Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Duggars' 2014 Recap

Another year has flown by, but before we ring in 2015, let's take a look at what the Duggar family accomplished in 2014. To read more about each entry, click the bolded blue link.

In January 2014, Jessa and Ben had been courting for four months. That was also the month Derick Dillard returned home after two years of humanitarian work in Nepal. He and Jill had been in a courtship for two months but had only met in person once, when Jim Bob and Jill flew to Nepal in November 2013. Unbeknownst to Jill, Derick purchased an engagement ring in Israel on his way home.

Jim Bob and Michelle kicked off the year by giving practical parenting advice during an at-home interview. The Duggars were also interviewed on large family logistics and relationships and marital intimacy.

John-David traveled to the Philippines with Lawson and Nathan Bates for a medical mission trip.

In March, Jana, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger Duggar, accompanied by the rest of the Duggar clan, embarked on the Growing Up Duggar book tour. They appeared on Good Morning America, Good Day New York, and HuffPost Live. The older girls also chatted with Cosmopolitan and shared dating tips. The family took some silly snapshots in the new GMA Social Square.

While Jill was away, Derick planned their engagement, which took place on March 29th. The couple announced their courtship on March 31st and their engagement on April 9th. The couple wrote out their love story to encourage other young people to trust God with their love lives.

While visiting the Duggars, we filmed a hair tutorial with the girls.

In April, the Duggars traveled to Big Sandy, Texas, for the annual ATI homeschool conference.

Josh and Anna went on a date night to see Mom's Night Out and gave the movie their stamp of approval.

Johannah, Jordyn, and Josie celebrated the arrival of spring by taking pictures, and Jim Bob led his younger children on a nature walk.

On June 20th, family members and friends gathered for Jill and Derick's rehearsal dinner. The following day, the two became man and wife and departed for their honeymoon in North Carolina. Michelle shared marriage advice for newlyweds.

In July, the Duggars dressed up for Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-A. Jim Bob and Michelle celebrated 30 years of marriage.

On August 14th, Ben Seewald proposed to Jessa. Jill and Derick Dillard announced their pregnancy a week later. Baby Dilly is due March 24th.

On August 28th, Josiah turned 18.

Michelle Duggar and Priscilla Waller shared encouragement for moms and daughters.

In October, Jill and Derick Dillard announced the gender of their baby...It's a boy! Josh and Anna met up with another couple at a tennis club for a double date.

Jessa announced that she might have more than 19 kids

Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald tied the knot on November 1st and shocked the crowd when they ran off the altar without a kiss. Christian comedian Tim Hawkins surprised the couple with a comedy routine written in their honor.

At the beginning of December, Josh and Anna announced that they are expecting their fourth child. Anna is now 13 weeks pregnant.

The Duggars headed to El Salvador for their annual Christmas mission trip.

Click here to read about the Duggars' most memorable moments from 2013.



Happy New Year!

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Check Out Our New Bates Blog


We have been posting periodic updates on Gil and Kelly Bates and their 19 children to this blog since 2011. With the premiere of the UP original series Bringing Up Bates at 9pm ET on New Years Day, we figured, why not create a separate site for Bates updates? So that's what we did.

It took time to set everything up, but we are excited to reveal the URL of the Bates Family Blog to our readers: www.batesfamilyblog.com

We will continue to post Duggar updates and episode recaps to the Duggar Family Blog as usual, so be sure to follow both blogs. (In case you haven't heard, the new season of 19 Kids and Counting premieres February 17th on TLC!)

Photo: Courtesy of UP

Duggars 10 & 11 Turn 16

Wishing Jedidiah Duggar and Jeremiah Duggar a Happy Sweet 16!


Monday, December 29, 2014

Video: Joy Duggar Does Parallel Squats

We thought you would enjoy this video of Jessa Seewald, Ben Seewald, Joy-Anna Duggar, and Jason Duggar in the Duggars' workout room. Jessa and Ben started working out together before they were married, and several of Jessa's siblings have joined them. The video is a bit blurry but shows 17-year-old Joy doing parallel squats...while holding a 145-pound barbell.


