Duggars Visit an Orphanage

On Tuesday's season finale episode of Jill & Jessa: Counting On, the Seewalds and several of Jessa's siblings continue their mission trip in Central America with the Dillards. The crew visits an orphanage and discusses adoption.

"I wish I could gather up an armload and carry 'em out," comments Jessa Seewald in the video below. Both the Dillards and Seewalds hope to adopt in the near future. Will you be watching the season finale?

 Photo/video courtesy TLC

Dillards and Seewalds in 'Us Weekly'

The Dillards and Seewalds are in this week's edition of Us Weekly. The story is called "Two Kids and Counting" and shares all the details of Jill and Jessa's lives as first-time-moms.

According to Jessa Seewald, "having little siblings was like having live baby dolls."

Spurgeon Seewald, who turns six months old in May, has started rolling over and can scoot across the floor. His cousin, almost-13-month-old Israel Dillard, has seven teeth and is a pro at walking.

You will see footage of Spurgeon and Israel's first meeting during Tuesday's season finale episode, but Jill Dillard tells Us Weekly that Israel gave Spurgeon a bunch of kisses!

Both Jill and Jessa agree that mom Michelle Duggar is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to raising kids. "There's no pressure to do things just exactly how she did them, but when I feel overwhelmed, she's always there telling me, 'You're doing a great job!'" shares Jessa. "That gives me the courage to trust my instincts."

For more information, including quotes from Ben Seewald and Derick Dillard, grab a copy of Us Weekly at your local newsstand.


Photos courtesy theseewaldfamily.com, dillardfamily.com, TLC

"Life-Changing" Season Finale

Tune in to TLC next Tuesday at 9pm ET/8pm CT for what TLC is calling the "life-changing season finale" of Jill & Jessa: Counting On. What do you predict will be revealed?

Jill & Jessa: Counting On "Israel Meets Spurgeon"

Jessa and Ben Seewald, along with several of the Duggar siblings, experience what life is like for Jill and Derick Dillard living in a foreign country with a young son. Jill and Derick remember their beginnings together in Nepal and the adventures that have led them to the mission field in Central America.

Photos courtesy TLC

Spurgeon is 'Top Notch'

We hope y'all aren't getting tired of watching videos. There have just been so many to post, and we don't want you to miss out on any!

In this interview with TLCme host Danni Starr, Jessa and Ben Seewald give a quick update on their journey as parents. According to Jessa, Spurgeon Seewald's easy-going personality comes from one parent in particular, as the other was a more high-strung baby. Before watching the video, post your guess on whether Jessa or Ben was the laid-back child.

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Recap: "Family Reunion"

Jill & Jessa: Counting On, "Family Reunion"...

• TLC flashes back to moments from Jessa and Ben’s courtship, wedding day, pregnancy, and first months as parents.
• As you may remember, Jessa and Ben shared their first kiss in private after their wedding ceremony. What do the other Duggar siblings think about that?
• Joy-Anna: “I’m not exactly sure what I’ll choose. I guess I’ll have to wait and see, see what my guy things.”
• Jedidiah: “I don’t know if I could wait that long…might as well do it then.”
• John-David: “For me, it’s not that big of a deal…to kiss in public.” But he says he will have to see what his wife thinks.
• Jessa says her entire labor is a “mental blur” and that it did not feel like real life. She shares more about her 24-hour stay in the hospital after Spurgeon’s homebirth. She had a large amount of blood loss when the placenta separated from the wall of the uterus, so her birth team called an ambulance and had her transported to the hospital. The doctor checked her out and told her she could either consume extra iron and recover over a period of about three months or have a blood transfusion. Jessa opted for the blood transfusion.  
• Jessa and Ben take four-month-old Spurgeon to a camera shop to have photos taken for his passport, in preparation for their trip to Central America in two weeks.
• Jana, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy, Jedidiah, Jason, and James are also going along. Although it has only been a couple months since their Christmas trip to Central America, they look forward to coming alongside the Dillards and helping with their ministry activities.
• The Duggars sign birthday cards to deliver to Jill, Derick, and Israel. “I’m so thankful that after a really difficult year, my family has drawn even closer together, and we’re stronger than ever before, and going on this trip together is a testament to that,” says Jessa.
• “It was very difficult, and we cried a lot of tears,” shares Jessa, thinking back to summer 2015. “And I feel like it was especially difficult for me, just because I had spoke out in defense of Josh and had stood up for him, and then there was another whole wave of things that came through. It was really difficult for me. It was very emotional through those months after that, just working through all of that.”
• “The fact that I was pregnant was kind of a breath of fresh air,” continues Jessa. “I think it really helped to kind of get my mind off the circumstances…” The newlywed says that she and Ben are now even more focused on keeping God first and staying true to their wedding vows.
• Jana agrees, saying that Jessa’s pregnancy was a reminder to the entire Duggar family that there could still be joy in the midst of pain.
• The group heads to the airport at 3am to catch their flight to Central America. “Any time that our family goes on a trip, it is pretty much like chaos, from the amount of bags that we have, to passports…” says Jinger. “It’s always a challenge.”
• When everyone arrives in Central America, Derick picks them up at the airport. The proud uncle enjoys holding nephew Spurgeon for the first time. Everyone is eager to reunite with Jill.

