Abbie's Modesty Standards

Abbie (Burnett) Duggar has similar modesty standards as the Duggar sisters. On tonight's episode, we saw her preference for tops with sleeves and high necklines reflected in the wedding dress that she chose. Abbie does, however, wear pants.

“I don’t only wear skirts,” she shared on tonight's episode. “[For] my profession, I wear scrubs, and some nurses wear skirts with their scrub tops, but for me, I just found it was more practical to wear a top with pants.”

The Duggar sisters grew up wearing skirts and dresses, although for actives like skiing and boating, they have been filmed wearing pants. Some of the married sisters, including Jill Dillard and Jinger Vuolo, now wear pants on a more day-to-day basis.

If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and BatesFamilyBlog.com). 

Photo courtesy TLC

Wedding Wishes from Duggar Sisters

As per Duggar tradition, various family members have created video messages for Joseph Duggar and Kendra Caldwell on their wedding day. Yesterday, we posted a clip from Josh and Anna Duggar. Now, here is one from the Duggar sisters (Jana Duggar, Johannah Duggar, Jennifer Duggar, Jordyn Duggar, and Josie Duggar).

Photo/video courtesy duggarfamily.com

Duggar-Caldwell Wedding Day

Six down, 13 more to go! This evening, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar watched their seventh-oldest child, Joseph Duggar (22), marry his beautiful bride, Kendra Caldwell (19). Although there has been a rush to the altar for the Duggar sisters, Joe is the first Duggar son to tie the knot in nine years.

Joseph and Kendra were married by Kendra's father at First Baptist Church in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, this evening. Their colors were navy, burgundy, and soft yellow. All the details of the wedding, including the first photo of the couple, can be found on People.com.

Kendra's princess-style dress was designed by Renee Miller. I (Ellie) had a blast at Kendra's dress fitting.

In true Duggar style, the wedding party was made up of 22 people. Josiah Duggar was the best man, and Lauren Caldwell, Kendra's sister, was the maid of honor. Kendra had her mom and seven of her Duggar sisters-in-law as bridesmaids, among others.

The wedding will air on the upcoming season of Counting On.


Photo courtesy TLC

New Duggar Videos

Happy Monday! We know that some of our readers are unable to view the videos that we post directly from TLC.com, so we make a point of sharing them again once they are uploaded to the network's YouTube channel. Here are some of the latest:

Duggar Siblings Discuss Joy and Austin's Engagement

Jessa Seewald on Life with 2 Kids

Is Jinger Vuolo Pregnant? The Duggar Sisters Want to Know

Austin Forsyth asks for Joy Duggar's Hand in Marriage

Photo/videos courtesy TLC

Austin Asks Jim Bob's Blessing

"It's a lot to ask of a man to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage, and it's a huge responsibility for me to take on, and I don't take it lightly."

-Austin Forsyth 

Coming up tonight on the two-hour Counting On special, Austin Forsyth gives future father-in-law Jim Bob Duggar, whom he calls Mr. Jim Bob, a tour of the house he has just finished renovating and is ready to sell. At age 17, Austin made a commitment to his dad that he would flip five houses before marriage, and this is his fifth house.

When the tour is over, 23-year-old Austin asks the Duggar dad for permission to propose to 19-year-old Joy-Anna Duggar. See Jim Bob's reaction in the video below. If you missed Saturday's promo video, in which the Duggar sisters ask Jinger Vuolo if she is pregnant, click here to watch it.

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Jinger's New Life in Texas

In this week's issue of PEOPLE Magazine, Jinger Duggar Vuolo opens up about her new life in Laredo, Texas. She and Jeremy Vuolo have been married three months.

“We have just so perfectly adapted, it’s been incredible,” Jinger told PEOPLE. “The biggest blessing.”

The 23-year-old says she stays in touch with her Arkansas family via FaceTime and group messages, but she is also making new friends in Laredo.  “I’ve definitely connected with the ladies here, and they have been so gracious,” she shared.

Following in the footsteps of her parents and married siblings, Jinger says she and Jeremy are seeking God for wisdom regarding the size of their future family. “We are just enjoying our life together,” Jinger commented, “and we will see what the Lord does.”

