Sunday, July 15, 2018

John and Abbie Take to the Skies

Most fans know that John-David Duggar is a pilot. He uses his skills both to serve his family and to teach others how to fly. Looks like his new girlfriend, Abbie Burnett, is having a grand time exploring the skies with him, as well!

John Duggar and Abbie Burnett

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

136 comments:

  1. There's going to be an engagement announced right as the new season begins, you watch....

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    1. Good! I hope there IS! John-David seems very happy!

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    2. For sure. Probably soon after Jinger gives birth and the excitement from that event dies down a bit.

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    3. I'll give them till september to announce the engagement, and til december for the wedding.

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    4. Yep thats how this show roles, no surprises here folks!

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    5. Yes! Anonymous @ 8:22pm
      Can’t wait for it either they seem so happy and so in love!!

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    6. And yet y'all go crazy when you can't get details about events so stop whining

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  2. Nice to see the happy couple getting out (and up) and enjoying each other’s company. Maybe it’s time the Duggar family stopped talking about living modestly. Having a plane to take your girlfriend on dates isn’t modest. Before anyone decides to jump in and accuse me of being jealous or a troll I want to be perfectly clear; I like this family and I don’t care if the Duggars have planes and a driveway full of cars or travel an excessive amount. Good for them. Enjoy your lives to the fullest extent but please don’t think anyone believes the “modest lifestyle” line. They are celebrities and live a celebrity lifestyle.

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    1. While I do agree that the Duggars no longer live “modest lifestyles” (which I don’t think is wrong), I don’t think him having a plane is part of that, since he is a flight instructor. If they had a nice private jet or something, then yeah that would be more in the realm of a celebrity lifestyle, but I don’t think his little plane is a part of that.

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    2. I agree. They are tv stars

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    3. Abbie may have been riding along on a flight John David was doing for some reason, not necessarily a date. When I see Jill’s family or Jessa’s family I don’t see much celebrity life style going on, same is true for all the married Duggar children. I really don’t call a plane a luxury for a family of this size who does many speaking engagements every year. They live in a rural area, stay out of the limelight as much as possible and live their religious beliefs and values. I think they could live with more extravagance than they do and therefore I feel they are living modestly.

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    4. Well, their nice house isn't exactly "modest" by that definition either. Maybe I'm not remembering correctly, but I don't remember them touting a "modest lifestyle", just modest clothing.

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    5. They sure do!

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    6. I could not agree more with your comment. They may have used to need to be frugal but not anymore. Lol...if they consider their life modest then they would think I lived in poverty and I am upper middle class.



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  3. Every photo of John and Abbie is adorable. Their smiles reach their eyes. I'm so glad they get to share their lives with each other.

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  4. Abbie looks so happy. I am very excited for them.

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  5. "He uses his pilot's license to serve his family and to teach others to fly". I am not trying to be snarky, but what does this exactly mean? Is Johns a flight trainer? Does he do this for a job? Is this how he will support his family? As far as "serving his family", what does this mean? It is unclear. Does he shuttle family members around so they don't have to rub shoulders with people who are not like them? Or is it cheaper to fly your own family plane? So many unanswered questions. Is it faster? Safer? What does John do for a living?

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    1. Yes, he’s a flight instructor, which is a job. And yes, if you travel a lot it can be cheaper to have your own private plane. It also in a way can be faster, in that you don’t have to get you luggage scanned, go through security, and you kind of set your own timeline. Your statement “so they don’t have to rub shoulders with people who are not like them” is extremely rude, especially since they do sometimes fly on regular planes. Not sure why you felt the need to make such a comment.

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    2. If you followed the family you would know that John David is a Constable for his local county, the owner of rental property which generates income and a pilot. I’m sure he is paid for his work on Counting On and may be paid for his time being a pilot.

      What was your comment on “rubbing shoulders” ment to imply? It didn’t sound very nice. I get the impression you aren’t a fan of the Duggars, what brings you to the blog?

