each month. We use them here from time to time and have no where near that many family members.

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    7. Might be cheaper on your water bill Unknown. Certainly isn't cheaper for the water bill at the paper factory. Does it really cost you $5 to wash a load of plates? It costs at least that much for one package of brand-name plates at the store.

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  12. Why can two parents not take care of one child between them? They have to have someone along to help with only one child? They are going to be in a lot of trouble when the second one comes if they can't even care for one.

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    Replies
    1. Jinger and Jeremy have shown they are more than capable of raising Felicity. Jinger was also in charge of a buddy group so caring for children isn't a new thing for her.
      The Vuolos wanted to have couple time with their visiting friends. It's no different than leaving your child with a babysitter. They may have brought her along because they wanted Felicity to experience snow but also wanted adult time. It takes roughly 2-3 hours one way to get to Big Bear from where they live in LA. Bringing a helper along allowed them to film the segment and then potentially spend time after filming in Big Bear with Felicity. It also meant they wouldn't have to rush to pick up Felicity or worry about traffic when heading back.

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    2. Sometimes you bring a sitter along to free you up to do things a baby can’t do. I think it’s perfectly fine to do that.

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    3. Do you watch the show? Jinger and Jermey easily take care of felicity all the time, they brought someone to watch her so that they could participate together though. You sound like someone who’s never had children.

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    4. Why didn't they leave Felicity at home with the sitter and have an adult's day out?

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    5. They didn't want to leave her at home. Maybe they wanted Felicity to see snow or were going to do something kid friendly after filming. Bringing someone along allowed for flexibility.

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  13. My parents and I enjoyed the show. Our favorite parts were the dadchelor party. We enjoyed the boys fixing steak and playing diaper basketball. We also liked Jinger and Jeremy going from snow to sand. It was fun to watch them tubing in the snow and flying kites and and going down the slide in the sand. Kites are fun to watch for all ages. We loved the gender reveal party with Joy and Austin's family. Loved how John David dropped pink confetti. We are glad he's going to get his helicopter license. We can't wait until the next season. Natasha b

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it was nice to hear that John David was going to get a helicopters license. I'ts a more useful skill than a plane because if needed there are a lot of good jobs for helicopter pilots. Plus, they are useful in disasters.

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  14. A great episode.Spurge gives me a chuckle when he talks, he's so cute.

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  15. Spurgeon was the best part of that dadchelor party. Good honest commentary and smart enough to stick to the snacks instead of trying to juggle a hunk of charred cow on a floppy paper plate. Way to go Spurgie!

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  16. The pejorative use of the name "Karen," a name many women have, needs to stop. Also, name-calling is not nice. Let's be kind in all things. 😊

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  17. Ellie if you want to be an influencer and have your blog taken seriously, you need to stop posting the replies that call other posters Karens. I hope you're not too naive to realize that you're allowing plain old name-calling. It's unnecessary, juvenile, and reflecting unfavorably on what you do here.

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    1. I agree. Calling other people a Karen is derogatory and an insult to anyone who is named Karen, like my sister. I think it's the same person coming back with that response, as they all sound the same.

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    2. I agree I don't like Karen being used as a pejorative. However, I want to point out that a lot of mean and hateful comments are allowed on the blog directed to the Duggars in the name of "disagreement". I know it's can be hard sometimes to find the line between honest disagreement and just mean spirited comments but I think we have all seen those in the blog. So, my point is, the posters who are responding to the constant negativity shouldn't be held to a higher standard.

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    3. I think the exact opposite. Criticism should be allowed. Comments shouldn’t be censored. I find it ridiculous that all comments need to be approved.

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    4. I don't see any signs that Ellie wants to be an influencer. And her blog is already taken seriously by many, so that's not an issue.

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    5. 3:51 Criticism and differences of opinion are one thing, name-calling is quite another.

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    6. @3:51 Censoring is used as a way to sway the discussion one way or the other. If you don't like how it's going, then don't post an equal number of responses, just post the ones you personally agree with that further that opinion.

      Even worse is when a discussion starts going in one direction, and then extra comments with OLDER dates are slipped in ahead of the others, to try to balance things out.

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    7. My name is Karen and it’s ok if you call me that. I think it’s great that the name is getting so popular.

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    8. It is good to have many points of view and hear everyone's comments. The less censorship the better. If you want censorship, go live in China or North Korea. Thank goodness for North America and liberty!

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  18. Dad-chelor makes it sound as if he's unmarried.

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  19. To some degree I think the process of creating the show has reversed. It used to be a show about the unique ways and lifestyle of a fundamentalist Christian family. Why and how they were. Now those adult children are engaged in a variety of activities for the public to watch. But is this still sharing the fundamentalist lifestyle? Does anybody blanket train anymore? It was the humble homey things.SHow me that

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    1. To 10:28pm... The adult children are not under their parents. They are free to make their own decisions and create their own lives. I saw that blanket training and it was horrible.... be kind they are still Christian families

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    2. It's amazing how mainstream the Duggars became when the money started rolling in, isn't it?

