.

[ChristmasElf]

The father is a real estate developer and has made a lot of money through his investments as well as the money he made while serving in the state government.
They built that house taking floor plans for a smaller home and just putting the blue prints side by side and ordering 2 kits as a lot of the home was that pre fab stuff. They explained how they did this on the first show.

I do feel bad for the older kids though as they have to help raise the younger ones. They seem to have no social life whatsoever. The oldest son though that is 18 seems much older than his years.

Can you imagine if each of those kids each went off and got married and had 16 kids? That's 256 grandkids for the Duggers

 

[luv2nascar]

they just plain scare me. I don't know why but there is just something not quite right about them. They are different to say the least. I was never more scared than when they went and met the other families on that camping trip that had all those kids. YAAAAAA

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

They have a large van to take the kids out. I must've missed the camping trip (did the girls wear dresses?), but I saw where they all went roller skating, with another large family.

The parents said something about there being enough land for the kids to build houses on the property. Guess they'll never have to leave home. Could you imagine being a young woman, and dating a Duggar boy? I think I'd run screaming from the house over what would be expected of me. But when they do socialize, it's with like-minded people, so it's probably so ingrained in them to stick with people of "their own kind". I wonder if the kids will go off to college, and how all of them will deal with that. I'm sure they'd be easy college roommates, as far as how they get along with people and keep their room neat.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

From their website:

http://www.duggarfamily.com/fathers.php

Jim-Bob's message to Fathers:

Dear Friend,

When Michelle and I first married, we thought we might have one or two children. Four years into to marriage, we had our first child. After that, Michelle went back on the birth control pill. She ended up getting pregnant while on the pill and had a miscarriage.

We were so grieved. We did not know that sometimes the pill allows you to get pregnant but then causes a miscarriage. We thought we could set our own timetable for having children, for example- when we were ‘financially able,’ or when we ‘had all our ducks in a row.’

We read in the Bible that God says that children are a blessing and a reward from Him (Psalms 127:1-5). We had been rejecting His gifts. At that point, we prayed and asked God to forgive us and we gave Him this area of our lives. We said, ‘Lord, help us to love children the way that you love children, and Lord we want to receive each one as a gift from you.’

At the same time we made this commitment, we attended a Financial Freedom Seminar conducted by Jim Sammons. Mr. Sammons challenged us from God’s Word in Romans 13:8 to ‘owe no man anything but love.’ So we purposed to get out of debt and stay out of debt.

We have seen God do miracles, as He has multiplied our children, He has multiplied our provisions and met our needs every step of the way.

May God bless you as you follow His Spirit and purpose to give Him every area of your life.
Sincerely,

Jim Bob Duggar

PS. A great way to start being the spiritual leader and coach of your home is to ask Jesus to forgive you for the things you have done wrong (1 John 1:9) and ask Him to take over the steering wheel of your life. (Ask your wife and children’s forgiveness also.) God has promised He will freely give the ability to make wise decisions to anyone who asks and seeks Him (James 1:5). Purpose to read the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds to the day of the month with your family daily. Also, commit to pray with your wife everyday. Start protecting your family by removing books, magazines, television, or internet that have worldly or sensual content. Replace them with good things like wholesome music, biographies of great Christians, good old-fashioned family fun and games. Love God with your whole heart and look for opportunities to serve others as a family and tell others about our Saviour.

http://www.duggarfamily.com/mothers.php

Michelle's message to Mothers:

Dear Friend,

It was 1:00 AM in the morning as I stood folding laundry with tears streaming down my cheeks. Feelings of being overwhelmed flooded my mind. I cried aloud, ”LORD I NEED YOUR HELP, I can’t do it all! I feel so inadequate! Diapers, dishes, laundry, meals, cleanup, school lessons, baths, hugs, kisses, correction…” My list seemed to go on and on.

Then it was as if a still small voice said, ”Michelle, it’s easy to praise ME when things are going good, but are you willing to praise ME now?” Immediately the scripture that says, “Offer up a sacrifice of praise”, came to mind.

I said, “OK Lord, I will praise you even now! It really is a sacrifice!” So through the tears I began to sing, “The joy of the Lord is my strength”. In my heart there was a release as if a burden had been lifted. I finished the laundry at 2 AM and went to bed.

Days later, I was at our piano teacher’s home (at 7 AM) trying to catch up on paperwork while the children were taking their lessons. Instead, I kept drifting off to sleep! The teacher noticed and asked, “Are you OK?” I replied, “I’m fine, I’m just tired. I was up late finishing laundry.”

As we talked more she said that she actually enjoyed doing laundry and that she would be glad to come and help me! That weekend when she arrived we had mountains of dirty laundry, and when she left we had nice, neat, orderly stacks of clean laundry! For 10 years now, our piano teacher, whom we consider a part of our family and loving call “NaNa” has faithfully come (now twice a week) to help us with laundry! GOD sent “An angel” in answer to my cry for help.

He is faithful to hear the humble cries of his children. “Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.” God lifted my burden (literally mountains of laundry!) and freed me to meet the more urgent needs of my family. “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory…”

Remember mothers, where God guides He provides!

With Love,

Michelle
Proverbs 3:5-7

 

[azgal81]

I watched it as well. I do agree that the kids seemed happy but it is a little creepy to me that they don't seem to socialize with anyone but each other.