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    3. It means his father bought a plane or more than one plane and John David gets to pilot them. Free planes come with strings and those are being at his family’s disposal for trips. Win win; the Duggars don’t have to fly commercial and John David gets lots of flight time. Did anyone really believe John David bought that half million dollar plane himself? Training new pilots is a good paying job. I’m happy John David is able to work at something he loves; he certainly deserves it!

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    4. Does he and Abbie need a chaperone like the others being 28 years old? Seems ridiculous to me and hope he can get away on his plane away from curious eyes. Shouldn't have to have chaperones at this stage of life....trust your kids.

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    5. It's most likely cheaper for the family to fly, given that they have people criticize them constantly I get why they wouldn't fly with the people like them, it most likely is faster (no boarding tickets!)and duh... John flies for a living

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    6. If you have watched the show, you shouldn't have to ask what John does for a living. ;) this has already been settled. You can buy their shows on itunes.

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    7. What do any of them do for a living??? I know Jeremy is a pastor and Austin works at his parents camp but as for the others they all claim to work for Jim Bob. Weird thing is this is a reality show and it never shows their work or talks about collwge or ambitions. Just wonder what the kidults will do when the well runs dry?

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    8. John David is a flight instructor, and he also uses his plane to fly members of his family on certain trips. It is a small plane, so he cannot take the whole family.

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    9. one of the jobs john-david does for a living is as a flight instructor. flying lessons aren't cheap so i'd assume he gets paid decently for them. having his own plane in order to teach people to fly makes perfect sense. just like mechanics like to have their own tools and painters their own brushes, pilots like their own planes. and if he wants to take a couple of family members along to wherever, why shouldn't he? i dont think it has anything to do with "rubbing shoulders with people who arent like them", but more of a convenience, just like any one else who has their own plane (nathan bates comes to mind!) plus, its not a 747, its a 'puddle jumper' which is specifically used for shorter distances, and usually only seats a few. definitely not duggar sized!

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    10. 1) living in a rural area generally means a long drive to an airport so it will be faster to use a private plane
      2) it will be less expensive to use a private plane when you have a large family
      3) it really is not that extravagant as a plane is not that expensive (about the same as a car or truck) and I'll bet they know how to do their own maintenance and have a place to store it

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    11. Can the admin please dispel a common mistake made here regularly. Many have stated that John David is a police constable, this is a position he was voted in to and it pays no salary, it is very different from being a LEO. Also I understand from other sources that John David no longer holds the position.

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    12. They said on the show that they don't like flying commercial because they find it difficult to get to the airport on time for the scheduled flights. If they fly their own planes, they set their own schedule. Which is nice for them, but you wouldn't get me on one of those tiny family-owned planes for anything. I'll hurry and catch the commercial flight, maintained by licensed airline mechanics, thanks anyway.

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    13. John has many jobs. He has dumb trucks and towing trucks. If you watched the show you would know that he has been working for along time

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    14. @8:56. Private planes of the size the Duggars own are expensive. They fuel is expensive and you can not must park it anywhere. You also have to have all maintenance signed off by a licensed airplane mechanic. And,oh yes, the insurance is not cheap.

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    15. While they live in a rural area, the family isn't isolated. The Duggars aren't that far away from the regional airport. It's within a roughly 30 minute drive. Private travel is for their convenience and so they can keep a loose schedule.

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  6. I can't say this enough I'm so happy for John! He deserves to be happy!!!

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  7. Amy Tucker from TexasJuly 15, 2018 at 7:45 PM

    Whoa, it looks like we’re going to have another Duggar boy wedding VERY soon!!!! I love it!!

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  8. So joyful together! ❤

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  9. Does anyone else think that John and Abby look alike? I've always thought that men marry women who look like them! You see it all the time. Maybe something to do with finding their "better half"? (Interesting that Eve was formed from Adam's rib, so maybe a guy is trying to find his "Eve"?) Am I the only one who sees this, or does anyone else think that they look alike?

