In case you haven't heard the big news, Josiah Duggar is courting a gal named Lauren Swanson. (Visit our post from earlier today to watch their announcement video.) Below are two snapshots of the couple from their time in New Zealand with the Duggars.
If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and BatesFamilyBlog.com).
Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com/Josiah Duggar
Josiah and Lauren
Josiah and Lauren
If you enjoy this blog, be sure to visit Ellie's other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and BatesFamilyBlog.com).
Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com/Josiah Duggar
She’s beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteWell she just seems absolutely lovely. VERY happy for Josiah!!
ReplyDeleteI love her hair! I wish mine would do that. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute couple. She is really pretty congratulations wish them the best.
ReplyDeleteWow..beautiful girl! God bless u both!
ReplyDeleteAhh...nice pics!
ReplyDeleteLauren Swanson
ReplyDeletewhat is your birthday
Your howntown
18 years old
what is born birthdate
What??
DeleteRight?? Why??
DeleteWhy do you ask these questions. There is no need for you to know these things. One should never give such information to a stranger.
DeleteCongrats to the sweet couple. Ellie may we please see a pic of Grandma Duggar and an update on how she is doing and if she lives close to the family?
ReplyDeleteYes, I would appreciate that as well!
DeleteWhile I think everyone would like an update, have you ever thought that we get less updates on some family members because they want to live more privately?
DeleteDid they ever finish Grandma Mary's house that was moved to their property? They showed it on Counting on several seasons ago. I don't think they ever updated their progress on the remodel.
DeleteCongratulations to Josiah & Lauren!
I thought that Kendra & Joe were living in the old log cabin house that was moved? And Grandma was off with her daughter.
DeleteCongratuation!
ReplyDeleteHe is the first Duggar ever in his family to have a second courtship this one will work out for sure. Good luck Josiah & Lauren. Time 11:42PM
ReplyDeleteJosiah too have a courtship with Marjorie Jackson i think it was, 2015? Not sure the year it was when the first show was cancelled. It only last dir a couple of months, but it was a courtship
DeleteFinally, Josiah is wearing a different color besides pink! I’m all for the color, but it was the only thing he ever wore.
ReplyDeleteMaybe pink is his favorite color.
DeleteSo happy for them. She is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteShe's very pretty and comes from a similar family background. This romance should work out for Josiah.
ReplyDeleteYes! I thought he and Marjorie were so cute and both so outgoing. Wonder if she was a little too ambitious for a Duggar man’s liking. They kind of like to keep the pretty wife at home making babies and not on book signings and public speaking tours! I think both ways work but maybe wouldn’t work for marriage into Duggar family. My opinion for what it’s worth. Love all them!! Josiah and Lauren are a lovely couple. Can’t wait to see what unfolds.
DeleteRemember, Marjorie was around when the Josh news broke. I wouldn't blame her parents for telling her she wasn't allowed to court a Duggar.
DeleteJosiah and Marjories break-up happened around the time of Josh's issues, I think. That might have had something to do with the relationship breaking up.
DeleteIt so hard to believe that Jedidiah and Jeremiah could be the next to start a courtship. Time Goes by so fast!
ReplyDelete...or Jana or JD, you mean? Hopefully they'll court before the 18 year olds!
DeleteYou failed to mention Jana and/or John David to be next to start a courtsip.
DeleteIn my opinion, Jana & John David should NOT be expected to have "buddies" on their "dates" - common already, they are 28 year old ADULTS.
Where is their parents trust?
Anon 7:07, each couple makes their own courtship rules. The parents do not make the rules for them. So when Jana and John David's time comes (if the Lord so chooses for them to marry) then they will develop their own rules for courtship and engagement along with the person they are courting. The family is there to support their decision and help them stay accountable to the commitments they have made. :)
Delete-Rachel
They don't make their own rules but they may add to them like the 3 second side hug.All these kdis have followed the same path. Michelle got miffed when Jill front hugged Derick at acted 'concerned'during prayer meeting or something similar that required hand holding before Jessa and Ben got engaged/ married. That leads me to believe they don't choose. .
DeleteRoddma, your statements are false. The Duggar adult children have said themselves - on camera - that their parents did not give them a set of rules regarding courtships. Michelle did NOT get miffed. As I recall, the TLC producers made a big deal out of the front hug, and interviewed Michelle. She laughingly said that she was sure they'd be more careful next time. Lily and Ellie, why did you approve roddma's comment? Did you not realize it wasn't honest? Haven't you watched every episode?
DeleteRoddma, I recall that episode like it was yesterday and Michelle didn't get miffed over the front hug. The TLC producers seemed to be more "concerned".
DeleteRoddma you need to seriously get your facts straight unless you are from National Enquirer and they make up stories in their sleep!