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    3. @10:21- the adult children ARE under the authority of their father until married; at least for the daughters. Watch a few of the earlier 16 or 17 & Counting episodes where such a rule is discussed.

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    4. @10:28-I vet wondered the same things! What happened to the chore packs and wall chart, seeing clothing, Bible time before bed, dressing in the same color, trips in the RV, their friends the Clarks and Maxwells, Big Sandy conference, the purity ring event? I know most of these things happened on #kids & counting; but should be applied to at least the young kids, right???

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    5. People need to stop touting the Duggars as such great examples of Christians. We've seen enough proof that they're not. I'm not talking about what is on the show, I'm talking about the stuff that has gone on behind the scenes in their daily lives.

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    6. 10:21 The adult children are very much under the rule of their parents. If at home, 100% rule. If married, then tied financially.

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  20. Duggars don't care about the enviroment? Very wasteful family. Don't need a baby shower everytime someone has a baby.

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    Replies
    1. Of course they don't "need" a shower, but they certainly have the right to have one if they want to.

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  21. Spurgeon was so cute, being happy he got to go to the man party... Felicity is such a cutie... The beach and snow thing was nice... Austin's speech to John was nice

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  22. The constant back and forth between the condescending Christians vs the nit-picking critics of the Duggars on this site can get annoying, but I understand why it is allowed. But now we have to put up with name calling of "Karens"? That is over the line, in my opinion.

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  23. "we do not post anything that is profane, insulting, derogatory, or in poor taste." Then why do these bloggers go against what they say? Sounds like lying to me.

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    1. I don't mind all the different opinions and even the not-so-positive viewpoints. The Duggars themselves admit they're not perfect. Different ideas keep it lively and make it a true discussion. If all the responses were the same glowing comments, it would be bland as dishwater here (kind of the way it was at first, and before the Josh news broke). What has gone too far though is the name-calling. That's juvenile and needs to be stopped. There's no need to post that or the personal attacks, the posters who tell others to "grow up" and "get a life" and all that. That adds nothing.

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    2. I like all the chatter and disagreements on the blog. Makes it more interesting. Keeps me coming back.

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  24. What is it with these fundy guys not wearing appropriate clothing for the beach? Vuolo friend James wears heavy jeans to the beach and then goes in the ocean a la Jim Bob. All the other beach goers were wearing bathing suits; so it was plenty warm enough for shorts!

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    1. James isn't fundy, he's Jeremy's college friend and a mainstream photographer. They didn't bring swimsuits because they weren't planning on going into the water and ran into the ocean in their regular clothes. Jeremy was actually wearing shorts though.

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    2. I noticed that they happened to have matching dry towels with them, but not swimming clothes. So obviously they planned to get wet, but didn't dress for it.

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    3. What's up with not letting people dress how they want? My son wore jeans to the beach a few weeks ago because he didn't want to wear shorts. So what? It's his life, his choice.

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    4. @11:45- they all knew they were going to the beach; so throw some shorts into a bag just in case you decide to go swimming!
      @1:43- it’s one thing to wear jeans TO the beach ( although it seems crazy hot); it’s ridiculous to wear them into the water!!!

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    5. 3:54 - Jeremy DID wear shorts. James may not have packed any shorts since he lives in New York. It was winter when they visited. It's not that big of a deal. Why complain about what someone else wears?

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    6. @11:45 That was planned! If it wasn't, how do you explain bath towels along on a picnic?

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  25. 7:04 that’s an interesting question. I’m not sure why board shorts and a T-shirt would be considered inappropriate or immodest by anyone. The thought of wearing soggy, heavy denim for any length of time sounds like torture to me. Also seems a little dangerous if you’re actually wanting to swim.

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  26. I agree about the inappropriate clothing for the beach. Do you know what salt water does to street clothes? Not pretty. There would have been nothing wrong in wearing a bathing suit. It was warm enough for the women to wear one too. They could have had a nice cover up over it and looked appropriate. Felicity needed a suit too.

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  27. I've enjoyed keeping up with the Duggars since the show started. I'm worried about Jeremy and Ginger because the megachurch they attend refuse to hold outside services due to our virus guidelines. I live in the suburbs near that church. It's very scary that their large population has put so many of us in danger! With that said, I hope Ginger, Jeremy, Felicity and baby stay healthy. Fun to see them on tv going to places I know well.

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  28. I've enjoyed keeping up with the Duggars since the show started. I'm worried about Jeremy and Ginger because the megachurch they attend refuse to hold outside services due to our virus guidelines. I live in the suburbs near that church. It's very scary that their large population has put so many of us in danger! With that said, I hope Ginger, Jeremy, Felicity and baby stay healthy. Fun to see them on tv going to places I know well.

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Thanks for leaving your comments! We answer as many of your questions as we can, but due to the number of comments we receive daily, we are unable to answer every one. Our aim is to post all points of view, but we do not post anything that is profane, insulting, derogatory, or in poor taste.