Priscilla Keller and David Waller engaged

[batwing]

Did anyone else notice that on the parents' site, the other couple (Adam & Valerie) got engaged the day after the 6th anniversary of the brother's death?

I know it's not the day OF or anything, but I think I'd want to wait a few additional days to handsex my intended. I'm close with my brother, I don't think I'd be able to crawl out of bed around that time each year, let alone get engaged.

[fundiefan]

Adam & Valerie don't have a clue. Every single aspect of their relationship was photographed & shared on the family blog. Chaperoned. Discussed.

What the hell? How the hell can they know if they want to marry each other if they have never even looked at each other without it being photographed?

There is something very, very wrong in the land of fundie, courtship, chaperoned relationship, bloggers.

[skankbiscuit]

I wonder since everything else has been documented as nauseum - are they going to follow them back to Adam and Valerie's room on their wedding night?

[Chrystal-J]

Oh my goodness.

This looks like 14-year-olds on their first date, but accompanied by family to make it even more akward.

Yes, that is an awkward looking couple. He seems nice enough, smiling and all, but I can't imagine getting "romantic" with him. The fumbling that would be going on...no thanks.

[Lana]

Why is it that none of the fundy new couples seem into one another?

Josh and Anna have seemed the most excited by their engagement, but I cant help but think it was horniness (Josh) and feeling special(Anna).

[NurseNell]

I found this strange:

Everybody except for Becca as she has been married off by the time of this photograph

Married off? Why not just say "everybody but Becca, who is married."?

[skankbiscuit]

I found this strange:

Married off? Why not just say "everybody but Becca, who is married."?

Yeah, that blog is full of weird fundy language...so awkward :roll:

[darkplumaged]

Speaking of awkward, I have never seen such awkward courtship pictures as those of Valerie and her former... um... courter, Jonathan. No wonder it didn't work out: they didn't look as if they wanted to be in the same zip code, let alone married.

Lana noted that so many recent fundie couples don't appear interested in each other. I think the total infantilization of men and women WRT relationships is to blame. The no-touch, totally chaperoned courtship is held up as the ideal in some (many?) fundie circles. This is no way to get to know a prospective spouse. These people don't love each other. They have no idea what romantic love is. How can they? All they talk about before marriage is the Bible, their respective "walks with God," their families, and their vision for raising godly multitudes blah blah blah. And so they end up engaged to someone with whom they have no real emotional bond and no chemistry.

[ophelia]

Wow. She is really 30. Well, that gives hopes to the lot of unmarried SAHDs that are in their late 20s and still waiting for Prince Charming to arrive.

When did her first courtship broke? Haven't found it on their blog yet. My internet sucks today and their website somehow makes it even worse. Probably too much akwardnes.

Although her brother Joe and his fiancée look really cute and in love with each other.

[moreorlessnu]

He's actually handsome...or he would be if he had a little more confidence...and a little more weight. I could see him as an all American golden boy if he had grown up in a different family. But....then he brings out the accordion, and all is lost.

[divadivine]

Maybe. I'm wondering if it was purchased at a pawn shop. Wouldn't a ring be cheaper there than at a jewelry store?

Buy used, save the difference.....

[IReallyAmHopewell]

What the hell? How the hell can they know if they want to marry each other if they have never even looked at each other without it being photographed?

It's not up to them to decide if they "want" to marry each other--it's accepting the will of their father who hears from our FATHER--remember? It's another matter of "obedience."

I still say Priscilla doesn't look like she's excited one bit.

I will say at least Gothard gives young adults mission trips and "service opportunities" at cult HQ and Cult Centers so they can meet then maybe the boy can get his Dad to work a deal with the girl's dad.

Loved the "believe in doorsteps" thing--priceless.

[Lana]

Lana noted that so many recent fundie couples don't appear interested in each other. I think the total infantilization of men and women WRT relationships is to blame. The no-touch, totally chaperoned courtship is held up as the ideal in some (many?) fundie circles. This is no way to get to know a prospective spouse. These people don't love each other. They have no idea what romantic love is. How can they? All they talk about before marriage is the Bible, their respective "walks with God," their families, and their vision for raising godly multitudes blah blah blah. And so they end up engaged to someone with whom they have no real emotional bond and no chemistry.

My theory is that they are encouraged to seek courtship partners that they are less attracted to, in order to keep themselves "pure". They dont want the kids to end up giving into the temptation of premarital sex or even *gasp* premarital kissing.

I think the thought is that your relationship with God comes first so you seek a chaste and cold relationsip with a partner to keep your convictions to God and if in the long run romantic love blossoms, that is a bonus but that is NOT the goal.

I recommend reading I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Josh Harris. It really sheds light on why the fundies choose courtship. Warning though-- it is through the fundie perspective so some of it may offend.

[donks]

He's sportin' some mighty yellow teeth... Obviously dental hygiene isn't high on his families list of priorities. Maybe TLC will pay for them a few dental visits, or at least a small sandblaster to look good for the wedding photos if the Duggars make an appearence.

[browngrl]

The Mueller family have a poll asking why there has been such an increase in blog traffic! There was no place to vote for "hive vagina" so I just did not vote.

[demgirl]

The Mueller family have a poll asking why there has been such an increase in blog traffic! There was no place to vote for "hive vagina" so I just did not vote.

Err. Wow - that's kind of funny. I'm sure some follower will 'bless' them by calling FJ out.

[PBrooke]

Priscilla announces her engagement on her buzz account and the comments are rather... illuminating. I can't decide which is more telling: the many comments that say "Really? I had no idea!" or the one that says "This makes so much sense!" profiles.google.com/114650483829109259650/buzz

[divadivine]

They're allowed to hold hands [gasp!] It seems those Keller girls like hand sex......

[terranova]

"This makes so much sense!" profiles.google.com/114650483829109259650/buzz

This could be taken to mean making sense to someone who knows the couple, or taken as meaning to make sense as in, that's very practical. Hopefully it's the former!

[fakepigtails73]

That's the saddest, and worst, thing about it though. That she had to make a choice and that she can't have it both ways. Why can't a child choose his or her life without it meaning loss of family versus keeping family? Why can't a grown adult choose how to live their own life while their family remains...their family? Why does a person have to follow their parent's way of life or give up their parents?

Every person should be able to have it both ways.

It's terrible how they treat those who stray from the fold! And it's not like Suze is now doing porno movies, she just chose to live in a less "legalistic" manner than how she was raised. :cry:

No unconditionnal love there at all...These families make me sick. They are a cult!

ETA: Just checked that Mueller family blog, and I'm creeped out by the "branched out" written under their married children's pics. Wth is that supposed to mean? Oh, and they're not very, how can I charitably say it? Ah yes, not very photogenic", these Muellers. Not like the Duggars and the Bates.

[tkr322]

I didn't see this posted yet so I thought I'd post (I'm new here, so sorry if this is old news). I followed the Staddon Family blog and then their son got married and him and his wife have a blog. They linked to Priscilla and her new husband's blog on their blog (are you still following me? lol) So here's the link: davidlovespriscilla.com

I've read David's family blog before, too. They used to be missionaries to Mongolia and seem to be ATI royalty, too.

[gustava]

Think it's been posted and we've snarked but welcome!

[holierthanyou]

Is it odd that their website includes an "RSVP" tab for their wedding?

Is the entire world invited? Can snarkers ask to be seated together?

[annalena]

Oh, I still need to RSVP, I totally forgot. :violin:

[marmalade]

Have they registered at WalMart yet?