The Do Good Duggars

Jim Bob and Michelle strive to encourage each of their children to develop a servants' heart. Watch the following video to see how the Duggars have devoted their time and resources over the years.

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"Duggars Down the Aisle" Recap

On tonight's episode of 19 Kids and Counting, "Duggars Down the Aisle"...

• Michelle begins by explaining that each of her children grieve differently. Jordyn recently expressed her desire to visit Jubilee in heaven. 
• Josie update: The almost-three-year-old is crawling, running, jumping, talking, and pushing kitchen chairs across the room. 
• Duggar Insiders Tip: To drive out hiccups, eat a spoonful of sugar or have someone scare you (like Jim Bob did to Michelle while they were dating) 
• Josh and Anna head down to Florida to help prepare for the wedding of David and Priscilla (Anna's sister). Although David and Priscilla have also purposed to save their first kiss for the alter, they do give each other Hershey's Kisses (chocolate candies). 
• Jim Bob and Michelle also head down to Florida early. Jana, who loves children, enthusiastically takes on the challenge of getting the little ones packed and ready to go. "I wasn't for sure that it would get all put together properly," says Jana. But everything works out in the end, and the kids are soon on their way to the airport to fly south. 
• Before the wedding, Josh and Anna challenge David and Priscilla to a game of tennis. David runs five to ten miles each day and, according to Josh himself, he and David are polar opposites.
• "They were so in love that I thought, 'Oh, this will be easy,"' says Anna, in retrospect. David and Priscilla end up winning.
•  On the day of the wedding, Mackynzie is exhausted. Michelle grabs her granddaughter and, through loving words of encouragement, is able to put a smile on the two-year-old's face. 
• As the couple exits the sanctuary after the ceremony, David whispers to Priscilla, "I married my best friend." 
• The Duggar girls joke that Jinger needs a man who can provide her coffee and wants to live in a city. All five of them desire a man who shares their convictions and is willing to work hard but can also have fun.
• Contrary to popular belief, Jessa explains that the girls are not "sitting around eating bonbons and waiting for Prince Charming." They are serving others, gaining skills, and growing closer to their family and to God. 
• Jill shares what she and her sisters do when men come calling: send them to Dad! 
• Are there any Duggar courtships in the works? Not yet! "If something happens, you probably wont be the first to find out, but you'll find out soon enough," Jessa tells viewers. 

Video: Traits of a Duggar Husband

On tonight's episode of 19 Kids and Counting, "Duggars Down the Aisle" (9PM EST/8PM CST on TLC; visit the blog for a recap after the show)...

Duggars Return & Duggar Birthday

The Duggars return tonight! Tune in to TLC at 9PM EST/8PM CST for 19 Kids and Counting, "Duggars Down the Aisle." (Click for summary.)

On another note, today is Josiah Duggar's 16th birthday. Happy Birthday, Josiah!

Recap: "Bates & Duggar Reunion"

This evening on United Bates of America "Bates & Duggar Reunion"...

• The episode opens as the Bates begin preparing for the Big Sandy homeschool conference. Kelly gives instructions, and Michaella bustles around packing everything into an estimated 50 bags.
• They end up leaving later than expected and hit a roadblock along the way...Zach accidentally slams the family's van into their bus (driven by Gil). "Zach felt so bad," sympathizes Kelly.
• After an eventful night, the Bates pull into a Nashville motel at 3:00 AM to catch up on sleep. 
• When Gil and Kelly and the kids finally arrive at Big Sandy, they are welcomed by the Duggars with hugs and dinner. "It's always fun when we get together with the Duggars," says Alyssa. 
• In the evenings, the Duggars and Bates meet up with other homeschool families for music, games, and fellowship. The Bates kids agree that conferences are a great place to meet people, including future spouses. They have used the term "courtship" in the past but now prefer to call it "dating with a purpose."
• At the conference, the Bates have the privilege of singing, and Gil and Kelly speak to fellow homeschooling parents. According to the kids, hearing their parents speak is the highlight of the week, and Gil and Kelly agree that their kids are their biggest encouragers.

Season 6b Premiere

*Two new episodes of United Bates of America air Monday night at 9PM EST/8PM CST on TLC.

Starting this Tuesday on TLC, watch as the Duggars begin a new chapter of their lives. Tune in at 9PM EST/8PM CST for the premiere of 19 Kids and Counting, season 6b. (Click here for episode summaries.) Video below:
 

7 New Episodes!

Coming up next on 19 Kids and Counting (and United Bates of America). Keep scrolling to find out what new episodes TLC has in store.