For more from the Duggars sisters, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now. For a snippet from the section on Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth's courtship, click here to read our post from last Thursday. To read about the Dillards' future plans, check out Saturday's post. And if you haven't seen the sweet face of Baby Seewald, take a look at yesterday's post.

Photo courtesy TLC

Joy Speaks Out on Courtship

The five oldest Duggar daughters recently sat down with PEOPLE Magazine to do an interview for this week's issue. 19-year-old Joy-Anna Duggar shared details on her relationship with Austin Forsyth. The two are childhood friends and announced their courtship in November.

“We’ve gotten to experience so much already in our relationship,” Joy-Anna told PEOPLE. “Lots of church ministries, road trips, hiking, hunting and remodeling houses together.”

When asked whether she and her honey would be tying the knot anytime soon, Joy responded that she doesn't know: “You would have to ask Austin what he’s thinking and my dad, but I’m excited to see what God has in store for us in the next year.”

Pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, for more from the Duggar sisters.

Photo courtesy TLC

Derick Dillard Consults Doctor on New Season

We're counting down the days until the season three premiere of Counting On! It all starts next Monday at 9pm ET/8pm CT.

Readers have been asking if this season will just be an extended rerun of Jinger's wedding, but we assure you that TLC has plenty of new content in store.

In addition to watching Jinger Duggar choose her wedding dress and make preparations for her big day, the episodes will also feature updates from the rest of the Duggar siblings. Among other exciting footage, watch as Joy-Anna Duggar enters a courtship with Austin Forsyth, Jessa and Ben Seewald take advantage of their last months of life with just one child, and Jill and Derick Dillard talk to a doctor about Derick's health (promo video below). And before Jinger ties the knot and moves away, the Duggar sisters gather for one last hurrah...a bachelorette party!

Photo/video courtesy TLC

Fashion Tips from Jessa and Jinger

One of the advantages of having eight sisters is that you can always find something cute to wear. And the more gals you have in your family, the more outfits and accessories there are to choose from!

"It's pretty much free game," explains Jinger Duggar. "...Whatever works for you in the closet, you can wear it." In the TLC webisode below, she and Jessa (Duggar) Seewald show off their favorite outfits and share a few tidbits of fashion advice.



That explains the yellow cardigan that all the Duggar sisters have worn at one time or another...

Photos/video courtesy TLC, duggarfamily.com

Photo: Duggar Tree Fort

For those who have asked to see a photo of the Duggars' finished tree fort, your wish is our command! The fort was built by the older siblings and sits in one of the ditches in the family's yard.

Complete with real glass windows, this is one fancy tree fort. The inside features a play kitchen, purchased by the Duggar sisters at a local thrift shop, and space for a loft.

If you watched the first season of Jill & Jessa: Counting On, you may have noticed how thrilled the younger Duggar kids were to enter the fort for the first time. Parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar beamed as they saw the joy that their older kiddos had brought to the little ones.

Did you have a treehouse as a child?

Photo courtesy TLC

Duggar Sisters

The four oldest Duggar girls range in age from 19 (Jinger) to 23 (Jana). If you had to describe each of them in one word, what would you say?

*Photo credits: Scott Enlow

Chat with Jill Duggar: New Book 2

Yesterday we posted part one of Ellie's chat with Jill Duggar (click here to read). Check back each day this week for fresh material. Here's more: 

Ellie: When did you start working on the book?

Jill: "Just this year, so we're still at the very rough stages of it, as far as getting our content together."

Ellie: What will it be about?

Jill: "Helpful ideas from our girls' perspective...things that we've learned, principles that we are learning currently, that we hope will help other girls."

According to Jill, her and her sisters' utmost goal is to "minister to other girls" and to help them "better their relationship with the Lord, and if they don't have a relationship, that it will bring that context into the picture of what that looks like."

"There are questions that every girl faces and challenges throughout life," continues Jill. "And hopefully we can share the same faith that my parents have been able to live out in their lives, be Christ-honoring, and be somewhat of an example to younger girls."

"[The book] also brings into perspective relationships and what that entails, as far as your friendships outside your family, then your siblings, your parents...and then you have your relationship with God, and of course, guys."

Jill and her sisters do not claim to have it all figured out, but they hope to encourage others by sharing what they have learned over the years.