The new edition--which includes never-before-shared stories of courtship and marriage from Jill (Duggar) Dillard, Jessa (Duggar) Seewald, Derick Dillard, and Ben Seewald--is available for sale on Amazon.com and SimonandSchuster.com. It's definitely worth the read. Here are a few excerpts to give you a taste of the added material:
Derick: "I had had a couple of girlfriends before meeting Jill, and chaperoning was new to me. But just because I had handled relationships one way in the past didn't mean I couldn't do it differently going forward."
Ben: "My dad was the one who put a fire under me. He encouraged me to take initiative and to get a job. And he did this long before I met Jessa."
Jill: "As Derick said, he and my dad had a prayer-partner relationship for about a year and a half. My dad was impressed with Derick, and his confidence made me feel more secure about getting to know Derick better. My dad said we might have a lot in common, and suggested that we start texting."
Jessa: "The day Ben and I started courting, we began our tradition of calling each other on the phone every night! These were such special times. We would talk about everything from how our day went, to what we had been learning from our Bible reading, and then just anything else that we wanted to talk about. These calls were not "chaperoned." They were private--just between the two of us."
I absolutely love this family. They are not perfect amd never claimed to be. They have had some very hard times recemtly. How they handled themselves AFTER the 2nd Josh thing came out made me love them even more. I don't worship them but admire their faith in Christ.
ReplyDeleteI love watching your show
ReplyDeleteWhat job did Ben have before he came to work for Daddy Duggar? The show led us to believe that he was interested in courting Jessa, had no job, and was installed in the newly-decorated room above the storage building while he began working for JB & courting Jessa. Now the book claims he was working long before meeting Jessa? What was he doing? Something that was going to be a career goal? Just curious.
ReplyDeleteNo secret!! Ben installed car windshields for an insurance company , Allstate I believe. He was kind of in business for himself. It most definitely on 19 KAC!
DeleteHe was working as a windscreen replacement worker
DeleteBen did windshield repair before he even met Jessa, that's not new. It was shown on 19 Kids and Counting. As for Ben and Jessa talking in private while courting - that was alluded to also, that isn't new either. No, the Duggars, nor Ben or Jessa just now say they talked in private nightly! How did so many of you miss Bens job and the private phone calls? I guess I'm a bigger fan of their show lol?
DeleteDidn't he also do something with insurance?
DeleteThe show didn't make a big deal of what he did before he came to live on the compound. They did make a big deal of him moving in before he was married. Nor were there memorable scenes of private phone calls, just Mom & Dad sitting on the couch in the downstairs of the storage building/guest room, talking to Jessa & Ben. So by all appearances, they were being chaperoned.
DeleteI don't understand why Jessa got to talk to Ben on the phone privately. They made a big deal about how the parents sat in whenever Jill & Derick communicated when they were courting. The parents were shown listening to Skype with her, and they said all e-mail had to be cc'd to them, remember? But Jessa got private communication? That doesn't quite add up.
ReplyDeleteI guess Jill accepts everything her parents tell her to do, while Jessa has more personal preferences.
DeleteAnna and Josh were chaperoned extensively; maybe the parents are more relaxed now. Who knows? A lot of little things have changed since they were first on the air. I don't like them as much as I used to.
DeleteThe conversation shown on TV was before Jill and Derrick were courting. I wonder if those conversations are group conversations but once there is an official courtship they are given time to have those conversations. I don't live there so it's hard to know for sure. I just like that they are more cautious and they teach their kids to guard their hearts. I wish someone had taught that to me.
DeleteWhen Jessa and Ben were first getting to know each other their communication was monitored. It's after they've really committed to a more permanent relationship that they have private communication.
DeleteProbably Jessa is the more rebellious one, so she didn't allow that.
DeleteHuh. I bought the Kindle version about 18 months ago. I wonder if it will update to the revised edition
ReplyDeleteI like that Jessa made time for her and Ben that was private and not having her parents listening to her every word as a grown woman and man they are entitled to that privacy regardless of what the standards that the parents set. They have have their own set of standards as long as they are with in reason
ReplyDeleteWhy do they change their stories so much? I clearly remember them saying while they are courting, their calls are chaperoned by their parents! That is part of what made them diff. from the rest of society. Was that just a written storyline to gain public interest? I really am starting to think there is a lot that is not true.
ReplyDeleteYou are WRONG about any "changing any stories"! The hour long private phone call with Ben and Jessa WAS mentioned awhile back by Jessa! Promise , that's the truth!
DeleteI think the same thing.
DeleteEarly on in their courtships the calls and texts were monitored. It's after they've gotten closer to 100% committing to making the relationship permanent that they are granted private communication. If there's any "storyline" as you put it that doesn't jive, I would blame TLC, not the Duggars! TLC always wanted to portray the Duggars a certain way to gain viewers. That's why the Bates family chose not to work with them again, because they didn't want their family portrayed any way other than what they were really all about.
DeleteIm glad Jessa and Ben talked every night, just the two of them. I always wondered how a couple could plan a life together without having those private talks. Good for yall.