Did anyone catch how the parents said they were buying so much land so all there kids could build houses right next to theres! Yikes!

No idea how they keep all those names straight!

 

[JennyMominRI]

I watched because of the last thread where so many people said "if you'd seen the first show you would have been horrified". I wasn't horrified. They obviously seem weird to me because they make very different lifestyle choices than me - but they appeared to be a loving, healthy family.

That wasn't the first show...The first show was 13 children and Pregnant... They showed it a few times and then they actually went back and edited some stuff out of it

 

[chobie]

They're creepy and they're kooky,
Mysterious and spooky,
They're all together ooky,

 

[ChristmasElf]

They're creepy and they're kooky,
Mysterious and spooky,
They're all together ooky,

The Duggar fam-i-leee
There house is a museum
When people come to see um
They really are a screee um
The Duggar famileeeee

 

[Caradana]

I think we'd be more thrown if the producers described their religious beliefs.
The family seems very kind and I don't see much to hold against them, but their religious beliefs place them squarely to the right of Jerry Falwell.
The one thing I wish they'd do is mix up gender roles a bit more. There's no reason for the oldest girl to do all the cooking while the boys head outside to "help Dad with construction." They'd be a more powerful family if there was more diversification in gender roles. Aside from that, I wish them lots of luck in rural Arkansas ...

... which is WHOA, by the way, I took a field trip out there to investigate once while I was in Memphis for business, and that was nuts ...

 

[DisneyPhD]

All I have to say is that mother needs a new hair cut.

I am with you on that. She is a very lovely women, but please get a new hair cut!

When I 1st heard about it I thought the family was strange, out of their minds.

When I saw the show I saw a loving, caring, wonder sweet family with great kids. Who am I to say their way of life is wrong? I admire them for their faith and not just talking about it but living it. I think they are brining 16 wonderful children into the world. They seem very joyful. What is so bad about them not having major socialization outside of their family and close community? This was very normal 100 years ago. It might not be the way I live my life, or many of the people I know, but it doesn't make it wrong.

I have been pregnant 2 times. I might consider doing it again, even though it was very hard on me. I can't imagine being pregnant 13 times (I think that is it, some are twins.) This mother (and whole family) amazes me.

I can't imagaine living their life. Then again we often end up in different "places" then where we once imagined where we would be. As they said they never set out to have this many kids when they 1st were married.

Except for the hair cut thing, I have nothing to say against this family (and really it is just hair, but I would love to see her with a updated look, she is a very lovely women.)

 

[Pigeon]

I think it's obscene.

 

[Tuffcookie]

16 kids... What keeps her uterus in?????

TC

 

[Caradana]

16 kids... What keeps her uterus in?????

TC

Prayer? Certainly not gravity!?! (OK, tasteless, but fearlessly truthful)

 

[chobie]

16 kids... What keeps her uterus in?????

TC

I think one of the girls has been assigned the uterus as her "buddy" and carries it around in a homespun sack.

 

[cardaway]

When I saw the show I saw a loving, caring, wonder sweet family with great kids. Who am I to say their way of life is wrong? I admire them for their faith and not just talking about it but living it. I think they are brining 16 wonderful children into the world. They seem very joyful. What is so bad about them not having major socialization outside of their family and close community? This was very normal 100 years ago. It might not be the way I live my life, or many of the people I know, but it doesn't make it wrong.

People, including you, say things are wrong all the time. Why are these folks off base?

As for normal 100 years ago, should everything that was normal 100 years ago be OK now? By those standards a few of those kids of theirs are ready to be married off and starting a "quiver" of their own.

 

[chobie]

People, including you, say things are wrong all the time. Why are these folks off base?

As for normal 100 years ago, should everything that was normal 100 years ago be OK now? By those standards a few of those kids of theirs are ready to be married off and starting a "quiver" of their own.

It was also "normal" 100 hundred years ago to send small children down into the coal mines. Should also we pretend that's ok if people want to start doing that again as long as the children appear happy when/ if they are put in front of a camera?

I think for some reason this show conjures up romantic notions that people would like to cling to and has nothing to do with taking a stand about judging or not judging, which as you pointed out people do all the time on the Dis.

Well, I will judge. It is wrong for them to claim they are trying to protect the children from the evils of the outside world while at the same time prostittuing them on tv. It's wrong for them to make those girls wear those horrible hand made dresses that make them stand out as freaks on the few occasions they are allowed to go out in public.


Flame away people. I can take it.

 

[dadto1]

Well, I will judge.

Flame away people. I can take it.

We'll all remember that next time you blast somebody on a thread for being judgemental! Have a great day!

 

[chobie]

We'll all remember that next time you blast somebody on a thread for being judgemental! Have a great day!

Ooh I'm so threatened.

Remember, though, my religion does not have a prohibition against judging.

 

[dadto1]

Ooh I'm so threatened.

Remember, though, my religion does not have a prohibition against judging.

I guess its just a lack of class, if its not your religion!

 

[chobie]

I guess its just a lack of class, if its not your religion!

So, if someone says that being homosexual is an immoral lifestyle choice and people should be allowed to condemn it, they are showing a lack of class?

I would agree with that.