Tune in next week for what TLC is calling the “life-changing season finale.”

Spurgeon Seewald Meets Uncle Derick

In this promo video of tonight's show, Jessa and Ben Seewald and a handful of the Duggar siblings reunite with Derick Dillard at the airport in Central America. Derick is thrilled to hold his nephew  Spurgeon Seewald for the first time.

"The drive to meet up with Jill and Izzy seemed like it was really long because there was so much anticipation not having seen them for so long," shares Jessa.

How do cousins Israel and Spurgeon react when they meet for the first time? Find out on Jill & Jessa: Counting On, "Family Reunion," tonight at 9pm ET/8pm CT on TLC.

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Watch 'Counting On' For Free

Looking for a way to fight the Monday doldrums? Snuggle up on the couch this evening and watch last week's episode of Jill and Jessa: Counting On, "Girls Hit the Road" for free. We have embedded it below for your convenience:

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Seewalds Pack For Central America

As Jessa and Ben Seewald pack for their trip to Central America, they look forward to reuniting with Jill and Derick Dillard and introducing Israel Dillard to his new cousin, Spurgeon Seewald.

Tune in to TLC tomorrow at 9pm ET/8pm CT for Jill & Jessa: Counting On "Family Reunion." Scroll down to watch a sneak peek scene, and click here to view another promo video.

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Oreo Cookie Truffles From 'Counting On'

Do you remember the Oreo Cookie Truffles that Joy-Anna Duggar made with party planner Sierra Dominguez three weeks ago on Counting On? If you're looking for a treat to bring to an upcoming event, these truffles are delicious and oh so easy to make!

Sierra's Oreo Cookie Truffles

Ingredients:

1 family size package Oreo cookies (approximately 50 cookies)
1 package cream cheese (8 oz)
1/4 cup powdered sugar
24 oz. white chocolate for candy making

Directions:

1. Use food processor to crush cookies.

2. Set aside 1/2 cup of crushed cookies to use for garnish. Leave remaining crushed cookies in food processor. Add cream cheese, and blend.

3. Slowly add powdered sugar, and blend together.

4. Pour batter into a mixing bowl. Form into quarter-sized balls, and place on cookie sheet lined with wax paper.

5. Freeze for 10 minutes. Re-form ball shape. Dip in melted white chocolate, and set on wax paper.

6. Garnish the tops of the truffles with the remainder of the crushed cookies. Enjoy!

Photos/video courtesy TLC

One New Snapshot

Just updated our header with a new photo of one of the members of the Duggar family. Can you tell who it is?

Season Finale Sneak Peek

At four months old, Spurgeon Seewald has his first passport photos taken in preparation for a trip to Central America. "It's not the safest place in the world, but I think we'll be pretty safe," says Jessa in the video below.

**Tune in to TLC on Tuesday, April 26th, at 9pm ET/8pm CT for part one of the two-part season finale of Jill & Jessa: Counting On.

