Hope

For the people who cannot homeschool (I was one), these days must be truly horrific.. 😢

I get highlights from the NY Times every day. I admit, I do like to hear what's going on out there... but my news is not from social media sites, as a rule.

His manner of death is merely ironic to me.. I do not share his morals. Other than that, I'm more sad about the three more children shot at school in Colorado yesterday 😢 I am deeply glad I don't have children in school..

Any death is tragic. He did, however, claim that some gun deaths were a necessary price to pay... I'm sorry for his young family... 😕

It is truly tragic.. 😢 https://igberetvnews.com/1487795/trailer-collision-claims-15-jehovahs-witnesses-imo-state/#forward

Sisters can be assigned to conduct a "recovery" study with sisters who have been reinstated; I've had that privilege (on both sides of the table.. ), but no one studies with df'd ones except elders.

There was a demonstration on a circuit assembly some years ago about a couple either being assigned to or determining on their own (I can't remember; this was back when I lived in Chicago) to serve a congregation in the Deep South/ Bible Belt in the United States. The couple discussed the challenges of dress and grooming they would face moving there; they were from a big, metropolitan city. Their dress and grooming - particularly the sister's hair, make-up, and jewelry would be considered immodest and inappropriate where they were headed, even though she looked perfectly chic and well put together in the city they currently lived in. The brother's suits were a bit too slick. She expressed concern about her own preferences and what she'd be comfortable with - even where she'd get her hair done (she "takes her glory to the beauty shop EVERY week" ) vs. the opportunity to assist a congregation/ area that really needed their help. There was no decided conclusion in the demonstration, but the message stuck with me. Sometimes - maybe even many times - we need to reign in our own sense of style and propriety in order to be effective and represent Jehovah without getting in His way. Sometimes, we can't bring all of our culture with us.. Of course, we can ALWAYS do whatever we want, right? We just need to be prepared for the consequences and repercussions.. that's just life..

I'm hoping for a chance... I talked to a sister this weekend who has been to NINE international conventions!!! 👀 I wanna go.. 😢

Wanting to change the name Department of Defense to Department of War doesn't sound peaceful.. And hasn't he already met Kim? They're like, besties or something

One of the brothers in the UK congregation I meet with on Wednesdays knows him - they were in Elders School together years ago 😊

I listen to Spotify, my downloaded Kingdom talks & music, and two local public radio stations- which are supreme: KMHD.FM Jazz Radio and KQAC.FM Portland's All Classical station. However, I miss simply throwing a CD in the player and listening to that on repeat. Streaming is not as handy for that.

I remember records, reel-to-reel (my Dad had one), 8-track, cassette, CD, mini-CD, and now streaming. I'm old. I miss having hard copies of music and movies.. but cars don't even have CD players anymore, so.. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This is a fantastic article about AI, written by an experienced therapist: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/opinion/chatgpt-therapist-journal-ai.html?unlocked_article_code=1.bE8.SFyV.4Bk1Qye1ScYl#commentsContainer I've been using AI (mainly Copilot) to help me navigate the touchy circumstances surrounding my son's engagement, among other personal problems. It is quite good... I ask it to use jw.org, wol.jw.org, and other complementary resources for reference. It's given me a lot of solid food for thought. I used the prompt below for my latest queries today. I simply plugged in everything written within the quotation marks and, wow -- good stuff. Give it a whirl. You might be happily surprised ❤️

There are talking animals and trees in the Bible. Our previous translation of the the Bible even has a story that begins, "Once upon a time..." (Judges 9:8)

JP - that link is BRILLIANT!!!! Thank you so much for it. I wish Copilot (the Microsoft product I use because I work for Microsoft.. ) is not nearly as flexible and intuitive. It's "okay"... but it's not as responsive to building out agents for one's personal use. It would be wonderful if it's decided to add something like this to WOL or the website. This is going into my bookmarks, STAT! ❤️

Alice is having a dream about Wonderland.. it's not actually happening. Personally, I don't mind dreamed experiences in films.

It's because there is nothing else important to worry about or issue an Executive Order about. Everything is fine.

AI can have it's uses. However, for topics like this, I will request it use jw.org as the reference to find agreeable information. It works pretty well; still have to review before passing it on or using ourselves. Otherwise, it will search secular sources and it will not be encouraging to us or others.

Whoa! You need to cut them off to remove them??? Yeah, no way.. Plus it's so expensive and labor intensive. I REALLY hate fooling around with my hair. Besides, I don't think my hair is the right texture for that. It's 3B - curly not kinky. No worries about haircuts. I just sorta trim it myself and wear it up in a bun 99% of the time. The person who normally cuts my hair wants $100-$150 for a bob cut and blowout, so I'll just keep my rubber bands and bobby pins at the ready 😎

Don't those (I had to look them up) require professionals - at least for starting them and removing them? The maintenance looks a bit stressful.. https://www.regirlworld.com/blogs/beauty/sisterlocks-the-complete-beginner-guide My ideal hair wouldn't need anyone doing much of *anything* to it (including me!) except a haircut every now and then. I don't have hair money - as it is, I haven't been able to afford a haircut since February 2024.. 😕

Locs are versatile if you have the time and energy for all that. Personally, I do not. It looks hot/ uncomfortable for sleeping, too.. It looks fine on those who like it but I would not like a brother with all that hair ('fro included). I like short, trim hair on men of every hair type.

Yah - I've been wearing diamond studs in my ears for decades... and decided I want to wear other earrings, too - without taking out my diamonds! So, it was a pure fashion choice and desire not to possibly lose my studs by taking them on and off. They're smallish and now I can wear hoops and danglies and all sorts. I feel fancy! Off to Claire's Boutique with you! ❤️

I feel exactly the same, Dawn. I just got second holes in my earlobes this past February. I've finally decided it wasn't heathen or hussy or poor example to do so, after lo, these 45 years or so they've been in style.. 😉 I feel cute now I won't ever like men with earrings or multiple piercings, gauges, etc., on anyone. I do not like tattoos; it's marking up the beautiful skin Jehovah gave us (imo). Care needs to be taken we're not strolling too close to the permissiveness of the world. Doing so will undoubtedly start to cause divisions amongst us - and that's unthinkable.

Knocking on wood was for good luck. One of those lame pagan rituals adapted by "Christianity" and said it's about the cross... 😕 Pagan Roots: Many cultures, including Norse paganism, revered trees and forests. Spirituality and Trees: Norse mythology, for example, features the World Tree, Yggdrasil, which connects different realms and is associated with fate and the Norns. Seeking Protection: The practice of knocking on wood may have stemmed from the belief that spirits resided in trees and that knocking would awaken them for protection or to acknowledge their presence. Avoiding Jinxes: In modern usage, "knock on wood" is often used to prevent something mentioned from going wrong or to avoid tempting fate. Christian Adaptation: Some theories suggest that Christian reformers adapted the pagan practice, linking the "wood" to the wood of the cross.

It's a particularly American holiday, though. I've always explained my not celebrating it for that reason- it's nationalistic. It could end up being divisive amongst our friends. Plus, we are to be thankful for God's blessings every day, not just one big day a year, that features excess in many cases. I'm from Chicago, too 😉