Duggars Head Overseas!

And they're off! This week, the entire Duggar family (including Grandma and cousin Amy) is traveling overseas for a 25-day voyage!

During our July interview (click here to listen), Michelle and Anna announced that they had applied for passports for the entire family and were in the midst of planning an international trip. 

Where are they going? Their destination has not yet been announced, but rest assured that their adventure will be featured in the upcoming season of "19 Kids and Counting," which is scheduled to air in the next few weeks. (We will announce details when the time gets closer.)

Where do you think the Duggars are headed?

Duggar Photos: Focus on the Family

We're in the process of uploading more pictures to our Photos tab! While we work on that, here's a sneak peak. Enjoy!

 Duggars at Focus on the Family

(Pikes Peak in background)

Aunt Johannah entertains niece Mackynzie

 Jordyn-Grace plays in the water bucket

Touring Adventures in Odyssey

 Chilling out before performing

 Meeting and signing books for over 1,000 fans

 Touring Focus on the Family studios
 

 Being interviewed by Focus on the Family

 James showing off his Adventures in Odyssey shirt

 

 Meeting Adventures in Odyssey characters

 One last family photo before going on stage

Little Duggars clowning around

 Jill Duggar signing books

 John-David and Josiah at book-signing

 Jessa Duggar smiles for the camera

Focus on the Family book-signing

Grandma Duggar signs a fan's book

 Jinger and Joseph pose for a picture

 The Duggar Family Bus

 The Duggar Family Orchestra

Jim Bob and Michelle share their testimonies and answer questions

 Filming in progress!

 Thrilled fan holds up her signed book!

Pictures courtesy of Focus on the Family--a Duggar-suported ministry--and fan Lily Madrid.

Suspended Duggars

Remember back when Jessa and Jinger (along with Erin and Michaella Bates and Priscilla Keller) visited Chicago in "19 Kids and Counting" Deep Dish Duggars? Here are some pictures from their experience on the glass ledge at the Willis Tower (previously the Sears Tower) Skydeck. Enjoy! 

The Skydeck glass ledge juts out 4.3 feet from the 103rd story of the Willis Tower and is suspended 1,353 feet above ground! Wondering why Jinger isn't in the pictures? She's terrified of heights and couldn't bring herself to step out for more than a second. Standing on the ledge is ten times more frightening than it looks (we speak from experience)!

Do you think you could handle the Skydeck ledge?

Photos compliments of the Willis Tower Skydeck. Click here to learn more about this unique tourist attraction!

Happy 15th, Josiah!

Another Duggar is turning another year older...

Happy 15th Birthday, Josiah!

Do you know of anyone else with a birthday today?

Duggars' Life Verses (Part 5/5)

Thank Goodness It's Friday! Any special plans for the weekend?
If you have been following the blog all week, you have been reading about the Duggars' life verses.

Let's do a quick recap, and then we will reveal the last three!
(Click on each of the names below to read the corresponding verse.)

Michelle: 2 Corinthians 2:19
Jim Bob and Joseph: Romans 8:28
Josh and Anna: Matthew 6:33
Jana: Proverbs 3:5-7
John-David: Philippians 4:13
Jill: Psalm 91
Jinger: Colossians 3


Eighteen-year-old Jessa finds encouragement in 1 Timothy 4:12:
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
~1 Timothy 4:12 (NKJV)

When the going gets rough for almost-fifteen-year-old Josiah, he looks to James 1 (click here to read).

And last, but surely not least, Joy-Anna, a newbie teenager, finds comfort and inspiration in Revelation 22:21, the last verse in the Bible.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.      
~Revelation 22:21 (NKJV)

Congratulations to Our Winner!

Our latest giveaway has come to an end, and the winner of the autographed copy of "A Love That Multiplies" is...

Chrisanna R.

Congratulations, Chrisanna! Be on the lookout for an email with further details.
Thanks to everyone who entered! Stay tuned for more great giveaways in the near future!

Hurry! Giveaway Ending!

Less than six hours left to enter our latest giveaway! Don't miss your chance to win a copy of "A Love That Multiplies," personally autographed by Jim Bob and Michelle! Click here to enter.

Duggars' Life Verses (Part 4/5)

All this week, we've been sharing the Duggars' life verses, verses that provide personal inspiration and encouragement.

We've revealed the life verses of Michelle (2 Corinthians 12:9), Jim Bob (Romans 8:28), Josh and Anna (Matthew 6:33), Jana (Proverbs 3:5-7), and Jinger (Colossians 3).

Which Bible passage has especially impacted John-David?
Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (NKJV).

When the going gets rough for twenty-year-old Jill, she remembers Psalm 91 (click here to read), an assuring chapter that describes God as a refuge and fortress.

Joseph, who just turned sixteen, has adopted his father's life verse, Romans 8:28.

Do you have a life verse? If so, we would love to hear it!

Bates Family on ABC

The Bates family, LIVE on tonight's broadcast of "Primetime Nightline: My (Extra) Ordinary Family"!

Gil and Kelly Bates and their 18 (soon to be 19) children live in the majestic Tennessee hills and are dear friends of the Duggars.