Photo/video courtesy of TLC

Michelle: 'We Thank God For You'

Jason Duggar celebrated his 16th birthday with an ice cream party at Family Camp in Big Sandy, Texas. Although they have 19 children, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar take time to make each of their kids feel special. Check out their YouTube birthday wishes:

Birthday Message from Jim Bob Duggar, Michelle Duggar, and Jinger Duggar

Birthday Message from Jim Bob Duggar and Pastor Jeremy Vuolo

Jason's Sweet 16

Wishing Jason Duggar a blessed 16th birthday!

Did you know that Jason's middle name is Michael and that he is one of six members of the extended Duggar clan who have either Michael or Michelle (the feminine version of Michael) as their first or middle name? Can you name them all?

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com/TLC

Duggars Comment on "Prairie Dresses"

 Duggar Family, circa 1994

(Jim Bob, Michelle, Josh, Jana, John-David, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger)

We all have those childhood pictures that make us cringe and wonder what ever made us wear something so hideous. On last night's episode of Jill & Jessa: Counting On, the Duggar gals commented on the "prairie dresses," as Jinger calls them, that they wore in the early days of their reality TV show.

Jill, Jana, and Johanna, circa 2006

Jessa (Duggar) Seewald: “I definitely have those moments I look back and say, ‘Man, that was
rough, that was a rough patch.’”

Jana Duggar: “Those are the embarrassing days.” Jana also admitted that she was not a fan of the poufy sleeves.

Joy Duggar: “They were like bags…We wore those until I was like 12.” Joy went on to share how glad she is that her family made the switch to “normal clothes.”

Jinger Duggar chimed in, saying she is glad for the change in wardrobe.

For those who grew up in the '80s and '90s, do you remember wearing similar clothing?

 Duggars and Bates, circa 1995

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Building a Treehouse in "True Duggar Fashion"

After nearly one month of work, the Duggar siblings are almost ready to unveil the big treehouse. The inside area has a loft, a play kitchen area, and plenty of windows.

"In true Duggar fashion, our projects tend to get bigger and bigger the longer they go," explains John-David Duggar. "Everybody wants to put their two cents in." Video below:

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Recap: "Girls Hit the Road"

Jill & Jessa: Counting On "Girls Hit the Road"

• After nearly one month of work, the older Duggar kids are ready to unveil the finished treehouse. “Sometimes I’ll come along and be like, ‘Okay, I know that’s really solid, but we might just want to make it look a little better, too,’” says Jana, as she gently critiques John-David’s work.
• The little kids are thrilled to finally be able to play in the finished fort. “It just brings so much joy to our lives, really,” says Jana, as she watches her brothers, sisters, niece, and nephews enjoy the treehouse.
• Jana, Anna, Jessa, Jinger, Joy, Meredith, and Spurgeon pack for a road trip to Branson, Missouri. They look forward to plenty of “undistracted girl time.”
• Anna comes up with the idea of packing heels and seeing who can wear them the longest. She and Jinger wear heels more often than the others.
• “Have you tried wearing heels?” Joy, who has more of a casual style than her sisters and sister-in-law, asks the cameraman. “It’s difficult.” Jessa agrees, stating that she feels like an elephant in heels.
• Jessa and Ben have only been apart for one night since their wedding, so it’s a big deal for Jessa to go on a weekend getaway without her hubby.
• On the way to Branson, Jana pulls over so Anna, Jessa, and Joy can climb out and attempt to corral a cow back into its pasture. They are successful! “It’s not our first time to chase cows back into a pen,” shares Jana.
• The gals stay in the Branson Bear Log Cabin. After arriving, they catch up with Jill via video chat and are thrilled to find out that Israel had taken his first steps earlier that day. Derick had also just killed a large tarantula in their house. Before putting Israel on the floor to play, the Dillards say they have to check the area for critters.
• At breakfast the next morning, Anna mentions that this could be the last girls trip before the next Duggar wedding. “You could always be six months away from an engagement if you’re single and over 18,” she says, smiling.
• The gals enjoy an at-home spa day, which is something the girls used to do as kids. 
• Anna gives an update on her marriage: “I can definitely look back on the past few months and say, it’s been a hard road, but it’s been a good road. Daily, there is going to be a lot of work…but we’ll just kind of take it one day at a time and keep trusting God and do the next right thing.”
• The girls say that Anna has been a huge encouragement and blessing to them during the time that she has lived in their home.
• When asked what she is looking for in a guy, Joy responds: “Somebody that loves others more than himself.”
• When asked if she grows tired of questions about marriage, Jinger says: “I think it’s just typical. We kind of just expect it.”
• Jana expresses her desire to marry a guy with “dirt under his nails,” rather than a guy with a desk job. “The thing is, when you’re in love, you don’t ask the guy, ‘Do you have a desk job?’” Jessa reminds her sister.
• The ladies visit a 230-foot lookout point called Inspiration Tower, accessible by an elevator with windows. Anna and Jinger are both terrified of heights. (Jana also mentions that she has a minor fear of airplanes.) At the top, everyone is able to step outside and look over the edge.
• The girls dress up in fancy clothing and head out to dinner. Anna and Jessa joke that they have set up blind dates for Jana, Jinger, and Joy. Jinger says she’s fine with that, as long as she can choose her date. The girls feel a little out of place at the fancy restaurant that they choose for dinner. But they all make it through the evening in heels!
• The girls comment on the “prairie dresses”—as Jinger calls them—that they wore in the early days of their TV show.
• “I definitely have those moments I look back and say, ‘Man, that was rough, that was a rough patch,’” admits Jessa. 
• “Those are the embarrassing days,” shares Jana, who says she did not enjoy the poufy sleeves. 
• “They were like bags…We wore those until I was like 12,” Joy says of the dresses she wore until her family made the switch to “normal clothes.”