ReplyDeleteAwe, sounds sweet...looking forward to the read, Thank you Lily and Ellie for the info...have a blessed day😉
ReplyDeleteWell that's not fair I already have the "old" one
ReplyDeleteInteresting to find out Jessa and Ben had private phone calls. I think most have had the understanding that every moment was with a chaperone, even phone calls. If there was never any alone time before marriage, I imagine it would be awkward to suddenly be alone with the person once married.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting read. I'm looking forward to reading the new material in the book and gaining a further insight into these 2 couples.
ReplyDeleteI anticipate the Duggar book will continue to get revised many, many, many times until all the rules and regulations in the original book are not recognizable anymore. All this courting stuff sounded great on paper when they wrote it and they were not courting. As they are meeting their mates, I think they are realizing that not all people are brought up wearing rose-colored glasses to believe in a world where people are perfect. No one is perfect; not even a Duggar.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I'm glad they were allowed to have private phone conversations at least. I think if you're always around a chaperone, you might be too self- conscious around a parent to ask the important questions really get to know the guy's heart. And then you end up married but you've never been alone to talk with the guy and they could seem like a very different person. Just my take.
DeleteI have to get this book!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest criticisms that people have about courtship (at least the Duggar's style) is that the couple is not allowed any alone time to really get to know one another. So it seems rather convenient that Jessa now says that she did actually get to talk to Ben alone, in the form of those phone calls. Now that the Duggars are particularly "image conscious" I have to admit I do often find myself questioning what is true and genuine and what is said just to look good in public. It feels harder to get a true picture of who they are now
ReplyDeleteI recall, also, that they weren't even allowed to have private texts.
DeleteI find it abit weird.. They always said that they monitored their texts and calls and now they're changing the story.
DeleteSorry to disappoint the naysayers, but Jessa DID mention the private nightly phone call! THIS IS NOT NEW! NOBODY IS LYING!!
DeleteI agree, its odd that they are suddenly changing their rules to be more mainstream, or to appear to be non rule followers??? maybe they are trying to get josh back on the show and if it looks like the other older children haven't been perfect in their relationship standards then what josh did wont seem as bad?????? i hope not. i hope they recognize what josh did was criminal and his type of sickness cant be prayed away. im not saying toss him out to the curb and shun him from teh family. parents NEVER stop loving thier children no matter what! he just needs the right long term help and doesnt need to be around children....
DeleteNo, sorry but she did not mention private calls. When they were engaged, sure. She said courting! Big difference in their world.😉
DeleteI have to agree with you things seem to shift, it is too bad but you said it very well
DeleteAre girl's loved the 1st edition of this book can't wait to get this one for them!
ReplyDeleteI saw this post yesterday and saw that I could get it free through an Amazon/Audible promotion. I listened to the entire thing last night through to this evening and I found it to be much more than I had expected. This book held valuable insights into Christian living and I felt blessed having read it.
ReplyDeleteI have ordered one for my daughter, I can't wait, She has read the first one, and loved it, It can be really hard at times for her, she is 19 years old, and really trying to live the life God wants her to live, but the world can really get you down at time, because you are not like them. Their book is very encouraging for her.
ReplyDeleteSo Derrick had had a couple of girlfriends and the Duggars didnt' mind. What about a girl who had had a couple of boyfriends before meeting Joseph or Josiah? I am suspicious they would mind....
ReplyDeleteGood for Ben's dad making him het a job!
ReplyDeletewhat job did ben get did he not move to be near jessa and jim bob had him running after supposedly working
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to have learned that Jessa had alone time. I believe Jill must have, too! And that Derick had other girlfriends and chaperoning was new to him. They are sounding more mainstream than I was lead to believe and that makes me happy to know.
ReplyDeleteI think it was very cool that Jessa and Ben had their first kiss in private. Jim Bob always seems so concerned with showing everyone how it's done. They don'the need a demonstration. All that stuff comes naturally in time.
ReplyDeleteEvery child is different and earn different Trust not saying anything bad on anyone I believe in the Duggar family and may God look upon everyone the same thank you for all you have shown and the family Rules you have given and accepting the new ones the same as your own children and remember every family member individual makes the whole family together always remember to stay strong and beautiful together
ReplyDeleteI really wonder how Jinger will handle the background Jeremy comes from. So drastically different from hers. It's difficult picturing them together because of it.
ReplyDeleteParents are always stricter with the first kid. The next in line always has it a little easier, that's all!
ReplyDeleteIt'd be nice for the guys to write a book for young men their age who are trying to live a Godly life in this day and age.
ReplyDeleteWas Jessa being sneaky and talking to Ben privately without chaperones!?
ReplyDeleteWonder what would happen if any of the kids got sneaky about chaperones? How could you possibly discipline your grown and adult child for something like that, if they were caught?
DeleteDoes anyone know if the kindle edition of this book is the new revised one? I don't want to buy the wrong ne and have to buy it again!
ReplyDelete