Michelle Duggar on Homeschooling Milestones

Question from a "19 Kids and Counting" fan on Facebook: In lines of proms and graduations, do you have special events that you celebrate in the homeschooling calendar?

We sure do. Each year we give standardized tests in May to all the kids that are in third grade through ninth grade. For us, it’s really fun because we go over to the testing facility, the kids take their tests and then we’ll celebrate with ice cream after they finish. That’s a big milestone every year.

Later when they’re finished with their high school education, I’ll have them take the GED test. It’s not required in our state, but I like them to do it because it’s good for them to have that certificate. That’s their equivalent of finishing their high school education. Some of them will finish it at 16 years old, but everyone is different. We’ll always celebrate that achievement with our own special graduation ceremony.

We typically try to make it a family thing and invite friends and family. In our area, there are some homeschool organizations that will graduate a bunch of kids together in one big graduation ceremony. They’ll have a ceremony with caps and gowns and diplomas, but we’ve never really participated in those events. Sometimes we’ll have 150 people at one of our family graduations. There’s a large enough gathering to constitute as our own big event!
We’ll decorate and set up a table with projects from their school years – things like their first grade papers when they were learning to write and all of the letters and words were written backwards. And then we’ll wrap it all up with a "This is Your Life" video presentation with images of them doing home school projects, or going on field trips, or sitting with me doing their phonics lesson, or maybe even working with Jim Bob on Mechanics 101.



It’s a wonderful thing to celebrate their lives so far and their education. They’ve accomplished a big milestone and they’re finished with taking standardized tests every year. But I let them know they’re not off the hook because I want my kids to never stop learning. There are opportunities to learn everywhere.

Have a burning question for Michelle Duggar? Send it to her and it could appear in an upcoming post! Or catch up with all of Michelle's Blogs.

Derick and Jill: How they got engaged?

The Duggars are very busy as of late when Derick propose to Jill. They started to planned her wedding. The announcement was made this morning by the duggar family. The family shared the details with ABC News this morning.

Like every man should do is asked for the father's blessing before asking for the daughter's hand in marriage. Derick went to Jim Bob and asked for his daughter's hand in marriage. Derick took Jill out after writing a song for her.

Derick revealed that they went on a lunch date at a Mexican restaurant and went to the park where a man said that he had a song for them.  

Jill reveals that after her father introduced her with Derick. They spent many hours talking and texting while they were 8,000 miles away. Jill was so excited to finally meet him in Nepal. They knew within days of meeting that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.

Jill knew the minute that the line in the song that Derick had arranged it and knew that he had something planned.

"He said, 'When God made you, he was thinking of me,' and then at the very end [of the song], he said something about, 'And I pray that you think that too, when God made you he was thinking of me,' and I was like, 'That sounds like a question!'" said Jill. "After that, Derick started saying a bunch of mushy stuff like, 'I love you so much,' and I don't remember everything!"

Derick got down on one knee and presented a ring he purchased in Israel.

Derick described the ring and the story behind it: "It's just a white gold band with a solitaire diamond: a round stone, .63 carats. Jill really likes Israel, and I'd always wanted to go to the Holy Land. ... [When I was there] I had it in my head that I wanted to get an engagement ring pretty soon, but I had no idea it would work out [this] perfectly!"

I love Derick's desire to follow God and to serve others," said Jill. "Derick is so romantic, and the proposal was perfect. We are incredibly happy and can't wait to share our courtship and engagement on 19 Kids and Counting. Next up, wedding planning!"

The wedding has been planned for this summer, and according to the couple, it's going to be big. They are looking forward to sharing their special moment with family and friends. Jill is currently working on invitations.
More news will be revealed soon!

Jessa and Ben: Their story

Question from a "19 Kids and Counting" fan on Facebook: How did your daughter Jessa meet Ben?

We met Ben when his family came to visit our church. Afterwards we invited their family over to our home for fellowship, as we often do with guests to our church. I think Ben spotted Jess, but he didn’t go up to her then. We’d met Ben’s parents years ago when we were in the Little Rock area while Jim Bob was serving in the legislature. We visited a church that they attended, so we did know their family in a roundabout way, just a distant friendship.

During fellowship at our home, Ben and Jim Bob would often sit with the guys and talk about doctrine and the Bible. At one point, Jim Bob said to Ben, "You know, you’ve been bringing up a lot of these truths from the scripture. This is a topic that we’ve actually been talking about in our home and Jessa has really been studying this very thing. You guys would probably enjoy talking about it. So why don’t you text her?"