Chasing Cows

This is absolutely hilarious! En route to Branson, Missouri, the Duggar gals make a a pit stop to chase a cow back into its pasture...

Video courtesy TLC

Duggar Girls Face Their Fears

Tonight's new episode of Counting On is sure to be exciting! The older siblings reveal the finished treehouse, and then Jana, Anna, Jessa, Jinger, Joy, Meredith, and Spurgeon take a road trip to Branson, Missouri. (Click here for a sneak peek video.)

A surprise along the way forces the girls to take an unexpected detour, but they finally make it to their cabin and are able to enjoy plenty of girl talk. Before returning home, they stop at Inspiration Tower (video below). Tune in to TLC tonight at 9pm ET/8pm CT.

Photo/video courtesy TLC

A Very Smiley Spurgeon

Spurgeon Seewald turns six months old in just a couple weeks. As you can see from these two snapshots, he is growing like a weed! Do you think he looks more like a Duggar or a Seewald--or a mixture of both?

Photo courtesy theseewaldfamily.com

Video: Duggar Girls' Weekend Getaway

The Duggar girls are ready to hit the road! On Tuesday's new episode of Jill & Jessa: Counting On, Jana Duggar, Anna Duggar, Jessa Seewald, Jinger Duggar, and Joy Duggar head out on a weekend getaway--with Spurgeon and Meredith, of course (video below). They enjoy a few days of relaxation and plenty of girl talk, including updates from Anna about husband Josh Duggar.

Photo/video courtesy TLC

How to Share your Feedback with TLC

Since the March 15th season premiere of Jill & Jessa: Counting On, TLC has aired a new episode every Tuesday evening.

As those who dislike the Duggars work tirelessly to convince the network to cancel the show, it is important for fans to make their voices heard. Click here to write a message to the Discovery Communications Viewer Relations team. Your comments matter!




Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

A Unique Care Package

While Skyping with her sisters and sister-in-law, Jill mentions a number items that are either overpriced or unavailable in Central America. She emails her list to Jana, Anna, Jinger, and Joy, who enjoy purchasing the items and packaging them up to deliver during their upcoming mission trip. Check out this video:

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Hip Hop Music By Ben and Spurgeon

For those who missed Tuesday's new episode of Jill & Jessa: Counting On and are eager to hear Ben and Spurgeon's hip hop masterpiece, check out the video below. Watch Jessa's reaction as she listens to the finished product.

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Ben Seewald's Advice For New Dads

In an interview with TLCme host Danni Starr, Ben Seewald shares his best parenting tips for dads of infants, as well as how he hopes to connect with his kids when they are older.

