Dillards' Big Announcement


Jill and Derick Dillard are headed overseas. The Dillards have had a mission-focused marriage since they tied the knot in June 2014, and they have a strong desire to serve the Lord in a foreign country. Earlier this year, the opportunity arose from them to begin making plans to pursue that dream. Derick recently left his job as a tax accountant at Walmart, and he and Jill are headed overseas with three-month-old Israel Dillard in July. At this time, the Dillards have chosen not to reveal where they will be serving.

Jill and Derick begin their courtship in Nepal, November 2013

Photo courtesy of duggarfamily.com

Recap: "Michelle's High School Reunion" & "Race to the Altar

Sorry for the delay in posting the recap. Ellie and her Mr. Handsome got engaged today, so we were a little preoccupied. :)

19 Kids and Counting "Michelle's High School Reunion"

• Cindy, Michelle's dear friend since first grade, comes to visit, and the two head to the gym to work out. "It is such a joy to have a friend that you know loves you," says Michelle.
• Michelle and Cindy text every morning to encourage each other to exercise. "It is such a joy to have a friend that you know loves you," says Michelle.
• Michelle shares how she struggled with an eating disorder during high school, something her daughters discuss in their book, Growing Up Duggar. 
• Jessa and Ben and the little kids put address labels on 800 wedding invitations. Sierra, the couple's wedding coordinator and friend, comes over to make plans for the big day.
• Later, Michelle attends her 30-year high school reunion with Jim Bob and a few of their children.
• "I think my mom was pretty crazy in high school," says Joy. "But I think she's calmed down quite a bit." Did you know Michelle had a pet tarantula?
• The family takes Johannah horseback riding at a local farm for her 9th birthday.
• "Johannah is a very tough girl," says Jessa. "She kind of has a tomboy side to her. But she's also very girly."
• The Duggar ladies can do anything in skirts. "If the skirt is cut correctly, you can ride a horse in a skirt without any problem," says Grandma.

19 Kids and Counting "Race to the Altar" 

• Michelle admits that having Ben live on their property is a bit unorthodox, but given that the couple has 17 chaperones to keep them in line, the mom of 19 says it's okay.
• Ben and Jessa have been working out with Joy and Jason to get ready for the wedding. The girls wear knee-length exercise skirts, and the boys wear shorts.
• First, they each take a turn pushing Ben's pickup truck up a hill. Then they hit the weight room. Jessa can bench press about 65 pounds.
• Michelle says she is thrilled to see her children being active.
• Jana heads over to Jill's house to help her make an authentic Nepali dinner for Derick.
• "We are not the best at making Nepali food," says Jill. "I don't know how it's supposed to taste, so it could be completely off, and I would have no clue," says Jana.
• Derick really enjoys the meal, as do Jana and Jill.
• Jessa and Ben head to Walmart with Justin and Jordyn to create their gift registry. While Jessa and Jordyn look at kitchen supplies, Ben and Justin scan toys and candy. Ben says he wants to have a fun house so he and Jessa can have kids over.

Recap: "Jill's Secret"

Tonight on 19 Kids and Counting, "Jill's Secret"...

• Jill and Derick are really enjoying married life. It's an adjustment for Jill, who is used to a significantly more chaotic life than she now lives. As expected, the new Mrs. Dillard often cooks more food than she and Derick can eat, so her freezer is full.
• "We are settling in," says Jill. "It's really nice just to have a cozy home."
• With Jessa engaged to Ben, it's time to start planning another Duggar wedding. Like Jill and Derick, Jessa and Ben plan to keep costs down.
• Accompanied by chaperones, Jessa and Ben head over to Josh and Anna's old house, which is where they will be living after they tie the knot. They quickly realize that the master bedroom is infested with mold.
• Both Jill and Jessa are renting homes from their parents. Why did Jill and Derick get a three-story mansion, while Jessa and Ben's home only has two bedrooms and one bathroom? Derick is a tax accountant at Walmart, and the house that he and Jill are renting is close to his office.
• Jessa assures viewers that she doesn't mind having a smaller home. In fact, she is happy to have fewer rooms to clean.
• When Jana and Jill had their wisdom teeth removed several years ago, Joy was their dedicated nurse. Now it's Joy's turn to have surgery, and the five youngest Duggars are eager to keep her supplied with ice packs and snacks while she recovers.
• Jill goes shopping for dress-up clothes to prepare for a sleepover with her little sisters. Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn, and Josie are thrilled to spend time with Jill and Derick.
• After putting on their dress-up clothes, Jill and Derick and the girls have a chocolate fondue party. Then, it's time to paint nails. "Derick is doing great," says Jill. "He is really good with kids."
• Before putting the girls to bed, Derick reads a Bible passage. "I enjoy spending time with the little girls, just trying to get used to fatherhood," he says.
• Back at the Duggars', Jessa gathers with her mom, grandma, and sisters to order coral bridesmaids dresses. She chooses a style is already modest and hopefully will not require alterations.
• "If they don't like them, they are only going to be in them for a couple hours, so they'll live," says Jessa.
• 30 days into their marriage, Jill and Derick head over for a surprise visit to Jill's family's house. They join in on Bible time, and then Jill makes a "confession."
• "Yesterday I kind of took something, stole something," she says. She proceeds to tell her family how she took a pregnancy test from her mom's bathroom cabinet, and it was positive!
• The Duggars are thrilled. The living room erupts with clapping, cheering, hugs, and kisses.
• When Jill and Derick pick up the phone to call Josh and Anna, Anna answers the phone with, "Are you pregnant?" When Jill confirms that she is, Josh and Anna are overjoyed.

Dillards Enjoy Married Life

Now that they are back from their honeymoon, Derick and Jill Dillard are settling into their new lives as husband and wife.

The newlyweds are living in Northwest Arkansas, so they are close to both the Duggars and the Dillards. Even though she is married, Jill still hasn't stopped investing in the lives of her siblings. She recently took James, who turns 13 next week, on a shopping trip to Aldi and Walmart.

Derick has a full-time job as a tax accountant, so Jill packed some food in the couple's personalized Razorback picnic basket and met him for lunch.

It's definitely an adjustment to cook for only two people when Jill is used to preparing meals for the Duggar clan. Looks like she and Derick are going to have lots of leftovers!