On Tuesday, I posted the first part of my series about dress shopping with Joy-Anna Duggar. (You can read it here.) Now it's time to pick up where I left off...When the cameras were off, I enjoyed chatting with the Duggar ladies and playing with Jordyn and Josie. It was a long day, but the four little girls remained composed and well behaved through it all. During the individual interviews, we all had to be silent. Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn, and Josie were able to amuse themselves quietly, as they walked around the store and chatted with us in whispers.
Seven-year-old Josie is a firecracker (always has been) and is very social and well spoken. She would wander away while the cameras weren't rolling, but she obeyed instantly when called back. At one point, I looked over and heard Jana instruct Josie to do 15 jumping jacks to expend her energy, which she did happily and without a fuss.
The camera/production crew members were very kind to everyone on set. Some of them have known the Duggars for as long as 12 years, and the bond is evident. They enjoy joking around with everyone, and they are very gentle with the little ones.
Although Joy was quite overwhelmed by the whole process of choosing a dress, she did seem to enjoy herself. Whenever anyone mentioned Austin, her face lit up like a Christmas tree.
After dress shopping was over, another lovely resident of Mt. Sterling came to Renee Miller's shop. Ashley Howell--owner of The Blue Rose--stopped by to present Jinger (Duggar) Vuolo with a special gift. I won't spoil the surprise, but Ashley tells all about it on her blog. (Click here to read.)
Photo courtesy Carrie Wilson Photography
Visit TLC.com, Carrie Wilson's Facebook page, and the Renee's Bridal KY Facebook page to see more photos from Joy's dress day.
That "special gift" was already posted by Renee, who seems so proud of it. Where is Jinger going to hang that? Next to the deer head? There goes Jeremy's artwork again...
ReplyDeleteJinger & Jeremy spoke about their four bedroom home they live in now. I'm sure there's a perfect place for the artwork!
DeleteThey have a house now, so they have more wall space. Some of us haven’t gone to Renee’s site to see it posted there, so it was new to us.
DeleteJinger and Jeremy bought a house so they probably have plenty of empty walls
DeleteWhat a nasty comment! The picture was beautifully done and generously given. The dig at Renee was completely unnecessary.
DeleteEvery teenage girl is excited about her first crush. Most of us don't think that means it's the right time to rush into marriage.
ReplyDeleteAnd how do you know that this was a first crush???
DeleteWhy don't they show this sweet family interaction you describe on the show? Instead they just repeat the same line about Joy not liking shopping, over, and over, and over. I just don't understand it.
ReplyDeleteIf the 4 little girls remained "composed" through the taping, then what were all those tears about?
ReplyDeleteOf course they were sad. That doesn't mean they were not composed.
DeleteI think she meant composed as in they were all behaving well( Not running around and getting into things and not complaining and whining that it was taking so long).
DeleteJosie seems to be so fun-spirited. Your comments about her obeying instantly reminds me of a time on the show when Jill was having the little girls help make a banner for some event. Josie began to walk away from the table, Jill said, "No," and Josie immediately came right back to the table! She had to have been younger than 5 on that epidsode. I'm still amazed by that!!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading The Blue Rose blog post. Her drawing is beautiful-- it has a simple and classic feel to it. The Duggars are very blessed to receive these beautiful gifts, and I feel like they receive them gracefully!
I feel bad for the younger children like Josie. It's like they have sisters and brothers who are parents to them. I wouldn't want my younger children being surrounded by older siblings who are there to discipline them. I am the Mom and they have Dad here too, the discipline is our job not the other children's job to do. I came from a family of 12 children, me being the 10th and Mom was my Mom not my older siblings and Dad was Dad and I liked not having a load of bosses around like they do. Seems so unfair to the younger children. For Josie to jump when the older ones tell her to do something shows that Mom and Dad has given way to much control over to the older kids. That isn't right.
DeleteWOW! Ashley did a beautiful job drawing Jinger's dress!!!GORGEOUS!!!
ReplyDeleteThe little ladies were very well behaved and Jingers gift is lovely. Well done!
ReplyDeleteWhy do these girls sit with their feet up on the seat.....
DeleteSit properly without your legs and feet up in the air , Josie...🙄
They have always let Josie in particular sit or climb on whatever she wanted in the house, however she wanted to do it. Is she going to keep that up until she's grown?
DeleteWhat a beautiful thank you note Jinger wrote for that drawing. Impressive.