"Right now it's one day at a time," says the new dad. "Lots of diaper changing and lots of spending time with Spurgeon, just talking to him face-to-face, letting him hear my voice and see me."

Photo courtesy theseewaldfamily.com/video courtesy TLC

Ben's Tour of St. Louis, MO

Featured in last night's new episode of Counting On, this scene shows the tour that FLAME gives Ben Seewald of the inner-city St. Louis neighborhood where he grew up.

For those who are familiar with the St. Louis Metropolitan Area, FLAME's childhood home is located less than 10 minutes northwest of the St. Louis Gateway Arch.

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Recap: "Ben Drops Beats"

Jill & Jessa: Counting On "Ben Drops Beats"

• Last week, we saw Jim Bob and Michelle make a surprise visit to Central America. While there, Michelle gives Israel his first haircut. “It’s amazing to think how much life has actually changed over the past few years,” says Derick.
• Although the visit is short, Jim Bob and Michelle enjoy joining in on some of the Dillards’ mission work.
• Back in Arkansas, Jinger, with help from Jessa, does a photo shoot with Mark and Sierra Dominguez and their five kids. The Duggars met Mark and Sierra when they had just one child.
• The older kids continue work on the treehouse. Jessa tries to convince John-David to add electricity, plumbing, and air conditioning, but John isn’t too keen on those ideas.
• Jana, Jinger, and Joy help the boys cut and haul boards. Joseph says his sisters often pitch in with indoor and outdoor construction work.
• Jana, Anna, Jinger, and Joy chat with Jill and Israel via Skype. Jill fills her sisters and sister-in-law in on Israel’s latest milestones and demonstrates how her son responds to words in both English and Spanish. The Duggars look forward to traveling down to Central America on a mission trip in a few weeks.
• The Seewalds head to St. Louis, Missouri, to meet with Christian hip hop artist FLAME.
• Ben is passionate about ministry work and is interested in serving in inner-cities. He reached out to FLAME, who grew up in inner-city St. Louis, via email, and the two struck up a friendship.
• This will be Spurgeon’s second time on an airplane. He is an easy-going child, and Jessa says that traveling with three is much easier than traveling with a family of 21.
• The Seewalds visit FLAME’s recording studio and meet the rest of his group. “It was really cool hanging out in the studio with these guys and just seeing their passion for Christian hip hop,” says Jessa. “It’s a different type of music, but it’s still got that message, and it’s really great.”
• “Really, I wouldn’t have really known anything about Christian hip hop if it wasn’t for Ben liking this type of music,” admits Jessa. “I probably mostly listen to bluegrass and classical and some Christian-country type stuff.”
• Spurgeon enjoys “singing” along to the music, so the producer records some of his sounds. FLAME convinces Ben to step into the recording booth and try his hand (or should we say voice) at hip hop. Jessa cracks up when she hears the finished product, which features music by Ben and Spurgeon.
• Later, FLAME takes Ben to the neighborhood where he grew up. He shows Ben his basement bedroom window, where, as a child, he witnessed a man being killed across the street. FLAME gives Ben advice for successful inner-city mission work: “Be genuine. Be yourself. When people see you’re genuine…they let you in their hearts.”
• Meanwhile, Jessa tries Indian food with FLAME’s wife and her sister, who are from India. 
• “It’s great getting to meet new friends and people who have come from very diverse backgrounds and getting to learn more about their culture and their customs and how we differ,” says Jessa.
• What do the other Duggars think of hip hop? 
• Jana: “I wouldn’t know how to describe hip hop music.” 
• Joseph: “Hip hop, I would say that would be more of a modern type [of] music.”
• Joy-Anna: “Hip hop…is kind of like rock music, I think.” 
• Jinger: “It’s one of a kind, that’s for sure.” 
• John-David: “You don’t even have to be…an excellent singer, I don’t think, to do it.”
• Anna: “Hip hop is a beat, and rappers rap on hip hop beat. Is that right, Bill? The sound guy is telling me what hip hop is.”

Duggars Chat Via Skype

In this video clip, Jana Duggar, Anna Duggar, Jinger Duggar, and Joy-Anna Duggar Skype with Jill and Israel Dillard.