Sunday, December 28, 2014

Quadruple Duggar Date

The entire Duggar clan is together in Northwest Arkansas for the Christmas holiday. This afternoon, the four married Duggar couples went on a quadruple date.

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, Josh and Anna Duggar, Jill and Derick Dillard, and Jessa and Ben Seewald all crammed into one of the Duggars' Suburbans. Now that's one crowded vehicle, especially since Jill and Anna are both expecting. Jill is due March 24th, and Anna is 12.5 weeks pregnant.

Derick Dillard, Jill Dillard, Anna Duggar, Ben Seewald
Jessa Seewald, Michelle Duggar, Josh Duggar, Jim Bob Duggar

Saturday, December 27, 2014

New Season of "19 Kids and Counting"

19 Kids and Counting has been on break since November, when TLC aired an episode showing Jessa Duggar's engagement and a special on cousin Amy Duggar. Rumors have circulated that the show has been canceled, but the Duggars have continued filming through the break.

TLC has chosen a date for the premiere of the new season of 19 Kids and Counting: The Duggars return to reality TV on Tuesday, February 17th, 2015. The new season will give viewers a glimpse into Jill and Derick Dillard's lives as newlyweds. The couple is expecting their first child in March and has been filming home videos that they are looking forward to sharing on upcoming episodes of 19 Kids and Counting. The new season will also feature the wedding of Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Dillards Have a Movie Night

Jill Dillard is six months pregnant with her first child, a son. She and Derick spent Christmas Eve with the Dillards and Christmas Day with the Duggars.

Jill and Derick Dillard with Derick's relatives

Jill and Derick Dillard 
(and Jill Dillard's growing baby bump)

Tonight, Jill and Derick had an at-home date night. They made banana peanut butter shakes and watched the movie God's Not Dead.

Jill and Derick Dillard

5 Years and Counting

It's hard to believe that today is the 5th anniversary of the Duggar Family Blog. (This is also our 2,000th post!) We started blogging just a few weeks after Josie was born and have been going strong ever since, thanks to each one of our loyal readers.

We are honored to have the privilege of blogging on behalf of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 19 kids, and our prayer is that our blog is an encouragement to each one of you.

We have to ask, how long have you been reading the blog, and how did you find us?

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Duggar Christmas Day

Hope you are having a blessed Christmas! The Duggars kicked off Christmas Day by opening gifts. Josh and Anna Duggar and their three (soon to be four) kiddos are visiting from Washington D.C., and Jill and Derick Dillard and Jessa and Ben Seewald are over, as well. You thought you had a lot of wrapping paper to clean up this morning, but can you imagine doing Christmas morning with 19 kids, 3 young grandchildren, and 3 in-laws?

How are the Duggars spending the rest of the day? They are enjoying fellowship, playing group games, putting together the younger kids' Christmas gifts, and eating a big meal!

 Christmas at the Duggar house

 Michael and Mackynzie Duggar

Click here to view a Christmas video filmed by the Duggar boys. In the video, Michelle Duggar explains why her family has chosen not to have a Christmas tree.

How are you celebrating Christmas?

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Christmas with the Duggars

How do the Duggars celebrate Christmas? In the following video, Josh Duggar, who is visiting from Washington D.C. with Anna and his three (soon to be four) kids, gives viewers a tour of the Duggar house at Christmastime. The oldest of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's 19 children shares what his family does to spread Christmas cheer to people in their hometown and across the world. Michelle also explains why the Duggars have chosen not to have a big Christmas tree. And hear from newlyweds Jill and Derick Dillard and Jessa and Ben Seewald. 

Click here to view the Duggars' favorite recipes.



From our family to yours, we wish you a blessed Christmas!

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

"Bringing Up Bates"...9 Days!

