I've mentioned the Duggar Family here a few times. This is the family with 16 (soon to be 17) kids that is debt free, super organized and live in a huge PAID for 7,000 sq. ft. home that they (all the kids too) helped build. If you aren't familiar with the Duggars, I strongly urge you to check out Discovery or The Learning Channel and look for their shows, "14 Kids & Pregnant Again", "16 Kids & Moving In" and "On the Road with 16 Childen". Now, I know a lot of people might think that having 17 kids is irresponsible or just plain crazy and I might have even been one of those people once. But, this is one of the happiest most well adjusted families that you will EVER meet. I would like to be one of the Duggars! Really!
So, my fascination with the Duggar's is not completely without foundation. You see, I went to 7th-12th grade with Michelle. She started dating Jim Bob in our Junior Year. He went to the private school across town, but he was at all of our school functions. Here you see my high school yearbook - I am in the upper left corner working on the school newspaper layout and there, in the lower right, are Jim Bob and Michelle at Homecoming.
This is the all steel home that the kids and Mom and Dad built themselves. It is not too far from my house. They really are fascinating and interesting people. Anyone could learn something - from their money management (no debt) to their organization skills which are just unbelievable. They buy all their clothes at thrift stores, shop at Aldi's and buy everything else at auctions. "Buy used and save the difference" is Michelle's motto. They have a complete commercial kitchen that would have cost over $100,000 and they paid only $11,000 for everything by buying it at auctions.
They eat and cook at home mostly, but they do know what area resturants have family specials and go there on those nights. A friend of mine took his family to Taco Tico one Sunday for 39¢ taco day, but left after seeing Jim Bob come in and order nearly 100 tacos!
There are two sets of Fraternal twins in the mix of the 16 kids. They are all beautiful healthy kids. Michelle has been lucky to have such healthy babies.
I am NOT a Duggar.
So, my fascination with the Duggar's is not completely without foundation. You see, I went to 7th-12th grade with Michelle. She started dating Jim Bob in our Junior Year. He went to the private school across town, but he was at all of our school functions. Here you see my high school yearbook - I am in the upper left corner working on the school newspaper layout and there, in the lower right, are Jim Bob and Michelle at Homecoming.
This is the all steel home that the kids and Mom and Dad built themselves. It is not too far from my house. They really are fascinating and interesting people. Anyone could learn something - from their money management (no debt) to their organization skills which are just unbelievable. They buy all their clothes at thrift stores, shop at Aldi's and buy everything else at auctions. "Buy used and save the difference" is Michelle's motto. They have a complete commercial kitchen that would have cost over $100,000 and they paid only $11,000 for everything by buying it at auctions.
They eat and cook at home mostly, but they do know what area resturants have family specials and go there on those nights. A friend of mine took his family to Taco Tico one Sunday for 39¢ taco day, but left after seeing Jim Bob come in and order nearly 100 tacos!
There are two sets of Fraternal twins in the mix of the 16 kids. They are all beautiful healthy kids. Michelle has been lucky to have such healthy babies.
I am NOT a Duggar.
NOTE: There will be NO COMMENTS added to this post. Comments are now moderated. Notice the date on this post is from January 2007. It is not necesary to comment on this post. No one sees it so it is fruitless. And for those of you that have found it necesary to email me personally with your twisted views and calling ME names, you are really just wasting your time. Don't tell me what to think or how to think. This is America and this is my blog. For you NICE people - thank you!
Good Evening
ReplyDeleteI only wish I had had a father who stayed with us. I love watching that family. They are so there for the children.
May they have good health to raise them all in love
I have watched the Duggar family for years now and continue to be amazed by them. Michelle's skill at organization is unparalleled and together they have raised what seem to be very well mannered, happy, and team oriented kids. If there was anyone who could do a better job than they have I cannot imagine who they could be. The Duggars are an excellent example of parenting regardless of the number of children.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI just want to say that the Duggar family is a wonderful example for everyone, even for the ones among us who, like me, could only have one child.
