Maxwell 51: Empty Nesters, Empty Vesters? End of an Era

[Coconut Flan]

I'd like to know what Steve and Teri are doing besides rattling around an empty house all day.  Maybe they're enjoying retirement now or are they spending more time with the grandchildren or have they simply withdrawn from things?

[ContrastingButtons]

I admit to making an idol out of their blog, too.  I am so very glad the “girls” have all moved on.  I do hope for the occasional update, though.  Plus that pizza cutter post… 

[fundiefan]

It is kind of weird to not have a Maxwell blog post to talk about. But at the same time, we were spinning our wheels with their mundane repetitiveness. They haven't actually made effort or created anything of value or *gasp* even entertainment for a long, long time. Sarah gave up long before she gave up. 

While I'd like to know if Sarah or one of "the girls" gets married or if there are more kids and how Anna is doing post-treatment, etc...I don't actually "need" to know like I would have once thought I would; like, I don't care (in the sense of it being "news", not in the sense of "I don't care about human beings"). I am actually glad they've ended to blog. Much of it could be dangerous with their misinformation, bible obsessive, Godly Steve rules to living a perfect Christian life. It will be nice to let them crawl into the woodwork, just where vermin belong so they don't harm people. 

[JermajestyDuggar]

I’m hoping the girls start posting on social media. That way we can get a nugget here and there if the happenings.

[SPHASH]

Anna has a birthday on Halloween so maybe they will do a birthday post.

[Jana814]

1 hour ago, SPHASH said:

Anna has a birthday on Halloween so maybe they will do a birthday post.

I was wondering the same thing. I hope they do post. 

[FrumperedCat]

I'm thinking best chance might be Christmas/New Year post. With round up and family photo. Hopefully no news in the meantime is good news with regards to Anna Marie and her health.

[Fun-Dee]

I'm also going through withdrawals.  Would it be too much to ask for a few pictures?  I'm sure they still do a Sunday lunch for those who want to attend.  

[JermajestyDuggar]

Sarah was always the major writer and photographer for the blog. Now that she’s gone, it’s up to Teri or Steve. And I don’t think care that much to update often. I don’t think they are big picture takers themselves. They probably relied too heavily on Sarah and Chris to take pictures. 

[fundiewatch]

I check their blog as a habit and like a fiend.  There’s so much I want to know. Are the granddaughters doing Operation Christmas Child? Are there any new Maxbabies in the quiver? Elissa or Jesse’s Anna? We will soon be upon thanksgiving, will they update us about who is grateful for god, and who is grateful for Steve? Will they add a vegetable beside potatoes and the 7-layer salad? Caroling plans? A revival of the ladies’ tea? Does Auntie’s Park have a memorial plaque since no aunties are living there anymore? How detailed are the welcome home signs when the college girls return for a weekend? Which crews attend which Sunday meals? I’m in withdrawal. 

[MamaJunebug]

40 minutes ago, fundiewatch said:

Does Auntie’s Park have a memorial plaque since no aunties are living there anymore?

This made me grin.  Is it within the bounds of FJ propriety to ask if someone can share the name of the Baptist church the family attend in Leavenworth or nearby?  If not here, via DM, possibly?  If I happen to be in the area some Sunday, I'd love to drop by and observe the pastor / staff who may or may not have helped the Maxgals get out by whatever wise / gentle / "are you out of your mind, brother?" counsel he gave Stev-o.

I promise not to touch the poo.  Won't even report back here.

TIA, in any case.

Edited October 25, 2021 by MamaJunebug

[FloraDoraDolly]

Is Chelsy the only Maxwell with a notable social media presence?

[Captain Obvious]

4 hours ago, MamaJunebug said:

This made me grin.  Is it within the bounds of FJ propriety to ask if someone can share the name of the Baptist church the family attend in Leavenworth or nearby?  If not here, via DM, possibly?  If I happen to be in the area some Sunday, I'd love to drop by and observe the pastor / staff who may or may not have helped the Maxgals get out by whatever wise / gentle / "are you out of your mind, brother?" counsel he gave Stev-o.

I promise not to touch the poo.  Won't even report back here.

TIA, in any case.

It's this church: 

https://www.opendoorinfo.org/

It's not secret information since they've mentioned it before on their blog. 

I don't know if it's necessary to visit to get an idea of what they're like. Definitely conservative and evangelical, but not fundie. Also the senior pastor actually has a doctorate in theology rather than what a lot of fundie preachers have, which often is little more than "back of a cereal box" or "has a penis".

They also have typical Sunday school type activities, Awana, youth club etc and I'd be reasonably confident that Melanie's and Nate's kids would be attending those (perhaps after some resistance). 