Tune in to the ABC Television Network (channel 6, 7, or 8 for most viewers) tonight at 10PM EST/9PM CST to see how this super-sized family "makes it all work!"

Will you be watching?

Duggars' Life Verses (Part 3/5)

All this week, we're sharing verses that have made a lasting impact on individual members of the Duggar clan.

Michelle's life verse is 2 Corinthians 12:9, Jim Bob's is Romans 8:28, and Josh and Anna's is Matthew 6:33. 

What about the other Duggar kids? 

Jinger's life verse--or chapter--is Colossians 3 (click here to read). Jana has been impacted by Colossians 3 and also finds encouragement and inspiration through Proverbs 3:5-7.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.
~Proverbs 3:5-7 (NKJV).

Tomorrow, we'll reveal the life verses of John-David, Jill, and Joseph. Have a fabulous day!

Duggars' Life Verses (Part 2/5)

Yesterday, we revealed Josh and Anna's life verse. Now let's see which verse has had the greatest impact on Jim Bob's life. Any guesses?

It's Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (NKJV).

Joseph, the Duggars' third oldest son, also points to Romans 8:28 as his life verse.

Are you familiar with Romans 8:28?

Duggars' Life Verses (Part 1/5)

Where do the Duggars find words of encouragement? Each of the older family members has a favorite Bible verse that provides comfort and guidance through good times and bad. Last month, we posted Michelle's life verse, 2 Corinthians 12:9. (Click here to read.)

All this week, we'll be sharing the life verses of some of the other Duggars, so stay tuned!

Josh is the eldest son of Jim Bob and Michelle and the father of the first two grand-Duggars. He and his wife, Anna, share the same life verse, Matthew 6:33.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
~Matthew 6:33, NKJV

Behind the Scenes Part II

Time for another Behind the Scenes video! A few weeks ago, we got an up-close view of the Duggars spending some time with Ray Comfort. Now let's see what happens when Jim Bob and Ray Comfort head to the kitchen to make pizza for the entire family.

Does your family make homemade pizza?

Duggar Name Game

At the beginning of each "19 Kids and Counting" episode, Michelle rattles off the names of all 19 of her children in birth order. Think you could do that? Go ahead and give it a try in the comments section!

Duggar Summer Recap

Summer is coming to a close, and the Duggars definitely made the most of it! In June, they spent some time in the Big Apple--singing, sightseeing, and doing mission work. Then they piled into their bus and set out to promote "A Love That Multiplies," which sold 22 million copies within the first 30 days and has made the New York Times Bestseller list several times since its release in early June.

The evening of our July 7th interview with Michelle and Anna (which is currently featured on the TLC website), the family headed to Atlanta to sign books and visited a local megachurch. The Duggars then pushed onward to Tennessee to visit Gil and Kelly Bates and their 18 (soon to be 19) children. 

Jim Bob and Michelle recently applied for passports for the kids--quite a feat for a super-sized family--and are currently in the process of planning an international trip for later this year. 

We would love to hear the highlights of your summer! Go ahead and share them in the comments section.

Why Do the Duggars Homeschool?

Michelle Duggar isn't just the mother of 19 children--she's their teacher as well! Michelle has homeschooled all of her kids from the beginning, and she and Jim Bob agree that it was one of the wisest decisions their family has made.

Why did the Duggars choose home education? Their inspiration came from Scriptures like Deuteronomy 6:6-7.

"Bible says to train up your children when you get up in the morning when you sit down, walk by the way, and when you go to bed at night...and we really felt like in order to do to fulfill that command, we really wanted to home school our children," Jim Bob told KLTV in an April 2011 interview.

The Duggars were also drawn to home education after visiting with several homeschool families years ago, when Josh was young. Jim Bob and Michelle were thoroughly impressed by how well-behaved the children were, and they wanted that for their kids.

Now, roughly twenty years later, the Duggars are still going strong! Several of their children have graduated and are pursing higher education through CollegePlus! (click here to read more), and Michelle has many more years of homeschooling to look forward to.

Making the Most of Family Vacations

How do you fit fun, education, and service into a family vacation?

"In June and July our family got on our bus for an 11-city road trip to promote our book," writes Michelle in her latest blog post. "It was a great opportunity for us to fit in some family sightseeing and field trips together." On that trip, the Duggars served food at a homeless shelter, put on a concert at a local park, visited Niagara Falls, and signed the books of over 2,000 fans.

Say Cheese!

Did you know that the Duggars have a personal Picasa web album? Click here to view their pictures!
To see more photos of the family, visit our "Photos" page. 

What do you think?

Another Autographed Book Giveaway!

How would you like to win an autographed copy of the Duggars' new book? You've come to the right place! We are currently giving away a copy of A Love that Multiplies, personally signed by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar!

Keep reading to find out how to enter this giveaway...
 

TO ENTER

Post a comment answering the following question: Which Duggar is older, Jinger or Jessa?