God bless them all
Maria, Portugal
I am fascinated by the Duggar family...have been since the first time I heard about them. All the children are so cute and Michelle has one of the sweetest smiles and softest voices.I wish there was a book with lots of photos that I could read. I will continue following the happenings in this wonderful family !! Praise the Lord! Victoria in Virginia
ReplyDeleteMy first reaction was...what!, then after some inspection and research my reaction have changed to Wow!,how blessed can you be. Some family values that we all can use, thank you for setting a God-moment inspiration. Inspiring to see the principales of God's word at work, truley amazing. Would like to step in the same path as these guys. Be blessed from green New Zealand
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice post!
ReplyDeleteI am so encouraged by this family. I am going on my 6th child and began to wonder if my husband and I were just being foolish. But after reading all the articles I could find on the Duggar family my spirit is so encouraged. Truley there is unspeakable joy with having a large family.
ReplyDeleteThis family could teach everyone a thing or two about life. Those children are the most behaved, loving bunch I have ever seen. I wish that Jim Bob and Michelle were my parents. God bless them.
ReplyDeleteI had never seen the show until tonight, 9/22/07. I was amazed at their optimistic outlook on life and at how wonderfully they interact. The children are so very well spoken and seem quite itelligent. I think they will all be successful contributors to the human race, something that we sorely need in these trying times.
ReplyDeleteGo Duggars.
w
I HAVE 2 SISTERS AND 5 BROTHERS.
ReplyDeleteI THINK IT IS GREAT THAT YOU ALL HAVE A LOVING FAMILY.
I MISS THE DAYS OF THE BIG FAMILY.
WE HAD A 4 ROOM HOME. AND ONE BATH ROOM. THEY WAS LOTS OF LOVE THERE.
MOM AND DAD ARE LIVING.
SO MANY GRAND CHILDREN THEY HAVE I CAN'T COUNT.
I HAD 4 AND RAISED 5.
I AM 49 AND A GRAND MA.
SO I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT.
YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD A RINGER WASHER AND NO MICROWAVE.
THE DISHES WAS TO THE ROOF.
THE BEST THING I HAD BOUGHT WAS A WASHER DRYER.
THE OUT SIDE WAS THE ONLY WAY TO DRY.
I IRONED EVERY THING.
THE BLUEJEANS WOULD STAND NO SOFTENER AT ALL.
LOVE THE WASHER DRYER.
OH YES THE DISHWASHER TOO.
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.
GOD KEEP YOU ALL SAFE FROM ALL HARM AMAN.
NATLIE
Thank you for such a nice post. I have been following this family and am amazed by them every time I read or watch the show. I would love to see some of the tips and skills they use for being debt free. The children all look healthy and most of all Happy. They obviously have a happy loving home.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI think the Duggar family is awesome. I have seen a lot of their programmes on TV, and I read about them on their website and others. I really admire them, and for all the people that say negative things about them, they should probably look at themselves first. These people are not dependent on government or any organizations for hand outs, and the kids are beautiful and well adjusted. More power to them, they are awesome. I am an only child, and I was fortunate enough to have one. They are happy, I wish them all the best in life, good health and lots of love.
Karen, Cayman Islands
i first became interested in the Duggar family when i saw the show "14 Children, and Pregnant." i think they seem down to earth, and happy. i say if they want to have children, thats their thing. they seem to love children.
ReplyDeletecongrats to the duggars on their new addition.
ReplyDeleteThey are a great family and really follow the bible which most people in society don't do today.The kids have some great skills too. BUT I have to say the girls desperately need a haircut!
ReplyDeleteWith all respect to the Duggars, but do you have any clue to how they 'health insure' this multitude of kids, feed them, dress them, save for their college, pay for all the luxury items we can see inside their 7,000 sq f mansion and the hospital bills for this mother to be having one kid a year(yes..most health insurance policies do not cover all the hospital bills you have after having a child) and still are DEBT FREE??!!
ReplyDeleteAnd they say they are real-state agents?? in this time of real state melt down crisis and still a debt free family??
I have ONE child and my husband makes close to 100,000.00 a year. STILL we can barely make it and yes, we are NOT debt free like the vast majority of this country is NOT, probably including you Ms. mediator of this blog. You might be thinking we are big spenders and irresponsible people but, we are NOT! Again, with all respect, these people should at least come clean about this debt-free-monkey-business of theirs, and tell us normal folks the truth. What they are claiming they do with mastery is not humanly possible in todays reality. Why don't they allow discovery health to come up with an 'audit' episode show to talk about their bills and finances so we, normal people, can see how they really make this debt-free thing happens?