ReplyDeleteI searched some of the sites you gave us, Elli. Mount Sterling really "rolled out the red carpet" for the Duggars. What a lovely town. It makes me want to visit there. My very favorite were the brides' dresses cookies. Oh my goodness! They were beautiful and looked so delicious. Thanks, Elli, for sharing your wonderful trip experience with us.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was so impressive! Makes me want to visit!
DeleteThe young girls probably missed quite a few days of homeschool for this wedding dress extravaganza. All they know how to do is sit still and smile for the camera. What a shame. Not a very fulfilling life.
ReplyDeleteThey weren't gone for "quite a few days," so I doubt they missed that much homeschooling. Did you know that you can work on school work while you're traveling? Or that home schooling provides a great deal of flexibility? And that the kids don't actually spend that much time sitting still, smiling for a camera?
DeleteNot gonna lie, not a big fan of saying instantly obeyed when talking about a child. Its the same with 'training a child' that the duggars have used in the past. I'm raising children NOT dogs !!
ReplyDeleteSeriously? Do you have any children? Do you know what a drag it is to have to repeat yourself over and over to get a child to do what they're supposed to do? Multiply that by more than a couple of kids, and it becomes a big waste of time for a parent. If a child learns to obey the first time, it teaches them to avoid the habit of procrastination.
DeleteI do wonder what motivation is used to get these kids to behave like that. What goes on behind the scenes. What they are afraid of.
DeleteTraining a child to obey instantly is good because it teaches them when they are adults to obey promptly to God's voice and leading.
DeleteMy son is not perfect; however the things he does promptly are not fear induced, they are because he has been trained in those areas. A lot of the areas he obeys promptly are outside the sphere of influence of the public school and within the influence of home teaching, church teaching and the Canadian Military Cadet program. Last, even back in the early 90’s when some of my friends had school-aged children, public schools were using the word “training” to describe their teaching methods. I’ve heard atheists and agnostics use the word “training” to describe how they are raising their children.
DeleteYou do realize that people get "trained" for jobs, don't you? "Training" just means teaching and is used for many other things besides animals.
DeleteJust some feedback, instead of posting a super short blog with no new details and one pic and then another 1-2 weeks later. Why can't you do a couple big blogs instead? I'm grateful for your work and effort you ladies put in but just some feedback. Godbless you
ReplyDeleteEllie, thank you so much for including our store in your wonderful blog! You do an excellent job and I know all the readers appreciate how much work you put in every day! We loved having you and the Duggar ladies visit Mt. Sterling! Thank you again and great job! Ashley, Megan & Donna, The Blue Rose
ReplyDeleteIt was my pleasure! You ladies have a beautiful store. It's always great to catch up with you, Ashley.
DeleteEllie
I had a simple tea length wedding dress that I keep in my closet. It is now 27 years old and my husband and I are still together (praise the LORD). I'm just wondering about what others who spend lots of money on an extravagant wedding dress do with the dress after the wedding. The dresses are very beautiful. I guess it's my pragmatic side that just couldn't spend thousands or even hundreds of dollars for a dress that is to be worn one time.
ReplyDeleteI had a very simple dress as well. (27 years ago, too!) I bought it off the rack at a major department store, with a few alterations. Cost me only about 50 bucks, but I was very happy with it!
DeleteThey keep it until it becomes discoloured (paternal grandmother for her era spent a great deal of money on her dress) or they keep it until they downsize from a house to a condo (mother-in-law had a rather lavish dress) or they sell it used because they fell on hard times (friend).
DeleteWhat a talent Ashley Howell has - I absolutely loved her stunning drawing of Jinger's beautiful wedding gown. So pleased that you enjoyed your day with everyone, Ellie, and had the chance to cuddle up to Happy Henry.
ReplyDeleteThe buttons on that drawing...not drawn to scale, and they look like they turn and come down the side of the dress, not the back of it. Although you're looking at the train from the back, the bodice of the dress is shown from the side. Yet the row of buttons goes from behind the bodice to down the center of the train. Something is off. I'm staring at it like it's one of those M.C. Escher optical illusion drawings, and I can't quite figure out what is going on. Anyone else see it?
ReplyDeleteNow that you mention it, I see what you mean, OP. The perspective is odd. I can't figure out if we're looking at the dress from the side or the back. Looks like both? Oh well. Someone tried.
DeleteSUCH A NICE DAY...GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO JOIN THE FAMILY. THAT'S WHY I APPRECIATE YOUR BLOG...IT'S FAMILY-SUPPORTED AND YOU'RE A GREAT WRITER. I ENJOY ALL 3!!
ReplyDeleteGOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
C. JOHNSON