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    1. I can see similarities in all the couples. Jana and Ben are both a little shorter and have squared chins, Jill and Derek are very tall and more lanky and toothy! I see it

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    2. I don't think Abbie and Jana look alike. Different hair and coloring. Abbie seems to have a more bubbly personality that comes through in her pictures.

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    3. Nah I do not see any resemblance

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    4. i think this about couples ALL the time! Its really funny actually!

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  10. Oh a cheeky/precious picture!

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  11. is there a chaperone up there w/ them in the sky?

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    1. oh, maybe the person that took the picture?

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    2. Yes - someone was in the back seat taking pictures.

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    3. Of course. Who do you think took the picture?

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    4. Uh … who do you think took the photo??!

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    5. Obviously, since someone took this picture.

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    6. Who do you think took the picture if there wasn't????? :)

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    7. They probably took the pic

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    8. Who do you think took the pictures, a bird??? 😹🙈

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    9. The photographer for one😉

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    10. I hope not. They are both nearing 30. Surely they are old enough to be well secured in their faith and know what they want.

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    11. Of course there is, someone was obviously sitting in the back seat to take that picture. There's no way that pic could have been taken with a "selfie stick".

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    12. Someone is taking this picture!

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    13. By observation someone else took that photo! so yes that was highly likely their chaperone.

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    14. Lol who do you think took the photo? ;)

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    15. I would assume that's whose taking the picture.

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  12. Agree! They did the same thing last season when they announced Gideon’s birth. They even waited 3 days to announce it just so it coincided with the season premiere
    I’m sure it’s not entirely their decision though, it’s probably the producers’

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    1. It is in their contract

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    2. This is my comment! I meant to reply to the comment that said there will be an announcement by the season premiere but I didn’t reply under it by mistake 🙈

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  13. They are such a cute couple and I cannot wait for the Vuolo's baby either 🤗❗️‼️

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  14. What a beautiful,happy couple. They seem so right for each other!

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  15. Dear John-David Duggar & Abbie, I hope to see the courtship, engagement and announcement. My parents and I can't wait to watch the wedding & honeymoon but we especially can't to see how many kids that god has got in store for you also we can't wait to see there births on t v. Natasha B

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  16. Those small planes are so dangerous.

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    1. Moody Bible Institute's aviation program just had an instructor and two students die in a small plane crash near Spokane WA.

      People may argue that cars aren't safe either, but you aren't as likely to have a deadly crash if you have engine trouble in a car. Gravity is unforgiving when a plane has trouble.

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    2. They’re less dangerous than cars soooooo

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    3. I think so too. I know various people who’ve had serious accidents in those kinds of planes. Thankfully, it looks like the Duggars have done just fine.

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    4. So are cars, ovens, and knives. Maybe you shouldn't get out of bed in the morning. Oh wait, that can give you bed sores!! 😽

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    5. A jet purchase is probably forthcoming as soon as JD qualifies to fly one.

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    6. You could not pay me enough money to get on a small plane. They are very dangerous

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    7. I agree that small planes are dangerous. While commercial air travel has few fatalities, private plane crashes and deaths have dramatically increased over the years.

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    8. Not true, 1:41. The NTSB (the federal air safety org) says that fatalities for personal flights are up 25 percent in the last decade. Car accidents kill, on average, 1.1 people per 2 million hours driven. The fatality rate for small planes is 21 people per 2 million hours flown. So the fatality rate for small planes is about 19 times greater than cars. (Source: NTSB annual reports)

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    9. 6:45, I knew a young man who was killed in a small plane crash. Your remarks are not helpful.

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    10. Anon 7/16 @ 6:45 PM. 😂 Thanks for lightening the mood. Some people can be so negative and petty.

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    11. @1:41 No, when you compare miles flown to miles driven, small planes are much more deadly than cars.

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    12. 6:01- Pilot error is the usual cause of small aircraft crashes. (I remember well the crash that killed JFK Jr. and his wife.) My dad was a WWII Marine pilot and flew small planes later for his job. I remember him saying that you couldn't beat military flight training. He would shake his head at some of the cocky young pilots with limited training and skills. They were fine, until met with mechanical trouble or weather issues they were no match for. Hopefully, JD isn't in this category.