7:07 - Look at Jeremy's age and yet he had to have chaperones.
DeleteI thought they interviewed Jim Bob and Michelle on camera after that front hug, and there was some nervous giggling by Michelle and Jim Bob said they had crossed some line? Or something to that effect.
DeleteWell, there goes your header again.........
ReplyDeleteHa! And with all the babies coming, it's really in trouble!
DeleteWhy are they in a courtship?
ReplyDelete"...courting a 'gal'?? That term is no longer looked upon favorably. Maybe it was okay in 1952.
ReplyDeleteI know women who use the term "gal" here in Southern California. What's wrong with it?
DeleteIt's an outdated colloquialism. Not the first time one has been used in this blog.
Delete11:25, I know many people who use that word in the South, and it's not meant in a negative way.
DeleteI use the word "gal" and I don't use it in a negative way. And I'm African-American AND a woman!
DeleteStop being so offended!
I think that term is cute, and I am quite young.
Delete8:53 AM -- How is it outdated if people I know in Los Angeles -- hardly a hick town -- use it? And what would be so wrong if it were "outdated"? Man, people really like to look for things to be offended about.
DeleteI would rather my daughters "court" than have a boyfriend from every street in the state
DeleteExciting news for them, so happy for them, they make a cute couple.... Can't wait for another Duggar wedding, she is a beautiful girl...
ReplyDeleteCongrats and God bless the new couple.
ReplyDeleteIt scares me how much Josiah reminds me of Josh. I hope everything works out for Lauren. She certainly deserves the best. Hope Josiah takes it slow and makes sure before he bring her into his family. It’s not a decision to make quickly just for show ratings and another season. This is a life long commitment. Good luck, guys!
ReplyDeleteThe track record in this family is that they move very quickly. For some reason, they don't believe in giving much time to getting to know one another. When it's only been a few months, that is not enough time to see that person in different situations.
DeleteHopefully Josh was a lesson to every Duggar boy in the family.
DeleteWell they are related. It doesn't mean Josiah is going to go off and do the same as Josh did. I think everyone in the family has learned the consequences of his actions. I understand why you feel as you do.
DeleteIs that because he looks like Josh?
DeleteAre you serious? You honestly think Josiah is just courting her to get ratings? You don't think he has the same desires to find love that almost everyone else has? You think he is less deserving of marital love, because of his older brother's past sins? Would it be okay if he didn't look like Josh?
DeleteI think it's because Josiah has some of the same speech patterns and mannerisms that Josh does. The Duggar girls also "mirror" each other to some extent in their habits, speech patterns, and mannerisms. Like children often unconsciously mirror their parents in speech and mannerisms when they've spent a lot of time with them, the Duggar children (young and young adult) mirror the "buddy" they were assigned to by Michelle. Josiah's voice just also happens to also sound a lot like Josh and he has the same "family spokesman" cadence Josh often used in the TLC videos as Josh took viewers on tours of the house or emceed the Family Christmas preparation videos. I hope Josiah and Lauren take their time genuinely getting to know each other (all questionnaires aside). A lifetime is a long time; longer if you've been misled or made a poor decision based on someone else's "wise counsel".
DeleteC’mon Anon. 5:08! You don’t find it odd that right before and right after every season there’s an “announcement?” This whole “Counting On” series has been based on it! And the original poster didn’t say anything about him not deserving to find love! Don’t take this out of context and put words in other people’s mouths. I wish some of the readers on here would take time reading the comments rather than hastily skimming them and then angrily jumping to conclusions and misinterpretating the whole thing! Sheesh!
DeleteMaybe it's because they share the same parents that they look alike
DeleteSeriously? What a joke
DeleteJoy and Austin and Lauren and Josiah seem to be very arranged marriages. Both couples claim to have been friends for a long time, yet both have an uncomfortableness about them. I surely hope these very, very young women in particular did not rush into marriages for the excitement of finally being allowed to be alone with what should be a boyfriend at these ages.
ReplyDeleteWell, it is kind of hard to go from never being alone with a boy on a date and never touching a boy to being married to one. That probably accounts for the discomfort. Good thing my (our?) parents never made us do that.
DeleteIt seems like 18 years and they are courting. Joseph and Kendra did the same thing. Kendra was also very young. Kendra grew a lot on her journey from friendship to courtship to engagement and marriage. She seemed much more mature in video announcing the pregnancy. Lauren will probably do the same in the whole process. Joy had a bit more experience with press. But they are young for this, that is for certain. I totally agree. Josiah seems more ready for it than he was 3 years ago.
DeleteYou can tell all this from a few videos? Both couples seem to have known each other for a while before engaging in courtships. Marriages tend to work better when couples come from similar backgrounds and the families are well acquainted.
