Joe's House

[WonderingInWA]

Look at this comment from Steve:

:roll: Right.

More proof that poor unmarried Sarah will never, ever escape.

[E Street Fan]

Are fundie brides allowed to bring a dowry of furniture or other household stuff? Maybe that way the new slave helpmeet could get to pick out some things.

[WonderingInWA]

IIRC, they are allowed to have gift registries when they marry. Seems like we knew Christopher and NR-Anna had one someone on FJ found and I remember the Loomises (what the hell is the plural of Loomis, anyway?) had one, too. Not sure about furniture, though.

[mama_bear]

I don't consider this odd at all-we started our marriage with furniture handed down by relatives and it was definitely a good thing since we couldn't afford much.

[gardenvarietycitizen]

If Joseph were really so poor, would he be completely gutting his new house down to the studs and practically rebuilding the entire thing??? Most people don't do that when they buy a new house - even people who do make SOME changes. But he's pretty much redoing as much work on this house as we did when our house BURNT!! (Pretty much only the frame was left). Replacing all the doors, ripping out all the interior walls and taking the floor down to plywood? That's not trivial, and even if he (well, he and his family) is doing the actual labor themselves, that's still time spent that they're not out there in the world earning wages - if they normally do a carpentry biz, any work they do on their own houses means work they are NOT doing on paying customers' houses.

When our house burnt, we had a friend of ours do the contracting and most of the construction - he's a regular union carpenter, and we were able to pay him out of the insurance money (yes, we have evil heathen insurance :)). That guy does work on his own property from time to time too, but has always been open about the fact that he doesn't always get to his own projects as much as he'd like - just like anyone else - because he's busy all the time doing paid work, y'know?

[gardenvarietycitizen]

Mind - I don't mean to imply there's anything wrong with used furniture either, most of the stuff we have is used. It's just the "God blessed us!!!" over the top thing, and seeming to imply they're desperate for furniture so God personally steps in. Of course they say that about everything, so I guess it's in character.

They'd surely never say "hey we found some great deals at a yard sale" or "luckily enough someone on the neighborhood mailing list was getting rid of a bed, so..." as happens in my neighborhood.

[WonderingInWA]

I thought it was odd to see him replacing all those doors. Windows are one thing only due to energy costs, but windows are really expensive. The house must have been unsafe or unsound. I just wonder what he paid for the house and where all the money is coming from to buy all the new fixtures. Heck, even the dumpster they had to hire to haul everything away from the gutting was probably $400. Yikes.

[gardenvarietycitizen]

I thought it was odd to see him replacing all those doors. Windows are one thing only due to energy costs, but windows are really expensive. The house must have been unsafe or unsound. I just wonder what he paid for the house and where all the money is coming from to buy all the new fixtures. Heck, even the dumpster they had to hire to haul everything away from the gutting was probably $400. Yikes.

I dunno - I kinda wonder if the house wasn't perfectly fine (if less than modern energy efficient, so yeah I can understand replacing some of the windows) but it just wasn't up to the Maxwell taste and style (meaning fully open-plan house with tile floors) so they decided to redo the entire thing from scratch.

As always I have no idea where all their money comes from, but just from reading their blog and looking at the picture backgrounds they don't come across as poor to me by any means.

[Koala]

I wonder if that's the only house Steve could find that he felt would keep the new "autonomous family" close enough. If that's the case he might be footing the bill for some of these repairs.

[Creaky Mom]

I dunno - I kinda wonder if the house wasn't perfectly fine (if less than modern energy efficient, so yeah I can understand replacing some of the windows) but it just wasn't up to the Maxwell taste and style (meaning fully open-plan house with tile floors) so they decided to redo the entire thing from scratch.

As always I have no idea where all their money comes from, but just from reading their blog and looking at the picture backgrounds they don't come across as poor to me by any means.

I think the male children are drywallers. It pays very well and this house is a perfect excuse to show their skills and drum up more business. In a post a day or two ago, Poor Sarah mentions how one of the male children, pictured vacuuming the cupboard tops while wearing stilts, was accustomed to wearing stilts - the stilts used for drywalling.

And that mirrored headboard screams 1975. Gee whiz, now all of earth knows Joe and the missus will be rocking a mirrored headboard. Way to go Sarah. :dance:

[Guest Anonymous]

Where is the photo of the mirrored headboard? Has one been taken down?

[IceTwinkie]

In the US a King is approx 193cm wide x 203cm long. A California King is approx 183cm wide x 213cm long. A Cal King is narrower and longer than a standard King. We have a Cal King because Consort is 6'4 (193cm) and those extra 4 inches (10.2 cm)makes all the difference in the world to him :D

[PennySycamore]

My daughter was recently blessed by her boyfriend's Dyson vacuum cleaner. I doubt God anything to do with it. He just didn't need it right then.

[WonderingInWA]

Where is the photo of the mirrored headboard? Has one been taken down?

I don't think there was a photo of the headboard, was there? I just think it is assumed it matches the dresser. Poor Elizabeth.

[Handmaiden of Dog]

When I moved into my husband's house 12 years ago, I joined him in a double bed that once belonged to his grandparents. The mattress was so old that it disintegrated a little bit more every time we changed the sheets. We finally threw that one out and replaced it with another double mattress from the barn out back. My husband isn't 100% sure but he thinks the mattress belonged at one time to one of his old band mates who relocated.

We love the double because we like to sleep wrapped up in each other. We stayed in a honeymoon suite years ago with a king size bed and he didn't like that at all! He said I was too far away.

If we ever do have the money to buy a new bed I would like to get a queen only because often the top of the line luxury sheets only come in queen and king size.