Jill fills her sisters and sister-in-law in on all of Israel's latest milestones. "[The locals] think it's so funny that he says Mama and Papa instead of...Mom and Dad," shares Jill. "They're like, 'He speaks speaks Spanish!'" Tune in to TLC tonight at 9pm ET/8pm CT for an all-new episode of Counting On. (Click here to view another promo video.)

Photo/video courtesy of TLC/PEOPLE

New Photos: Joy Duggar

Hope your week is off to a good start. Here are a few photos of 18-year-old Joy-Anna Duggar for you to scroll through. Are you looking forward to tomorrow's new episode of Jill and Jessa: Counting On?

And a silly one...

Photos courtesy DCL; view more at TLC.com

Where to Watch 'Counting On'

Since the March 15th season premiere of Jill and Jessa: Counting On, TLC has aired four episodes. The first two are on the network's website. (Click here to watch "At Home & Away" and here to watch "Date Nights & Bright Lights.")

Unfortunately, the others have not been posted to TLC.com, but they can be purchased on Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play. We will let you know if they become available for free.


Photo courtesy TLC

Seewalds Rap it Out

Check out this unique scene from next week's new episode of Counting On. Jessa, Ben, and Spurgeon Seewald take a trip to St. Louis, Missouri, to visit Christian rapper FLAME.

Photo/video courtesy of TLC

Joyful Joy

Sorry y'all! We had this post ready to go early this morning and forgot to push the "Publish" button. Oh well, better late than never, right?

Can Joy-Anna Duggar hold her own in the kitchen? In the following video, she and friends Sierra and Holly get together to bake sugar cookies for an upcoming surprise baby shower, as seen on Tuesday's episode of Jill & Jessa: Counting On.

The gals also explain why they include men and children in their baby showers, and Joy's family shares their thoughts on her personality.

Photo/video courtesy TLC/Us Weekly

New Photos of Spurgeon

How adorable are these photos of five-month-old Spurgeon Seewald?

Photos courtesy theseewaldfamily.com, used with permission. View more at theseewaldfamily.com.

Video: Israel's First Year

Warning: This video might make you tear up.

In honor of Israel Dillard's first birthday, TLC put together a flashback video, starting with the moment Jill and Derick announced their pregnancy. Enjoy!

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Israel Dillard Update

As we announced this morning, today is Israel's 1st birthday! The Dillards celebrated with friends on Sunday and will bring a pinata to church this evening. Derick's mom (aka "Grandma C") paid a visit to Central America just in time for her grandson's milestone birthday.

Jill and Derick's letter to Israel has been posted to their website. Here are a few updates:

-Israel is a pro at walking and enjoys playing soccer.
-He has 7 (soon to be 8) teeth.
-In addition to several words in sign language, Israel can say "Mama," "Papa," and "uh oh." When he wants to nurse, he says "nur-nur."
-Israel is also learning Spanish and will give kisses when he hears the word "besitos."
-During worship at church, Israel enjoys dancing and clapping.


Photo courtesy dillardfamily.com

Grand-Duggar #4 Turns 1

Wishing Israel Dillard a happy 1st birthday! Which picture is your favorite?

Photo credits: courtesy duggarfamily.com; courtesy dillardfamily.com; courtesy dillardfamily.com used with permission; used with permission from lisamacphotography.com (Facebook: @lisamacphoto)

John-David's Goals for the Future

What are John-David Duggar's plans for the future? As the third oldest child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, John hopes to tie the knot and raise up "a good, solid family."

Does he have a gal in mind? Find out in the following video, which features a segment of TLCme host Danni Starr's interview with John, Joseph, Josiah, and Ben.

 Photo/video courtesy TLC

Recap: "Surprise!"

Jill & Jessa: Counting On "Surprise!"

