New EP from Seewald Music

Ben Seewald's sister Danielle Seewald has jump-started her music career. Her first EP, New Take, is now available for download on Amazon MP3, Google Play, and iTunes for $4.95. The songs can also be purchased individually for $0.99 each.

The EP is a collection five of Danielle's favorite tunes, which include:

"The Motions" by Matthew West
"Worth It" by Francesca Battistelli 
"I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin
"Let the Waters Rise" by Mikeschair
"Before the Throne of God Above" by Charitie Lees Bancroft

The EP was produced by Andy Leftwich, a close friend of the Bates family. Below is a preview of "I Will Rise." (Click here to listen to a preview of "Worth It.")

Album photo courtesy markkurowskiphotography.com

Duggar Snapshots: February 2016

Hope you're having a relaxing weekend! Here are a couple pictures to brighten your day.

The first was taken when Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar visited Jill and Derick Dillard in Central America. The second shows two-year-old Marcus Duggar attempting to "drive" the Duggar family bus.

 Grandpa Jim Bob Duggar with Israel Dillard

Marcus Duggar

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com

New Season, New Adventures

Have you heard the big news? The Duggars are coming back to TLC!

A full season of Jill & Jessa: Counting On is set to premiere Tuesday, March 15, at 9pm ET/8pm CT and will focus on the lives of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's adult children. (Click here for details and to watch the promo video.)

What are you hoping to see during this season of Counting On?

Photos courtesy TLC

The Duggars are Coming Back!

Your request has been granted! The Duggars are returning for a full season of reality TV! While the title of the series will be Jill & Jessa: Counting On, it will focus on the lives of all the adult Duggar children, minus Josh.

According to TLC, the season will show Jessa and Ben Seewald adjusting to parenthood with Spurgeon; Jill, Derick, and Israel Dillard continuing their mission work in Central America; Jana, Jinger, Joy-Anna, John-David, Joseph, and Josiah Duggar navigating adulthood; and Anna Duggar joining the Duggar sisters for a much needed vacation.

The new season of Jill & Jessa: Counting On premieres Tuesday, March 15, at 9pm ET/8pm CT. Take a look at the promo video:



Photo/video courtesy TLC

Wallers Announce Baby #3

Anna Duggar's brother-in-law and sister, David and Priscilla Waller, just announced that they are expecting their third child in October.

The Wallers, who tied the knot in February 2012, welcomed their first child, Paul, in March 2013 and their second child, Davia, in November 2014. The family of four recently moved from the Chicago Suburbs to East Texas. Check out their announcement video below:

Want to hear more from the Wallers? Check out these links to past posts:

Anna Duggar and Priscilla Waller: Growing Up Keller
Anna and Priscilla Reunite in Washington D.C.
Anna and Priscilla Tour D.C. With Their Children 
Gender Reveal Party for Baby #2 (Featured on 19 Kids and Counting)
Full Recording of the Wallers' Wedding (Featuring a performance by the Duggars)
Throwback: Duggar Girls Attend Journey to the Heart with Priscilla

Video courtesy davidlovespriscilla.com

Watch 'Counting On' For Free Online

For those who were unable to watch Jill & Jessa: Counting On, the TLC mini series featuring the Duggar family that aired in December, all three segments have been uploaded to the TLC website. We have embedded them below for your convenience.

Counting On is available for purchase on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon U.S.

Jill & Jessa: Counting On "A New Chapter"

Jill & Jessa: Counting On "Baby Shower & A New Home"

Jill & Jessa: Counting On "Counting One More"



Photo/videos courtesy TLC

Jana Plays Piano with Meredith

How adorable is this photo of Jana Duggar and niece Meredith Duggar? Meredith just hit her seven-month milestone. Many readers commented that she looked identical to Mackynzie as a newborn. Do you all still think that?