19 Kids and Counting

Aug 28, 9:00 pm

19 Kids and Counting: Duggars Down the Aisle

(Click for summary)

Sept 4, 9:00 pm

19 Kids and Counting: Duggar Growing Pains

When Jordyn gets her head stuck in the railing, it's Jim Bob to the rescue. Later, the kids meet up with two other large families for pizza and a lesson in pizza dough tossing. Plus, Jim Bob and Michelle head to DC and have dinner with Kirk Cameron!

         

Sept 4, 9:30 pm

19 Kids and Counting: Duggar Sick Day

Did you know the last 5 Duggar kids were born on TV? Watch as we take a stroll down memory lane and see just how much these little ones have grown. Get a peek at the Duggars' enormous pantry and all the food it takes to feed a family of 21.

United Bates of America

Aug 27, 9:00 pm

United Bates of America: 19 in Training

Education comes in many forms for the Bates family. Watch as Kelly Jo teaches some of the younger girls how to cook. And later, can the boys keep up when Gil, a former state champion, teaches them how to wrestle?

         

Aug 27, 9:30 pm

United Bates of America: Bates & Duggar Reunion

The Bates Family is heading to Texas for the annual homeschooling conference! Watch as we see what it takes to get 21 people packed, loaded up and out the door for a week-long trip. Later, we see them meet up with their friends the Duggars!

Sept 3, 9:00 pm

United Bates of America: New Editions

Gil and Kelly Jo have decided to take on some new tenants: chickens! Despite past failed attempts at keeping chickens, they're determined to make their land productive. Will the family finally get the bounty of eggs they've been hoping for?

         

Sept 3, 9:30 pm

United Bates of America: Bates Plus 12

When you have a family of 21, what's a few more houseguests added to the mix? The Bates get a visit from their friends the Paines who are a family of 12. Later, we get a lesson on dating, and the family has one very big announcement to share.

Click here to visit the 19 Kids and Counting showtimes page.
For a complete list of upcoming episodes of United Bates of America, click here.

Discussion

Next Tuesday, 19 Kids and Counting will enter into the second half of its sixth season. How long have you been following the Duggars' story? If you watch the show, what have been some of your favorite episodes?

Then

Now

Next Week: "Duggars Down the Aisle"

Can you believe it has been nearly five months since the last new episode of 19 Kids and Counting aired on TLC? The moment you have all been waiting for is almost here: the show returns in one week! Tune in at 9PM EST/8PM CST on Tuesday, August 28th, for "Duggars Down the Aisle":

Though the family is still coping after the loss of baby Jubilee, they pull together to support each other through the hard times. And with 19 kids, there is a lot to keep them busy. In the premiere one-hour episode of 19 Kids and Counting, the whole Duggar clan heads down to Florida for Anna’s sister’s wedding. Will a Duggar girl be next down the aisle?

The excitement doesn’t stop for the Duggars as Jim Bob and Michelle have a special dinner with none other than "Growing Pains" 90’s star, Kirk Cameron. During the season, we watch the older girls begin to be courted while the boys pick up new instruments. The house is certainly noisier than ever now. Jill celebrates her 21^st birthday and several Duggars learn how to hunt turkeys. Meanwhile, we check in on oldest son Josh and his growing family. While it’s not quite 19, we see how wife Anna is handling being a mother of two. Will there be any more babies on the way?

(Press Release)

And--as always--visit the blog for a recap of each new episode.

What are you most looking forward to/hoping that TLC will include in upcoming segments of 19 Kids and Counting?

New Photos: Josh & Anna & Family

Mackynzie and Michael are growing quickly! Here are a few new photos of Josh and Anna and their little ones, courtesy of Anna Duggar. Compare them to older photos to see how the kids have changed.

August 2012

August 2012

July 2012

May 2012

January 2012

September 2011

Jim Bob and Michelle's Siblings

To have nineteen children, Jim Bob and Michelle must have grown up in large families themselves, right? Not exactly. Michelle is the youngest of seven, and while that may be considered a big family by many, it is tiny in comparison to the size of her current family. Jim Bob, on the other hand, had a quieter childhood with his parents and older sister.

Michelle with sister Carol

Michelle and five siblings (Evelyn, Freda, Garrett, Cathy, and Pamela)

Jim Bob's sister (Deanna) and her husband (Terry) and daughter (Amy)

Answers to "Name that Duggar"

Here are the correct answers to yesterday's "Name that Duggar" challenge. You sure know your Duggars! Which Duggars do you find the most difficult to tell apart?

1: Jordyn

2: Jessa

3: Justin

4: Jason            5: Jill

6: Jason

7: Jedidiah

8: Jill

9: Jennifer

10: Josiah

11: James

12: Jason

13: Jordyn

14: Justin