[Creaky Mom]

I don't think there was a photo of the headboard, was there? I just think it is assumed it matches the dresser. Poor Elizabeth.

Poor Sarah wrote:

"Joseph is the grateful recipient of a fridge/freezer, a washer and dryer, a full-size bed with a beautiful mirror headboard, a dresser, and an upright freezer (soon to be coming). We are thrilled!"

No pic, but yeah, a mirror headboard.

[Piper]

I notice there is a satelite dish on the house. I wonder if they will have a TV? :shock:

[erunerune]

The more I think about it (and I do have time on my hands this afternoon), it does seem strange that there are pictures of the other stuff but not the "beautiful" mirrored headboard. It's sort of odd to mention that detail (as opposed to just saying Joe was blessed with a "nice free bed)", but I guess the Maxwells are so holy & un-worldly that it would never occur to any of them why such things as mirrored headboards might exist in the first place? It's more like they just mentioned it because it was unusual rather than pornful.

I dearly hope one of the Moody kids gets gifted with a mirrored headboard in the extra-special collector's edition Sarah is currently fluffing up!

[WonderingInWA]

The more I think about it (and I do have time on my hands this afternoon), it does seem strange that there are pictures of the other stuff but not the "beautiful" mirrored headboard. It's sort of odd to mention that detail (as opposed to just saying Joe was blessed with a "nice free bed)", but I guess the Maxwells are so holy & un-worldly that it would never occur to any of them why such things as mirrored headboards might exist in the first place? It's more like they just mentioned it because it was unusual rather than pornful.

I dearly hope one of the Moody kids gets gifted with a mirrored headboard in the extra-special collector's edition Sarah is currently fluffing up!

I wonder if the bed spins? Now THAT would be something to thank the Lord for!

[browngrl]

As soon as I saw that dresser I thought: I could use that. I would sand it down, re paint it , add new hardware and drop in a sink and use it in one of the bathrooms we are redoing. As for the mirrored head board -I've seen some really nice head board make overs on Pinterest so I am itching to try out one of my pinterst ideas.

So of course I am now heartsick because it turns out that the Maxwells and I want the same thing right now. I think I just threw up in my mouth and broke out in hives .

[YPestis]

It's nice that Joseph will receive some second hand furniture they can use. That will save them a bundle. I was also surprised how much work they're doing on the house. They are essentially rebuilding the house from the grounds up but it will look nice when they finish. If I had to choose between redoing the entire house or getting new furniture, I'd pick the remodeling. You can always replace individual furniture/appliances as you have money, but it's much harder to repaint the walls or get new tiles once you move in.

I don't think the Maxwells are poor, but I don't think they are as rich as their house makes them out. The entire family is involved in the building process so the only thing they have to pay for are the material. It's still not cheap but really saves them a bundle. Steve and Teri is an older couple and they probably paid off their mortgage. They don't have to pay for college, don't spend much on expensive vacations and are probably big savers, plus they have several full time workers living with them reducing cost. When you can do all that, you'd be surprised how much money you can save in your bank account. In China, some of my cousins have that type of living arrangement and it amazes me how much spending money they have despite their relatively low income (i.e pay for cars in cash, buy expensive electronics etc).

Joseph Maxwell may have six figures saved up....but I think some of the remodeling cost may also be from modest loans from his father. I have doubts that a young man of his age with only self-taught skills and questionable success in his "business ventures" is able to save up so much on his own. The fact they accept used appliances do indicate budgetary constraint. I think most people prefer a new fridge when they marry if they could afford it but a used one is a great deal if given for free.

From the size of the house, Joseph's house is probably two bedroom with a basement. It's a good starter home for young couples but they will need to expand or move out if they want to fit all their quivers (and not Duggar style). The Maxwells are smart with their money (saving and living with parents) but I doubt any of their kids will see huge increases in their income. They are very restricted on what types of business they can engage in. They don't believe in higher education. They are ill-educated and extremely sheltered. I don't think Joseph will be able to afford a large, comfortable house like his father which would eight kids comfortably.

[HoneyBunny]

The dresser looks a lot like the one I bought new from Thomasville 15 years ago. It wasn't cheap, and it looks great in the MBR with a four poster bed and armoire. Not all of us want houses that look like they belong in Tuscany or like a college dorm from Ikea. Just sayin'.

I was raised in a family without a lot of money. I don't think my parents had any new furniture or appliances until I was married and out of the house. Even now (in our 50s) we have a couple of items that my husband bought used in the 70s. I know very few people whose homes look like HGTV, and certainly no young people. I love to snark on the Maxwells as much as anyone, but I have to cut them a lot of slack on this one. I hate split level houses but it looks like they're making that one as nice as it can be.

[Katiebug]

I notice there is a satelite dish on the house. I wonder if they will have a TV? :shock:

No, it was probably just left by a previous owner or tenant. We had DirecTV for 5 years due to our hatred of the local cable company, and when we cancelled the service they said they leave the dish in place. Neither DirecTV or DISH Network remove dishes even if asked; they don't want to be liable for damage to the house's siding or roof from holes left behind. There are several houses in our neighborhood that have an older dish (presumably no longer used) with a current-generation dish installed right next to it.

The mirrored headboard cracked me up. Those two innocents will have a perfect view of themselves when they get amorous...

[Witsec7]

Those two innocents will have a perfect view of themselves when they get amorous...

And perhaps it will skeer them away from ever having sex again :lol:

[WonderingInWA]

And perhaps it will skeer them away from ever having sex again :lol:

Again, I'll bet Mary is fast at work making curtains for the mirror (she made those pretty bunk curtains for the bus, you might recall). That will be her wedding gift to the blessed couple.