• Jessa and Jinger scout out a location for Jinger’s upcoming photo shoot. They choose Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, which also happens to be the location where Ben proposed to Jessa.
• Sierra is a party-planner who helped coordinate Jill and Jessa’s weddings. Joy, who has been working alongside Sierra for about five years, accompanies her to the home of a gal who bakes and decorates sugar cookies. The three ladies whip up a couple batches of cookies for a surprise baby shower they are throwing for their friend Kristen Young.
• The Duggars all agree that Joy lives up to her name. “Joy is joyful,” says Jessa. According to Joseph, she “will tell you like it is.” 
• As the only girl in the midst of eight brothers, Joy has plenty of boys to look out for her. The guys say that any potential suitors will be put through the wringer.
• The older boys begin construction on what they refer to as a tree house but is actually a massive cabin on stilts, built over the ditch in the Duggars’ yard and accessed by a bridge. The older kids all agree that their childhood dreams are coming to life.
• Over the years, the Duggars have accumulated a collection of construction vehicles. Dwayne Andregg, a friend who helped them build their house, lends a hand.
• John-David shares his plans for the future. He makes an income and hopes to have a wife and kids someday.
• Inside the house, Anna and Joy round up the little kids and offer a quarter to the person who finds Jenny’s missing glasses. Joy thinks her little sister, who doesn’t like wearing glasses, may have lost them on purpose.
• Later, Jana, Anna, Jessa, Jinger, Joy, Meredith, and Spurgeon head to Potter’s House Thrift Store to buy dishes for the kids’ fort. The girls also spend time browsing the store’s clothing section.
• “It’s a lot of fun to be together, all of us sisters,” says Jana. “It’s kind of rare these days.”’
• Jim Bob and Michelle surprise the Dillards with a visit to their home in Central America. On one of the days, they travel with Jill, Derick, and Israel to a remote village to deliver food items.
• Jessa and Sierra treat Kristen, who is due with her first child in June, to a pedicure. Meanwhile, Joy, Jana, and Jinger head over to the location of the baby shower. Joy gives instructions, and everyone helps set up. “I felt kind of bossy,” admits Joy.
• After the pedicure, Kristen receives a call from her husband, Justin, who instructs her to put on a blindfold. Jessa, Sierra, and Kristen pull into the parking lot of the location of the surprise baby shower, where a few dozen of Kristen’s closest friends and family members are waiting to greet her. Everyone enjoys an evening filled with food and games.

No Longer a Tomboy

"I was definitely a tomboy back in the day, always hanging out with my brothers, but now I'm kind of getting out of that stage and trying to grow out of that." (Joy-Anna Duggar)

Joy, who celebrated her 18th birthday in October, is the only girl in the midst of eight boys. Will that make it difficult for potential suitors? Find out in the video below! (Be sure to tune in to TLC tonight at 9pm ET/8pm CT for a new episode of Jill & Jessa: Counting On.)

Photo/video courtesy TLC/PEOPLE

Duggar Gals Go Thrifting

"My sisters, whenever they go shopping for, let's say, food, they always end up in the clothing section..." (Jedidiah Duggar)

Jana Duggar, Anna Duggar, Jessa Seewald, Jinger Duggar, and Joy Duggar, along with Meredith Duggar and Spurgeon Seewald, head over to Potter's House Thrift Store to pick up items for the kids' tree house kitchen. But before beginning their search, they must first browse the clothing section.

Check out this video, and be sure to turn in to tonight's new episode of Jill & Jessa: Counting On, which airs at 9pm ET/8pm CT on TLC.

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Joy-Anna Takes Charge

On tomorrow's new episode of Jill & Jessa: Counting On, Jessa Seewald spends time with two close friends, while Joy-Anna Duggar takes charge to set up for a baby shower.

Photo/video courtesy TLC

'God's Not Dead 2'

If you have been a long-time reader of our blog, you may remember our post about Jill and Derick Dillard's at-home date night in December 2014. The two expectant parents enjoyed banana peanut butter shakes while watching the movie God's Not Dead.

For those who enjoyed God's Not Dead, you'll be thrilled to hear that the sequel, God's Not Dead 2, opens in theaters today.

The movie features Duck Dynasty star Sadie Robertson, who also happens to be a personal friend of the Duggar girls. It has also been endorsed by multiple other friends of the Duggar family, including authors Jason and David Benham.

Visit Ellie's blog, NashvilleWife.com, to read her review of God's Not Dead 2 and to watch the trailer.


Photo courtesy dillardfamily.com