Jana Duggar and Meredith Duggar

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

Danielle Seewald's New Album

Some of you may know that Ben Seewald is the oldest of seven kids. He has three teenage sisters--Jessica, Danielle, and Michelle--and three younger siblings--Ethan, Faith, and Tom.

Danielle is a talented singer and recently recorded her first album, New Take, which contains five songs and is set to be released on February 29th. The album was produced by Andy Leftwich.

Check out this preview of the song "Worth It."

Ben's parents, Michael and Guinn Seewald, with grandson Spurgeon Seewald

Album photo courtesy markkurowskiphotography.com; second photo courtesy theseewaldfamily.com

Anna and Michelle at The Fervent Tour

On Monday evening, Michelle Duggar and Anna Duggar spent the evening at Cross Church in Springdale, Arkansas, at an event called The Fervent Tour.

The Fervent Tour is led by author and speaker Priscilla Shirer, who played Elizabeth Jordan in the hit film War Room, and features worship music from Priscilla's brother, Anthony Evans.

A wife and mother of three, Priscilla has devoted her career to discipling fellow believers and showing them how to experience the power of God in personal and practical ways.

Would you like to spend an evening with the woman whom Anna calls her hero? The Fervent Tour is going on through the end of February. Visit Priscilla's website for more information.

 Anna Duggar and Michelle Duggar at The Fervent Tour

with Priscilla Shirer and Anthony Evans

Photo courtesy ja20.com

Another Interview with FLAME

Last month, we posted an interview that Ben Seewald conducted with Christian hip hop recording artist FLAME on the topic of racial tension. Our readers enjoyed it so much that we thought we would share a second interview.

Why Preaching Morals and Positivity is Not Enough

Video courtesy theseewaldfamily.com

Jim Bob and Michelle Visit the Dillards

As we mentioned in our summary of the Dillards' February ministry update (click here to read the highlights), Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar recently traveled down to Central America for an impromptu visit with Jill, Derick, and Israel. Here are a few snapshots from their trip:

 Derick, Jill, and Israel Dillard

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar

 Fellowshiping with a group of locals

 Israel Dillard with Grandpa Jim Bob Duggar

Israel Dillard with Grandma Michelle Duggar

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com

Dillard Update: February 2016

Derick Dillard just posted a new update! Here are a few highlights, but we encourage you to visit the Dillard family website for further details.

• After serving with a short-term missionary team during December, Jill, Derick, and Israel Dillard are now full-time team members of S.O.S. Ministries. (Click here to read more about their new role.) They are living in a "Hospitality House" owned by the organization.
• The Dillards seek to meet both the physical needs and spiritual needs of the people of Central America. They have enjoyed connecting with the locals and inviting them to church services--which Derick often preaches at--as well distributing food and hygiene items.
  
• Jim Bob and Michelle recently spent a few days visiting Jill, Derick, and Israel. 
• Israel, who weighs 23 pounds, recently turned 10 months old and is now eating fruits and veggies. Now that their son is mobile, the Dillards have taken steps to baby-proof their house with cabinet locks and outlet covers. 
• Derick writes that he and Jill "have been stretched in ways that we could not have imagined." He also adds that they "have confidence and trust in the Lord’s faithfulness in that which He has called us."
• The missionary couple has been forced to adjust to the Central American wildlife, which includes scorpions, tarantulas, cougars, and snakes large enough to kill chickens.

Please continue to pray that God would continue to use the Dillards to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people of Central America and that He would keep them safe and healthy in the process.


Photos courtesy dillardfamily.com

#TBT: Jennifer's First Trip to the Doctor

Earlier today, we posted a Throwback Thursday video that shows the Duggars cleaning the Bates' house leading up to Erin Bates' November 2013 wedding. As promised, we have a second #TBT video to share, which highlights Jennifer Duggar's first visit to the doctor soon after her birth in August 2007.