Edited October 26, 2021 by Captain Obvious

[MamaJunebug]

46 minutes ago, Captain Obvious said:

It's not secret information since they've mentioned it before on their blog. 

Many thanks, Captain!  The mere thought of attending a Baptist service worries me, as I’m not given to that type of worship. But I’m likely to be in the area and simply fascinated about what the place is like, that has been instrumental in prying the family out of Steve’s iron grip. 

[JermajestyDuggar]

2 hours ago, FloraDoraDolly said:

Is Chelsy the only Maxwell with a notable social media presence?

Yes, but even she posts sporadically. She posted much more when she was forced to sit in the NICU for hours with not much to do. Now that MadMax is home, she hasn’t posted at all. I’m betting we will be lucky if she posts every 2 months. 

[Black Aliss]

11 hours ago, Coconut Flan said:

I'd like to know what Steve and Teri are doing besides rattling around an empty house all day.  Maybe they're enjoying retirement now or are they spending more time with the grandchildren or have they simply withdrawn from things?

Somehow I suspect Teri hasn’t left her bed since the girls left. Rereading what Steve so carefully wrote about Sarah moving out and quitting the blog, I’d have loved to have been a fly on the wall when that went down. I suspect voices were raised. 

13 hours ago, kpmom said:

I admit I made an idol of their blog, and now I'm suffering withdrawal.

I do hope they'll let us know if something big happens, like one of the sisters getting married.  It could happen.

If I were Sarah I’d have changed the password for the blog and not told Steve what it was

[theologygeek]

New pics up on the school's fb page.  Anna won a medal and Mary is next to a boy.  

On another note, I don't think the Open Door church is the one that the Maxwells go to.  That's the church they visit during Christmas when they have a Bethlehem display.  

[BigSandy]

Wow, I just checked out the ABC facebook pictures - looks like a lot of FUN happens there (despite all the repression, harmful ideology, etc.). I'm so happy for Anna and Mary to get to be there!

[HereticHick]

3 hours ago, theologygeek said:

New pics up on the school's fb page.  Anna won a medal and Mary is next to a boy.  

On another note, I don't think the Open Door church is the one that the Maxwells go to.  That's the church they visit during Christmas when they have a Bethlehem display.  

From the school's 5K run/walk last weekend

[Howl]

17 hours ago, Captain Obvious said:

than what a lot of fundie preachers have, which often is little more than "back of a cereal box" or "has a penis"

Yup, the penis threshold -- it's a thing.

*Maybe it takes a PhD in theology to get Steve's grudging respect*  

"Maybe, possibly he knows more than I do.  It's not likely, but maybe. I'm doubtful of course, but I will critically (very critically) consider what he has to say. We don't know his position on bean burritos or lettuce cutting, of course, but we'll investigate that after we vet his theology." 

 

15 hours ago, Black Aliss said:

If I were Sarah I’d have changed the password for the blog and not told Steve what it was. 

That would be an act of stunning rebellion in Maxhell. 

Plus, how does Sarah handle social media without an accountability partner RIGHT THERE?   Maybe she's been required to give Steve her computer password and he checks in remotely. 

Edited October 26, 2021 by Howl

[Sops2]

Yes, I think that is Mary next to a boy- wow- good for her, even making male friends is a huge step forward for her. At least they're proving to us that they can mix and socialise with others and not look uncomfortable and out of place

[JermajestyDuggar]

54 minutes ago, Sops2 said:

Yes, I think that is Mary next to a boy- wow- good for her, even making male friends is a huge step forward for her. At least they're proving to us that they can mix and socialise with others and not look uncomfortable and out of place

I believe that’s the same guy she was playing volleyball with and sitting next to eating. Mary may be the youngest, but she might be the first Maxwell girl to marry. I think his name is Samuel Hock.

Edited October 26, 2021 by JermajestyDuggar

[kpmom]

3 hours ago, HereticHick said:

From the school's 5K run/walk last weekend

Wow, what a difference from the Mawell's family only Turkey Trot a few Thansgivings ago, with the sisters running in skirts!

I still can't get used to a female Maxwell in pants.

The Fall colors look so pretty up there.

[Sops2]

Good sleuthingJermajesty, - looks as if he's a singer in the college choir

[JermajestyDuggar]

26 minutes ago, Sops2 said:

Good sleuthingJermajesty, - looks as if he's a singer in the college choir

It looks like he may have grown up in Uruguay. A white fundie family in Uruguay? My guess is that they were missionaries. And we know Mary and Anna want to be missionaries.