DeleteYou made some interesting statements about Joy, Austin, Lauren, and Josiah. Question - do you know any of them? Have you ever met any of them? Are your opinions based on (or even influenced by) things you've read on hate forums? I'm asking because you seem to think that you know them better than you claim they know each other, even though are actually IN each other's lives.
DeleteUm, how comfortable do you feel when being video-recorded? Me thinks you should go work for the FBI Anonymous @4:26! You certainly glean a lot of in depth insights from so little material!
DeleteWhen you say "uncomfortableness" are you referring to your discomfort with them or their discomfort with each other? I haven't watched this new courtship announcement video, but Joy and Austin seem very comfortable with each other.
DeleteSome people are very gifted when it comes to reading body language and sensing things. And don't ever underestimate women's intuition. It can also be highly tuned.
DeleteCongrats. I sure wish they would bring 19 kids and counting back I miss the Duggar's!
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are from New Zealand. There is an announcement that the Duggars will be appearing in NZ on Jan 26. So they are still there. It looks as if they starting courting BEFORE they left for Australia and New Zealand since Josiah said he asked her one night when the girls were having a get together and he came in on it.
ReplyDeleteSo, that had to have been BEFORE they left since the married sisters did not go. If he asked on the trip, it would have only been the little sisters and Jana. They started courting before the trip.
What possible difference does it make to any of the blog readers when the announcememt was made?
DeleteI agree. The Duggars aren't required to announce their family matters to the public. They make announcements they choose to make whenever and however they want.
DeleteIt makes a difference because you need to be truthful if you're going to start putting news about yourself out there.
DeleteExactly, Anonymous @1:24! I cannot believe how many people must be stalking this family's every move, photo and who knows what else. Pretty creepy!
DeleteI don't think it really matters when their courtship starts. It's the what, not the when, that I'm interested in.
DeleteCongratulations on your courtship and may God bless you both. Eileen
ReplyDeleteNone of us "Know" for sure what our future holds.
ReplyDeleteWe use instinct and common sense and our heart and mind lead us to - what we hope - a wonderful partnership.
I wish this young couple well.
She looks a little bit like Anna
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Josiah and Lauren!
ReplyDeleteJosiah and Lauren looking forward to hear the engagement news. Can't to see the courtship on Counting On. Congratulations Natasha B.
ReplyDeleteThey seem well matched. Engagement around Easter, wedding in late summer is my guess.
DeleteCan't wait
DeleteCongrat's Lauren and Josiah. How exciting to start a new life together. You'll have many firsts! Blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know which episode of which season Lauren was on? I don't remember her every being on the show.
ReplyDeleteShe appeared with her family at one or more of the girls' weddings. Her father was on camera with Jim Bob.
DeleteCongrats To Them.....I knew a new courtship annocement was coming. The new season is in Feb
ReplyDeletei ask your middle name and birthday???
ReplyDeleteWhat came to my mind, as I was reading the two blogs about Josiah and Lauren courting,was the fact that it helped me to think about what Jim Bob said about courting. It gives the couple a 'clean slate'.They don't have to deal with the fact of an old relationship that did not work out. But, in this case, seems like we still have to find something to bring them down. If the young couple are happy. Shouldn't we just join in their celebration?Seems that the courtship process worked out for Josiah. He didn't marry the wrong woman for him and he still saved his gift of purity for the woman he marries.Plus, Marjorie can say the same. She has saved her gifts for her future husband. If I had courted,it would have prevented a myriad of different arguments and people that I had dated, being thrown in my face. I pray that God will bless them and they will be happy and not let criticism from outside sources cause cracks in their lives together.(if they choose to get married)
ReplyDeleteGood points. If I had pursued the courtship model, I think I would have avoided some big mistakes and hurt feelings (and hurting others' feelings).
DeleteYou can still get your feelings hurt if your in any failed relationship, one that doesn’t work out. The only thing courtship saves you from is not giving away your first; kiss, hug, etc. to a person you may not marry.
DeleteIf you're like the Duggars and a parent of an 18 year old daughter, do you start getting nervous that she won't find a husband? What do you do with her til then, if she doesn't go to college and doesn't work? Do you make sure she attends social events with eligible boys? Kind of reminds me of the old debutante system and the coming out parties.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the movie "Oliver," and the scene where the man walked thru the streets of London with him.
DeleteGetting a boyfriend or girlfriend is not an accomplishment for a young person. Nearly every teenager in the world does this.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you both
ReplyDeleteCongrats to them! i figured Josiah would be next.
ReplyDeleteWhat is Josiah and Lauren Wedding in may or June 2018
ReplyDeletebaby 2019
Get Married
ReplyDeleteMay or June 2018
Congratulation
Josiah & Lauren
Beautiful wedding photo of Josiah and Lauren...
ReplyDelete