Josiah and Lauren Celebrate 1 Year

Happy 1st anniversary to Josiah and Lauren Duggar! They just announced that their baby, due in November, is a girl.

Lauren Swanson and Josiah Duggar (before marriage)

New Zealand, January 2018

 

Josiah and Lauren Duggar

 

Josiah and Lauren Duggar

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com

Michelle to Speak at COMMIT

Jim Bob Duggar, Jennifer Duggar, Michelle Duggar

Are you looking for a mother-daughter retreat? In August, Michelle Duggar is scheduled to speak at the Commit Conference organized by IBLP (Institute in Basic Life Principles. The purpose of COMMIT, which was founded 20 years ago, is to "encourage young ladies to make Christ the first priority in their lives."

The conference takes place from Wednesday, August 14th, through Saturday, August 17th, in Big Sandy, Texas. To register, call 903-636-2000.

A tentative schedule can be found on the COMMIT website.

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Baby Duggar Girls Galore!

The tides are changing for the Duggar family. After having so many grandsons and only a few granddaughters, Jim Bob and Michelle are going to welcome three little girls into their family this fall. Anna, Kendra, and Lauren are all having daughters!

Josh and Anna Duggar shared the gender of their baby last week. And just now, a double announcement has just been made. Joe and Kendra Duggar are having a girl, and so are Josiah and Lauren Duggar! Joy-Anna and Austin Forsyth still have not shared their news.

"I'm so excited about being a mommy to a baby girl," says Kendra. "There's a lot more things to buy for a little girl, which I don't know is good for your wallet," comments Lauren. Visit Jim Bob and Michelle's website to watch short videos from the couples.

After Anna, Joy, Lauren, and Kendra deliver their children, there will be a total of 17 Duggar grandchildren--9 boys (Michael, Marcus, Mason, Israel, Samuel, Spurgeon, Henry, Garrett, and Gideon), 7 girls (Mackynzie, Meredith, Felicity, Ivy, Anna's daughter, Kendra's daughter, and Lauren's daughter), and 1 not yet announced (Joy's baby).

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Anna Turns 31

Happy 31st birthday to Anna Duggar! In case you missed it, we shared a big announcement from Josh and Anna last week--Check out Thursday's post to find out the gender of their sixth child.

The Josh and Anna Duggar family

April 2019

Anna Duggar, Josh Duggar, Mason Duggar, Meredith Duggar

2018

 The Josh and Anna Duggar family

2016

Anna Duggar and Grandma Duggar

2015

Mackynzie Duggar, Anna Duggar, Josh Duggar

2011

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com

LA Bound

The Vuolos are headed west! Jinger, Jeremy, and Felicity packed up their belongings and are on their way to Los Angeles, California. The Counting On film crew is in tow, so you will be able to watch their road trip this fall when the Duggar siblings' reality show returns to TLC.

Which of the guys in the photo do you recognize? Some have been with the crew for many years and have become like family to the Duggars. To read more about the Vuolos' new adventure, look back at our announcement post from March. 

Felicity Vuolo with the Counting On crew

Photo courtesy jingerandjeremy.com

Watch Jill and Derick's Wedding

Happy 5th wedding anniversary to Jill and Derick Dillard! In honor of their special day, they just uploaded the full video of their wedding ceremony to their family website (link below).

Duggar/Dillard Wedding Video

Photo courtesy duggarfamilyblog.com

3 Boys and 3 Girls

Mackynzie Duggar, Michael Duggar, Marcus Duggar, 

Meredith Duggar, Mason Duggar

In November, Josh and Anna Duggar will have an even number of boys and girls. That’s right, baby number six is a sweet little girl!

Do you remember 10 years ago when Josh and Anna appeared on The Today Show with Meredith Vieira to find out the gender of their first child? They cut into a gender reveal cake, and the inside was pink. According to Anna, the cake was Grandma Duggar's idea, as she had heard about the then-new trend of gender reveal cakes and thought Josh and Anna should try it.

Josh and Anna were able to tell Grandma the exciting news of their sixth child's gender before she went home to be with the Lord almost two weeks ago.

Joy, Lauren, and Kendra are also due in November, so there might just be some more gender reveals coming soon.

Photo courtesy duggarrfamily.com

'A Baby Girl for Jessa' Recap

Counting On special that will air next week (TV listings can be found in Monday's post or on our Showtimes page) has been uploaded to the TLC website. Depending on your internet provider and location, you may be able to watch it even without a login from a television provider. The links are below, as is our recap.