I am responding to the comment above - Ms. Moderator here - not sure why you felt the reason to blast me personally. I am not a member fo the Duggar Family - I am familiar with them since they live locally and I went to school with Michelle. If you watched all their shows on Discovery Health, you would have a better understanding of how they live debt free and have the things they have. Thrift stores, auctions, second hand and used are their favorite things. You can have nice things and not pay a fortune for them. As to whether I am debt free or not, well, that is neither here nor there. I am not debt free, but I am not in debt either. Does that make sense to you? I have a house payment, car payment and some medical bills, but no credit card debt or any other outgoing debts. The Duggars are infact debt free. They do not make their money being Real Esate Agents (they do have thier licenses though), they sell Real Estate that they own. Jim Bob was buying real estate in High School on the outskirts of town for little to nothing which has appreciated greatly. This is a booming prosperous area and land is still valuable. He owned and still owns large parcels of land that they sell to new businesses and developments. They ordered the home in two kits and built it themselves. They buy clothes at thrift stores, commercial kitchen and housewares at auctions and know all sorts of secrets to living well and debt free. All I ever said is that we could all learn a lot from the Duggars. I still stand by that statement.
ReplyDeleteAs a mother of 7 I wish I could do it all over again. I admire the Dugger's for living their life by the values they have chosen to live by and not letting others interfere. If I could go back (kids are nearly full grown, youngest 16)I would have avoided much of the materialistic aspects that I now see our family depends on all too frequently.
ReplyDeleteAs for those with nasty comments, if you don't agree that's fine but why can't you just accept that this is a happy family.
May God bless you and yours.
I'm a huge fan of theirs! ^_^ I used to wanna be michelle (when i was like, 10 lol)...Jinger is the same age as me 2 ^_^ (14) and so...im still a big fan of there's,and why would people even say nasty things about people they don't even know? stuipid. lol.
ReplyDeletesorry about my english...but i had the opportunity to see (last night) a program about this family, and believe me...it's a real blessing to see something like this family.it's kind of inspirational to every parents raising child on this days...all the organization (jurisdictions as they say) it's real awesome.God bless them abundantly.
ReplyDeleteLORD JESUS BLESS THE DUGGAR FAMILY IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY...2DAY,2MORROW AND 4EVER
ReplyDeleteI have no judgement of this family, but I do have questions. I understand that they do have a strong Christian faith, but why do the females always have to wear skirts/dresses, and their hair so long? I may have missed this in previous episodes, but do they home school all of their children? Finally, I would like to know how they stay debt-free. Especially since it appears that they only have one income. The comments say that they aren't capitalizing on their fame, but I can't believe they don't get anything from these appearances. My real question is, how is it possible for even average-sized families to live debt-free? Is it really possible on one income?
ReplyDeleteI just want to say that the parents are amazing. It is beautiful that they were blessed with so many children. God bless them all.
ReplyDeleteI have watched the Duggar Family and I think they are such a great family! I believe that they all have a very strong bondings, respect for each other and very humble people.
ReplyDeleteThey have a very strong faith in God and in themselves that they could build their lives for the better. I admire how the parents handle their children and how their children becomes who they are - Love and Respect -
I am changing my life for the better and I believe I can do all the things that they could do to provide their love. I did not know myself at all and had so many confusion of my life, now I am starting to change my views on faith and to become a better person for God and for myself.
Just wanted to say that they are great family.
From Toronto - Canada
The family is a delight! The kids no whinning ,just being kind whats not to like.
ReplyDeleteThis Best Gram loves them!
I love the Duggar family. I want to have a large family, but for medical reasons, may not be able to have more than 4 or 5. My doctor has said that she will evaluate at each c-section. I am expecting my 4th child right now. I am interested in the Duggar family because they are a valuable asset to this society. And I know we all could learn a lot from this amazing woman. I even emailed Jim Bob and he gave me their home phone number and an invitation to call Michelle to discuss my multiple c-sections and the fears I have with it. That just shows how loving this family is. I plan on calling her this weekend. I only hope that God blesses me with half the patience, half the organization and half the love that this family has and I will be better for it!