We are counting down the days until Bringing Up Bates premiers on UP TV. Bringing Up Bates will follow the lives of Gil and Kelly Bates and their 19 children, long-time friends of the Duggars who live in eastern Tennessee. The series premieres at 9pm ET on January 1st, 2015, on UP TV. For a sneak peek of the upcoming series, check out these videos:

Bringing Up Bates: A Fun Family Full of Love


Bringing Up Bates: Meet the Bates

Bringing Up Bates: Christmas Greetings

Monday, December 22, 2014

Pictures: A Keller Thanksgiving

Josh and Anna Duggar and their kids spent Thanksgiving in Florida with Anna's family, the Kellers. The gathering took place at the home of Anna's parents, Mike and Suzette Keller. All of Anna's seven siblings and their families attended, minus Anna's sister Esther, who is a missionary to Zambia with her husband and children. Scroll down to view photos.

 Anna Duggar and 3 of her 4 sisters
Left to right: Susanna Rebekah, Priscilla, Anna


Josh Duggar and the guys do the dishes after the big Thanksgiving meal

Anna's brother David Keller plays with Mackynzie and Michael Duggar and another Keller niece

Grandma Keller decorates cookies with three of her granddaughters
(Mackynzie is on the right)


The extended Keller family gathers in the living room to sing Christmas carols

Mike and Suzette Keller with nine of their eighteen grandchildren

Every years at Christmastime, the Kellers dress up in costumes and act out Luke 2, which tells the story of Jesus' birth. 

Mackynzie Duggar (right) and her cousins are dressed up as angels

Michael Duggar was the youngest cousin to participate in the nativity play

Mackynzie Duggar and her cousin Noelle, daughter of Anna's sister Susanna

Photos: David and Priscilla Waller

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Update on the Seewald Newlyweds

Jessa and Ben Seewald are gearing up to celebrate their first Christmas as a married couple.

Just as they did while they were courting and engaged, Jessa and her man are still taking plenty of selfies.

 Ben and Jessa Seewald

Yesterday, the Seewalds spent time with Jessa's family and took a photo with six-year-old Jordyn Duggar.

 Jordyn Duggar, Ben Seewald, Jessa Seewald

The newlywed couple also went Christmas shopping. Both Jessa and Ben come from large families, so holiday shopping is time consuming. (Well, compared to the Duggars, Ben's family of nine is small, but the Seewalds still have more children than what the average American would consider "normal.")

 Ben and Jessa Seewald

Today marks 50 days of marriage for Jessa and Ben!

A Duggar Golden Birthday

Wishing Jinger Duggar a Happy 21st Birthday!

What words of wisdom do you have to share with Jinger and other ladies her age?




Friday, December 19, 2014

Duggars Head to the Beach

Before leaving El Salvador after their week-long mission trip, the Duggars stopped at the beach. Scroll through these photos, including Jim Bob's selfies with his kids and a picture of Jill Dillard's baby bump!

 Jinger Duggar, Jim Bob Duggar, Michelle Duggar

 Jinger Duggar

 Jim Bob Duggar and Justin Duggar

 Jim Bob Duggar and Josiah Duggar

 Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar

 Jim Bob Duggar and Jackson Duggar

 Derick and Jill Dillard

 Jim Bob Duggar and Jason Duggar

 Jim Bob Duggar, Jill Dillard, Derick Dillard, James Duggar

 Jill and Derick Dillard

Michelle Duggar and Jinger Duggar

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Photos from El Salvador

The Duggars' annual Christmas mission trip to El Salvador has ended, but their hope is that the impacts they made on the people they encountered will be eternal. Here are a few photos from their journey:

 Part of the missions team poses for a group photo at the airport

The team piles into the back of a pickup truck and heads to the church that is hosting them

 Mike Schadt from SOS Ministries gives instructions
(Mike Schadt, a long-time friend of the Duggars, 
performed Jessa and Ben's wedding ceremony)

 Michelle Duggar (green shirt) joins a group to pray for the people of El Salvador

 Jinger Duggar (right) and friends

 Michelle Duggar


 Derick Dillard, Jill Dillard, Michelle Duggar, Jim Bob Duggar, and friends

Jill Dillard, Jim Bob Duggar, Jackson Duggar, Joy Duggar