For optional extra entries, do one or more of the following. (Each option must be submitted as an individual comment in order to count as an additional entry): 

1. Become a Google Follower of the blog, and leave a comment on the blog letting us know. If you were already a follower, please leave a comment as well.  
2. "Like" the Duggar Family Blog Facebook page, and leave a comment letting us know. If you were already a fan, please leave a comment as well. 
3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog, and leave a comment letting us know. Must include the URL of your post that advertises our giveaway. 
4. Become a follower of DuggarBlog on Twitter, and leave a comment letting us know. If you are already a follower, please leave a comment as well.  
5. Sign up for email updates, and leave a comment letting us know. If you already receive email updates, please leave a comment as well.    

RULES    

To qualify for the giveaway, you must include your first name and last initial in each comment.

We need a way to contact the winner, so include your email address in each of your comments, or send your email address to DuggarFamilyBlog@gmail.com (along with your first name and last initial). If you are a winner, we will shoot you an email asking for your shipping address.

To qualify, all comments must be posted to this blog. They will not be accepted if they are posted to Facebook or Twitter.

Giveaway ends Thursday, August 25th, 2011 at 9:00 PM EST/8:00 PM CST.

Ready, Set, GO!

Duggars Witness in D.C.

Remember last week when we posted the video of the Duggars meeting Ray Comfort? As promised, the family met up with the famous evangelist on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial just yesterday to share the love of God. How exactly did they do that? By passing out $100 bills! Well, not real $100 bills; $100 bill tracts. To see a copy of the exact tracts that the Duggars distributed, click here.

Have you ever handed out and/or received a tract?

Musical Duggars

If you were to visit the Duggar home, chances are you would hear the sound of music. From the time they are young, the kids sing and take music lessons--piano, violin, cello, harp, guitar--you name it, the Duggars play it! When they are not making music, the family enjoys listening to classical tunes and hymns.

But the kids aren't forced to adopt their parents' style of music; they choose to. "[The older ones] are...choosing their music these days," Michelle shared during our February interview. "And I'm so grateful because they do listen to melodious music."

What kind(s) of music do you listen to?

Interview Encore

Didn't catch our July interview with Michelle and Anna? Tune in to Nina Frye's Living the Dream Mom radio show tomorrow morning for an encore! The fun starts at 10AM EST/9PM CST. To listen, follow this link, and click the "Live on Air: Click Here to Listen" button.

Enjoy the show!

Season Finale Recaps

Tonight was the season finale of "19 Kids and Counting!" Looks like the show will be returning in mid September. Until then, keep checking our blog for updates, and tune in to TLC for reruns. (Click here for listings.)


"19 Kids and Counting" Manhattan Duggars...

• The entire family (including adorable Josie and the kind-hearted--but very pregnant--Anna) travels to New York City. 
• Before embarking on their book tour, the family braves the Subway with two other large families, bombards the ice cream truck man with 35 orders, sings at a local park, and serves food to the homeless.
• As much as they enjoy NYC, the Duggars are country folk. "The big city life is exciting and also fast-paced, compared to what we're used to," says Michelle. 
• And did you know that the Duggars teach their babies sign-language? "It keeps them from screaming and squealing for what they want," explains the mom of 19. Instead of crying when she's hungry, Josie puts her hands to her mouth and says "more, more." 

"19 Kids and Counting" Duggars, Dates, and Dan...

• Dan (nicknamed "Jay-Dan") from Good Morning America visits the family to be a Duggar for a day, while filming a segment for the news popular show. He thoroughly enjoys himself in the midst of what he refers to as "barely controlled chaos."
• Michelle takes Josie, who is coming down with a virus, for a check-up and finds out that the infant will need to have tubes surgically inserted into her ears to prevent further earaches.
• The Duggar girls host a purity seminar for young ladies. The speaker is Sarah Mally, author of the girls' favorite book, "Before You Meet Prince Charming."
  
• "We're purposing to save our whole heart for the one God has for us," says Jessa. 
• Michelle admits that young men have expressed interest in her daughters, but there is currently nothing in the works. She also announces that she would love more children, if that is God's will.

The Duggars return in just under two months. How much will you miss them?

Duggar Birthday Mystery: Solved

Which Duggar is celebrating a birthday today? The mystery is solved!

 Jennifer--seventeenth in the Duggar lineup--turns four years old today! 

Happy Birthday, Jennifer!

Season Finale!

Tune in tonight for two season finale episodes of  "19 Kids and Counting!" At 9PM EST/8PM CST, watch as Jim Bob, Michelle, and the kids travel to NYC for the start of their book tour in "19 Kids and Counting," Manhattan Duggars. And then stick around for "19 Kids and Counting," Duggars, Dates and Dan at 9:30PM EST/8:30PM CST. The family is hosting Dan Harris from "Good Morning, America," the girls are organizing a dating seminar, and Josie is under the weather.

Unless TLC has a surprise up their sleeve, these are the last new episodes until late September. In the meantime, keep coming back to our blog to fulfill your Duggar craving. We're here for you!

Duggar Birthday Mystery

Break out the candles--there's another Duggar birthday to celebrate! Do you know who's turning another year older today? 
 
Post your guess as a comment, and we'll reveal the answer tonight at 9PM EST/8PM CST.

If you really want to put your Duggar knowledge to the test, guess the identity of the mystery Duggar AND how old he/she is turning. 

Ready, Set, Go!