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    13. Nobody is being negative. They are all just worried and rightfully so.

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  17. Time 7:10AM Mon 7/16/18
    Cute couple. I don't care what other people say about this family It won't stop me from watching them. Some people say mean things to this family because they are so bitter. Oh almost forgot happy Monday.

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    1. You're right Neddy. Just ignore them. Happy Monday

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    2. True, Needy! We love you! You're a blessing!! Happy Day to you!! :D

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    3. Neddy no disrespect but why are you so bitter? Nobody has said anything bad about this family on this site. I miss the sweet happy Neddy who was always so uplifting. Not sure what is wrong but I will keep you in my prayers.

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    4. People are not bitter and they are not saying mean things. They are commenting. Having difference of opinions and commenting is not being mean.

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  18. I think they already are.... there a lot of touching in this courtship....

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    1. I agree they wil get married soon and have a baby

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  19. Buffy Peterman-IsonJuly 16, 2018 at 7:13 AM

    I love this picture! So happy for them both!!

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  20. John looks very handsome ! It just be live
    Love

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    1. How can you tell from the back of his head?

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  21. The romance is moving right along. I expect an engagement announce in August.

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  22. John David is gonna propose! Cant wait!

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    1. I can see him flying her over a field with a sign on the ground asking her to mary him. It would be so sweet.

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    2. He probably already has, she was at Josiah's wedding meeting the family.

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  23. Very sweet picture

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  24. She looks so happy :) New love is always cute. Let's wish them good luck for the future !

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  25. She looks so happy. May God bless their lives together.

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  26. She looks exactly like Jana.

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  27. I love her beautiful wild curly hair, I hope she doesn't start trying to straighten it!

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  28. The couple visited my church in Oklahoma about a month ago. Very sweet couple. Praying for them.

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  29. I don't understand some of the negative comments about John owning a plane. Lots of people own their own planes. Why not a Duggar? My daughter once dated a guy whose parents owned a plane. They took her on a trip or two. I thought it was a blessing for her to be able to have experiences I wasn't able to provide for her.

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    1. I agree. He's older, works so why can't he?

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    2. For some reason it seems many people see "private plane" and automatically think "luxurious toy for rich celebrities" and can't think of it any other way. I don't myself. Many of the Duggars go through ALERT training and flying planes is one of the many skills you can learn there. But the vast majority of young people who attend are NOT rich celebrities.

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  30. Their chaperone must have taken this adorable picture!! So happy for them. God is good!

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  31. Abbie looks like she's on cloud nine. Wish them lots of happiness...Jane

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  32. They are a sweet couple. She will be a beautiful bride when they get married. They look truly in love.

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  33. Lovely couple. God Bless.
    Joan,Marion and Marilyn

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  34. I have always been a huge John David fan. I am super excited to see what the future holds for him and Abbie. I love seeing John so happy.

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    1. He seems to be a young man now. Before he met Abbie, he always came across as a dull old stick of a guy. All the best for them.

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    2. Yeah, he was the super serious quiet one.

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    3. Seems to be a young man? He's close to 30 and he always held himself back out of choice.

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  35. Maybe John David will fly over her home with a banner asking her to marry him. I expect an engagement soon.

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  36. It's obvious that they're already engaged. I'm betting it happened on that flight. She has her ring finger hidden on purpose, but the look on her face gives it away. That looks like a camera stuck on the windshield. Why else would you film a flight? The announcement will be soon.

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    1. I agree. She seems to have her hand deliberately hidden and has that, “I know something you don’t know,” look on her face. If we are right, congratulations on your engagement! Great couple!!!

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    2. Anon 6:14. I agree. She has the look of a cat that's been eating the whipped cream. I think they'll make the announcement after Jinger has her baby.

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  37. To all those saying that John and Abbie are old enough not to have a Chaperon. Having a Chaperon is not a matter of trust. It's helps them to be accountable for their actions to an outside party, so they don't end up making a mistake they will regret later. No matter how old you are, it is still just as easy to mess up and do something you wish you hadn't. I imagine that John and Abbie probably asked to have a Chaperon. :)

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    1. I certainly hope not! It's called self control and a lot of experienced that.