ReplyDeleteIt´s funny to see how different this is.. I am part of a family that has 17 children, from Holland. (www.flietstra.org)
ReplyDeleteIt's so different, I almost can't believe this! But I'm really happy with my own family. Wouldn't trade it for millions!
I admire this family. I have been watching for a couple of years now and think that others could learn a lot from them. I have always wanted a large family since I have been old enough to understand the concept of family, moms, dads, children. I am an only child. I think they are an ongoing testimony of how God provides- even with a family of (how many?) 19! It reminds me of how petty I am with my whining about what I don't have. Haha. I am going on my 4th child and absolutely loving being a mom. Their mom. I am blessed with great kids. Cannot imagine how Michelle stays so organized... I need more of her advice. I am impressed with this family and very encouraged by them in numerous ways. I am looking forward to a few more children anyway... if my body can take it. I also have made many mistakes before in the past financially and cleaning up the mess I made. Seeing that there is such as the financial freedom they discuss is enlightening and gives me hope for a more educated and "proper" finacnial future. It seems unrealistic; however, I know there is a method to the "madness"- I just need to have the helpful advice and do the research. Anyhow, very intrigued by this family and enjoying seeing them grow and develop. I can't say I necessarily agree with the long hair and long skirts for the girls, but I am rooting for them all (the whole fam) and certain guidelines for anyone only teaches a great discipline- I mean that in the most positive way. My kids have to wear uniforms to school- I think a lot of public schools are coming to that now. They don't like it and I didn't either, but it is easier on the budget... it's easier for them in the morning, and I think it enables them to focus on more important things at school... kids aren't being faced with being critisized as poor because they don't have a certain brand of clothing, I could go on... but I am rambling on now. I hope they keep doing shows and things so I can follow for a while. I wish them all many blessings!
ReplyDeleteI just started watching the Dugger Family this past year. I love it. I'm from a family of ten childre that grew up in a Baptist Church. I am the oldest. My parents are patient and loving like the Dugger parents. I can relate to alot of the things they do. We wore hand me downs and made alot of our own clothes. My dad was a mechanic and my mom stayed home and took care of all of use. We raised a lot of our own food and summers were spent gardening and putting up the food we raised. They paid all their medical bills. You could say they were debt free too. Dad always paid for everthing as he got it.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much love in a large family and I wish the Dugger's all the best in the future. May God bless you and be with you always.
from JB in NC
What a lovely family! I'm thirty-seven years old and the youngest of seven kids. I grew up in a large, six bedroom house and amazingly both sets of grandparents also lived with us. Both of my parents were only children and wanted a large family. I have such fond memories of those happy days, and would have had a big family myself if I could afford it.
ReplyDeleteMay God continue to bless the Duggars!
Congratulations to this family on their impending addition..number 18!! Wow !!
ReplyDeleteI just found out about this family. I went to Google and found this page.
ReplyDeleteI hear/read a lot of people say that a lot can be learned from the Duggars. It seems to me that they should put together a family financial management course so I (and others, of course) can learn how to follow their debt-free example.
I absolutely love the Duggars and have taped all their shows and watched them repeatedly! I learn so much just by watching Michelle interact with her kids. They are truly a blessing from the Lord!
ReplyDeleteThe Duggar's should lead our country in proper parenting techniques. Their children are so well behaved because of their upbrining! When was the last time anyone told a successful business owner or celebrity to stop what they were doing because they were too successful and making too much money! (Guess it's easy to see what our society values!)
ReplyDeleteThe outside influences in our society have removed purity and innocence from our children. The Duggars have shilded them from the dysfunction.....and people have a problem with that???
God Bless them all - they are going to make OUR world a better place! And they are all adorable.
I think the Duggar's are amazing. Seriously. Whenever there is something that I think is too hard to figure out or handle, I think, hey, if Michelle Duggar can do it, with 18 kids, I can surely do it with my two! She is an inspiration to me, and I love looking at their website and getting ideas to use with my own family.
ReplyDelete