**A handful of readers have mentioned having difficulty accessing the blog this week. If that's you, please explain (either via comment or an email to duggarfamilyblog@gmail.com) the problems you are having and tell us what type of device (Mac, PC, Tablet, or Smartphone) and web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer) you use. Thanks so much!

Video courtesy Figure8Films

#TBT: Cleaning the Bates' House

In honor of Throwback Thursday, we would like to share a video that we know you all will enjoy.

Back in early November 2013, while the Bates family was running through daughter Erin's wedding rehearsal, the Duggars took it upon themselves to clean their friends' house, which they had helped remodel four years earlier.

Come back to the blog later this afternoon for another #TBT video!

Video courtesy of TLC

Lawsuit Against Josh Duggar Dismissed

Josh and Anna Duggar in 2013

We have received a number of questions from readers regarding the lawsuit filed against Josh Duggar last year by a woman (the "Plaintiff") who claimed to have been assaulted by him and requested $500,000 in damages.

The details of the lawsuit are not family-friendly, so we will not be posting them to our blog, nor do we encourage our readers to research the matter.

In late January, the Plaintiff requested that the case by withdrawn "without prejudice," as she wanted to have the option to file a new complaint based on the same occurrences. Josh and his attorney refused the offer.

On Friday, both parties signed to allow the case to be dismissed "with prejudice," which means the Plaintiff cannot file another complaint based on the same occurrences. Likewise, Josh agreed not to request the Court to rule that the allegations made against him were false.

**To those who have accused TLC or the Duggar family of paying the Plaintiff off to dismiss the case, part of the agreement required the Plaintiff to agree that she "will bear her own costs and fees in this matter and that no one has or will pay her any money to resolve this matter."

Photo courtesy of TLC

Duggars Returning to Reality TV?

There are rumors floating around that the Duggar family is returning to reality TV, as a few individuals claim to have seen them filming around Northwest Arkansas.

We know that fans are eager to see this super-sized clan reclaim its place in the TLC lineup, but we want to encourage everyone to proceed with caution when reading the tabloids. While some of what they report is fact, they have been proven in the past to have started many untrue (and also hurtful) rumors about Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 19 children.

As of right now, there has been no official, public word from either TLC or the Duggar family regarding the possibility of a new show. Rest assured that if and when an announcement is made, we will share all the details. Meanwhile, we will continue to post the latest Duggar news and updates.

Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com

New Pics of Spurgeon Seewald

Jessa and Ben Seewald are gearing up to celebrate Spurgeon Seewald's three-month milestone tomorrow! Here are a handful of pictures that we just have to share with you. (The cuteness factor is through the roof.)

 Spurgeon Elliot Seewald

 Spurgeon Seewald

 Jessa Seewald and Spurgeon Seewald

And here's a video of Ben singing to his son. (Most readers find that these types of videos work best on a laptop or desktop computer, rather than on a smartphone or tablet.)

Photos and video courtesy of theseewaldfamily.com

Watch Jana Duggar on TV

Jana Duggar and Michael Bates

Who gives this woman to be married to this man? "Her mother and I and her 18 siblings." (Gil Bates)

Michael and Brandon's wedding episode premieres tomorrow on UP TV! (Visit our Bates Family Blog to watch the promo video.) Jana Duggar, the only bridesmaid who is not a family member, will make multiple appearances on the show, as will other members of the Duggar family. (Click here to view wedding party photos.)

Bringing Up Bates "Wedding Bliss and a First Kiss" starts tomorrow at 9pm ET/8pm CT on UP. If you can't tune in, visit our Bates Family Blog after the show for a recap.

Jana Duggar touches up Michael's makeup before the wedding ceremony

Photos courtesy of UP

New Photo of Israel

Israel Dillard is just four days away from turning 10 months old! Here is a new picture of little (or should we say big?) Izzy making a new friend in Central America. Jill and Derick Dillard are now serving with S.O.S. Ministries. (Click here for details.)

Israel Dillard makes a new friend in Central America

Photo courtesy dillardfamily.com