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    2. Agree. Plus if they have chaperones then the naysayers have no room for gossip or accusations.

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    3. Who in the Duggars circle of Christian friends could possibly be naysayers or gossips about what JD and Abbie do?

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    4. 6:17- Anyone who would gossip about or criticize unmarried couples for showing affection for each other, isn't worth the time of day. Who on earth really cares what they do? It's their business. If they want to check into a motel, I say go for it!

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    5. 12:23 and 1:51, I wasn't talking about the Duggars' friends. More like all the people who don't know them, the same ones who jumped to accuse Jill and Joy Anna of sneaking around the chaperones when they were pregnant with their first babies.

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    6. Anon at 12:23PM:
      Not sure if this will get posted, but...it was a anonymous supposed "friend" of Joy Anna and Austin who made some scandalous comments about them to a tabloid, that helped fuel the rumors about their baby being conceived before the wedding. And a whole lot of people believed the accusation were 100% true.

      Some people STILL firmly believe Joy had a shotgun wedding even though Gideon's birthdate proves he was conceived afterward. While there have been some winks and whispers about other Duggar couples who got pregnant on the honeymoon or close to it, it's been nowhere near as persistent as what people have said about Joy and Austin. And all that happened WITH chaperones involved.

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    7. Where did I see that footage of Joy & Austin alone behind the garage, saying good-night? With Joy's voice saying that they sometimes eluded chaperones, sneaking off alone? Was that last season? So what good are chaperones if they aren't shackled to the couple? I get the feeling nobody really takes that chaperone job seriously.

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  38. Of course they're engaged. Too much "touchy, feely" for them not to be. I expect an announcement in August and a fall wedding.

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    1. I also expect a fall wedding. I am so happy for John David..4

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    2. It's also possible that John David and Abbie actually have set different rules for themselves compared to the Duggar kids who were in their teens or early twenties during their courtships.

      If they ARE engaged that would be the shortest Duggar courtship ever, not even a month long. And unlike the recent Duggar courtships involving longtime friends of the family, JD and Abbie weren't even acquainted until 3 months ago.

      It seems I'm in the vast minority here, but I don't think they are engaged yet. John David is obviously smitten but he's still a grown man near 30, not a teenage boy, I don't think he's the type to rush into marriage THAT fast.

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  39. I hope we get to meet her this season!!! Can't wait miss y'all

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  40. I see the value of having a chaperone. However, I'm about the same age as John-David and Jana. I would find the idea of a chaperone at that age insulting. There are certain conversations that should be had before marriage. I don't think having a chaperone allows for those conversations to happen freely.

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    1. I see what you're saying. I would never have felt free enough to express myself around my husband before we got married if other people were listening, no matter who they were. If you're imposing the standard on yourself, there's no need to feel insulted, though. I think John David probably sees the wisdom in having accountability and keeping your relationship above reproach. If I were to have had the chaperone rule when we were dating, I would have insisted that they be in sight, if they must, but out of hearing range. :)

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    2. I think the Duggar approach to chaperones is not the only way to do it. The Bates have a different approach as Kelly Jo mentioned on her blog that when she and Gil chaperoned couples, they would often keep some distance from them to allow for private conversations. It is certainly possible for a chaperone to be just close enough to keep the couple in view to discourage any rule-breaking regarding physical contact. but far enough that they won't overhear private couples conversations.

      Others who practice chaperoned courting will have the couples sit in one room while the chaperones sit in the next room, with the understanding the chaperones might walk into the other room at any time. Not to mention that the vast majority of Christians who court with chaperones do NOT have cameras in their faces during their courtship, either.

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  41. I was always a big fan of John David. Is there anything that he Can't do?! So gifted in so many areas. Love his dry sense of humor also. I remember thinking that one day - some girl will be very blessed in a relationship with him. Abbie hit the jackpot!!

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