It’s so funny. Jim Bob was the initiator. I don’t know if Jim Bob even knew that Ben was really interested in her, but he had already spotted Jessa. They started texting and talking about these scriptures and things just took off.

A few of our girls have had men come up to them and ask for their phone numbers. And our daughters have always explained to them that if anybody asked for their phone numbers, they would tell them to ask their dad. Then they would give them Jim Bob’s phone number. Sometimes the guy would never call and other times they would, but the girls would quickly let Jim Bob know if there was an interest on their part. Jim Bob is the "no" man.

He doesn’t mind being that guy and he’ll always use these calls as an opportunity to encourage those young men in their walk with Christ. A lot of times that weeds out the young men. Either they’ve got a spiritual focus or they don’t.

Have a burning question for Michelle Duggar? Send it to her and it could appear in an upcoming post! Or catch up with all of Michelle's Blogs.

Recap: A duggar say yes

In this week's episode of 19 kids and counting, Ben and Jessa give us a look inside of their courtship and how their relationship began. Ben and Jessa met at the Duggar family church. Jessa and Ben exchanged phone numbers to get to know each other. Ben decided to get the premission of Jim Bob and Michelle to court their daughter before asking Jessa.
Ben is 18 years old and lives in Hot Springs, Arkansas with his parents and six younger brothers and sisters. He owns his own business which is a windshield repair and is a freshman at National Park Community College. Jessa told us that Ben is tall, dark and handosme which was pretty much what was on her list of what she wanted to marry.
Jim Bob and Michelle along with 17 of their children revealed their sister as an energetic, strong-willed child. They also told us that she likes to tell it how it is, loyal to her family and friends. She tries to keep a good handle on her emtions. John David reveals that his sister is opinionated.
Jim Bob and Michelle make the announcement that their daughter is courting to the rest of the family right after it's becomes offical. Jim Bob and Michelle talk to the new couple that just because they are courting doesn't mean that they have to be maried really fast. Jim Bob joking suggest that they wed about four or five years down the road. He just wants his daughter and Ben to work on building their relationship on trust and God's love.
Later on the show, Jim Bob and the boys want to clean up some yard work and what better way to test Ben's character about taking care of their sister. They have him come out and help.
Meanwhile Jessa and the girls are busy getting ready for dinner. Michelle wants to help encourage Jessa on cooking since Jessa thinks that she is a bad cook. After the boys are finished, it's time for dinner. Jim Bob and Michelle asked Johannah to stand between Jessa and Ben since they just started the courthip and have decided to wait on the physical until they are married.
Jessa and Michelle are heading to Hot Springs to visit Ben's family members so they can get to know the other family. Jessa and the older girls are upstairs packing. They want to spend a lot of time together since they might be soon be leaving if God is wanting that.
Jill and the other girls know that marriage is not going to happen in age order because God works in his own time and not what we want him to work. Jinger and Jessa have always been close since they are 14 months apart. Jinger thinks that it's bittersweet since her sister is in a courtship and might be leaving.
John David filies his mom and sister down to where Ben lives. Ben drives a truck which only has the front seat and that means that Michelle has to sit in the middle to protect the new couple's relationship.
Ben and Jessa are going on a date with Ben's parents and so Michelle watches the kids while they go out so Ben's parents can get to know her daughter. Jessa and Michelle get to meet Ben's extended family when they come over for BBQ and fellowship.
Back home while Jessa and Michelle are away, Jim Bob takes care of the youngest girls. Jim Bob takes the kids to pizza and ask them what they think of Ben which has nothing but good things.
Jim Bob asked his daughter, Jennifer, about if she has plan to married some day and she doesn't have any plans.
Jim Bob thinks that both Jessa and Jill's coursthips will bring more guys forward to seek the older duggar girls and maybe even some of the boys.
* This is the first time that there has not been an opening of all of the family. *

A duggar says yes

When Ben and Jessa's courtship becomes official, the Duggar boys put Ben to the test. Later, the tables are turned on Jessa when she visits Ben's hometown. The whole family reflects on what it means that a Duggar daughter may soon be leaving the nest.

Big news!

19 kids and counting is returning on April 1, 2014! No it's not April Fools Joke! It's for real!

Comment down below if you are excited!