Counting On "A Baby Girl for Jessa" Part 1
Counting On "A Baby Girl for Jessa" Part 2



Counting On "A Baby Girl for Jessa" Recap

• Ten days before her due date, Jessa's water breaks. Spurgeon and Henry both arrived late, so the Seewalds had expected to have another two weeks before this birth. "Our birth plan through this whole pregnancy was that we would deliver at a birthing suite at the hospital with a midwife there, however, the morning that my water broke was the morning that my midwife had left town for a week," explains Jessa. "So our backup plan was to call another midwife and do a home birth."
• Ben's mom, Guinn Seewald, makes the drive to come watch Spurgeon and Henry. Jill comes over to help with labor. After walking the stairs at the "big house" to get her contractions going, Jessa returns to her house. Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) Teresa is also helping coach Jessa. "...She feels the head coming down, so I think we might deliver in a little bit," says Jill.
• Jill is correct. It's not long before Ivy Jane Seewald makes her appearance, safe and sound. But when Jessa's bleeding continues, she and Ben decide to call 9-1-1, just to make sure everything is okay.
• The paramedics take Jessa away, and Ben hops in his car to head to the hospital to meet them, as does Jill. Jill gives a video update from her car.
• After the midwife finishes her routine check on Ivy, she takes her to the hospital so Jessa can nurse.
• At the hospital, Jessa receives Pitocin to stop the bleeding but does not need a blood transfusion, as she did after Spurgeon's birth. “I feel great,” says Jessa. Guinn brings the proud big brothers to the hospital to meet Ivy. Michelle, Jana, Josiah, and Lauren arrive. They had been in Tennessee at Carlin Bates' wedding, along with most of the rest of the Duggar clan, and Josiah flew them home when they received word that Jessa's water had broken.
• Jessa and Ben share the gender and name with Jeremiah and Jordyn via video chat, and then Jordyn breaks the news to the rest of the family.
• After an overnight stay at the hospital, Jessa receives a good report from the doctor and is able to go home. When the Duggars return from their trip, they all come over to Jessa and Ben's house to meet Ivy. Jim Bob is beaming as he puts his arm around Jessa. 
• "She is so cute," says Kendra. "Little miss Ivy is adorable and just precious and tiny. I think it makes me look forward to having and holding our little baby."
• "Grandma has a birthday buddy!" exclaims Jessa. Grandma holds Ivy in the family photo. At the end of the episode, TLC shows a photo of Grandma Duggar, who passed away two weeks after Ivy's birth, with the text, "In loving memory."

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Grandma Duggar's Funeral

Yesterday, family and friends of Mary Leona (Lester) Duggar gathered at Cross Church to celebrate her life and legacy. They then made their way to the cemetery in the rain to say their goodbyes. Mary was truly a Proverbs 31 woman, and she was loved and respected by those who knew her. Her life's mission was to serve Jesus and tell others about His saving power. She was laid to rest next to her husband, Jimmy Lee "JL" Duggar, who passed away in 2009.

The Duggar brothers sing a song for their beloved Grandma Duggar

Pallbearers carry Grandma's coffin to the burial site

Photos courtesy dillardfamily.com

New 'Counting On' Episode

TLC recently announced that the Counting On series would not return until fall 2019, but the network has just added a 30-minute "first look" special to its lineup. The subject? Ivy Seewald's recent birth (details below).

Tuesday, June 25th 
11pm ET/10pm CT
A Baby Girl for Jessa
In this first look, Jessa and Ben Seewald can't wait to meet their third child. But when Jessa goes into labor while her family is out of town, she and Ben have to make major changes to their birth plan. And things get tense when the paramedics are called.
30 minutes

Wednesday, June 26th
3am ET/2am CT
A Baby Girl for Jessa

Photo courtesy theseewaldfamily.com

Father's Day 2019

Happy Father's Day to Jim Bob Duggar, Josh Duggar, Derick Dillard, Ben Seewald, Jeremy Vuolo, Joseph Duggar, Josiah Duggar, Austin Forsyth, and all the dads out there! (Are we for getting anyone?) And happy belated 8th birthday to Michael Duggar!

Jim Bob Duggar and Jennifer Duggar 2019

Josh Duggar and Michael Duggar 2015

 

Jeremy Vuolo and Felicity Vuolo 2019

 

Jim Bob Duggar and Johannah Duggar 2014

 

Jim Bob Duggar, Michelle Duggar, Josie Duggar 2015

 

Josiah Duggar, Jim Bob Duggar, Jedidiah Duggar

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com

Duggars Attend Query Wedding

Joy-Anna Duggar, Jinger Duggar, Mandie Query, Jana Duggar

Fall 2014

If you have followed the Duggars from the beginning, chances are you have seen photos or footage of them with the Query family. Debbie Query lost her husband a long time ago, and she and her four children (Mandie, Heidi, Amara, and Peter) have been friends with the Duggars for years.

You may remember us mentioning Debbie's annual single women's Valentine's Day tea and luncheon that she has organized with help from the Duggars. Mandie is an incredible musician and has taught many of the Duggar children how to play violin and piano.

Yesterday, Mandie married David Poemoceah in Bentonville, Arkansas, and the Duggars attended the wedding. Jana Duggar was a bridesmaid, and Israel Dillard was the ring-bearer.

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Jim Bob and Felicity

Felicity Vuolo and Jim Bob Duggar

 

This week has been a difficult one for the Duggar family, as they mourn the loss of Grandma Duggar and make funeral preparations. Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo are visiting from Laredo and were able to have breakfast with Jim Bob and Michelle this morning. 

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

In Memory of Mary Duggar

Grandma Duggar and Ivy Seewald

It is with heavy hearts that we pass along a devastating piece of news that the Duggars have just shared. Grandma Mary Duggar passed away this afternoon. We (blog authors Lily and Ellie) were blessed to meet her several years ago and see her again multiple times thereafter. She radiated with the love of Christ and was very kind and welcoming. The first time we met her, she introduced herself as "Grandma," which shows just how much she valued her role as a grandmother.

Mary passed away exactly two weeks after the arrival of her 13th great-grandchild, Ivy Seewald, who was born on her 78th birthday. Below is a tribute that the family wrote for their beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother.


We are so sad to share that Grandma Duggar (Mary) passed away Sunday afternoon, June 9th, 2019. Mary Lester Duggar grew up in Farmington, Arkansas and was married almost 50 years to J.L. (Jimmy Lee) Duggar who preceded her in death.
 
Mary found great joy in sharing her love for Jesus and her own story of how at age 15 she asked Christ to forgive her for her sins. It was at that time she committed the rest of her life to live for Him, a commitment she kept with devotion. She loved to share with others how they too could be forgiven of their sins, live a fulfilling life as a Christian, and one day spend eternity in heaven.

She is survived by her daughter Deanna Duggar and her son Jim Bob Duggar, 21 grandchildren* 13 great-grandchildren, with several more great-grandchildren on the way!
 
Mary Duggar was also a successful real estate broker who owned Good Neighbor Realty and was noted in Northwest Arkansas for being the broker who put together the property sale for the John Q. Hammons Holiday Inn & Convention Center in Springdale. 

Grandma Mary Duggar has been on the TLC shows, "19 Kids & Counting" and "Counting On" with her family for over 15 years. She is greatly loved and will be missed so very much! She lived a tremendous life as a follower of Christ, a wife, a devoted mother, a loving mother-in-law, and a much-loved grandmother. Proverbs 31:10-31 describes the virtuous woman, indeed she personified these beautiful verses with her life.

We deeply appreciate your prayers for our family and all who loved Mary during this time.

*The 21 grandchildren include Jim Bob and Michelle's 19 biological children plus nephew Tyler Huchins, as well as Deanna's daughter, Amy King.

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com, jingerandjeremy.com
Italicized tribute courtesy duggarfamily.com

Silver Dollar Duggars

For the past two days, the Duggars have been enjoying the family atmosphere of Branson's Silver Dollar City. There are fun things to do for adults and children of all ages, which makes it a great outing for this super-sized family.

Jedidiah Duggar, Michelle Duggar, Justin Duggar, James Duggar

Michelle Duggar and Tyler

Jim Bob Duggar and Tyler

 Jeremiah Duggar and Meredith Duggar

Jim Bob Duggar and Meredith Duggar

Mackynzie Duggar and Jordyn Duggar

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com

Garrett Turns 1

Wishing Garrett Duggar a very happy 1st birthday! Later this year, Garrett will be a big brother.

Photos 1, 2: Courtesy joeandkendra.com
Photos 3,4 : Property of joeandkendra.com; used with permission

Jinger Goes Blonde

Over the years, the Duggar ladies have enjoyed experimenting with different hairstyles, but this might just be the first time any of them have made a "big" change. To celebrate the start of summer, Jinger decided to turn her brunette locks blonde with a balayage treatment. (For those who aren't familiar with balayge, it's a coloring technique in which the stylist uses a more "freehand" application technique.) Below are before and after snapshots.

Jinger Vuolo, June 2019

Michelle Duggar and Jinger Vuolo, May 2019

Photos courtesy jingerandjeremy.com, TLC

Ivy and Lissy

One of our readers requested this post, and we thought it was a fun idea. We went back and looked at a photo of three-week-old Felicity Vuolo, and we think she looks strikingly similar to little Ivy Seewald. Do you agree?

Felicity Nicole Vuolo

 

 Ivy Jane Seewald

Photos courtesy jingerandjeremy.com, theseewaldfamily.com

Jana's Garden 2019

For the past two years, we have enjoyed showing you photos of Jana Duggar's incredible garden. (Click here to view snapshots from 2017 and here to see her 2018 garden.) Jana says that her garden is one of her happy places. Are there any other master gardeners out there who agree?

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com

Meet Ivy Seewald

Great-Grandma Duggar and Ivy Seewald

It's time to introduce eight-day-old Ivy Jane Seewald to the world. Parents Jessa and Ben Seewald present their daughter to Counting On fans in a short video from TLC. (Visit the Seewalds' website to watch.) In the clip, they also share the story behind her name. Her middle name is after Lady Jane Grey, a notable figure in Christian history who lived in the 1500s. She was born on Great-Grandma Duggar's birthday.

For those who haven't heard, Counting On will return to reality TV this fall. 

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Grand-Duggar #3 Turns 6

Happy 6th birthday to Marcus Duggar!

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com