Most Fascinating Arkansans

Michelle Duggar has been voted one of Arkansas's most fascinating citizens. According to 40/29 News, she is "one of the most down-to-earth, soft-spoken women you'll ever meet." Here's the YouTube video of her interview:

Merry Christmas!

How do the Duggars celebrate Christmas? Baking and decorating start the day after Thanksgiving, as does the anticipation of the upcoming holiday. In her latest Parentables posts, Michelle Duggar explains that she and Jim Bob focus their family's festivities around the birth of Jesus, which encourages a spirit of thankfulness and service towards others. They distribute homemade treats to local firefighters, police officers, and paramedics and play music at nursing homes.

We have fun decorating and baking and doing all that, too, but I hope and pray that my children know that when they come out of our home and start their own homes that the central focus truly was the birth of Christ and how he set the example giving his life, how we in turn should be truly grateful for what Christ gave.

The older Duggar kids often take mission trips during the Christmas season to bring gifts and joy to children in Central America. The kids also put on an annual pageant, a tradition started by Josh years ago.

They come up with the most creative ideas. One year, they took their light-colored sheets and safety-pinned them around their necks. Jessa came up with an idea to make a beard one year. She had long thick curls and she took her hair around her chin with a rubber band and made a beard. Whoever could pull their hair around their chin and fasten it became the wise men. It was so hilarious.

Merry Christmas from the Duggars and the Duggar Family Blog.

Long Hair or Short Hair?

Here's a fun discussion question to kick off your week. Michelle Duggar and her girls all wear their hair long. What about you? Do you prefer long hair or short hair?

Duggars Named Defenders of Life

This week, Students for Life of America awarded their 2013 Defender of Life Award to a certain super-sized family...the Duggars! The award was given for the family's "exceptional work and personal courage to embrace the gift of life." Jim Bob and Michelle and their 19 kids have been actively supporting pro-life politicians and legislation across the nation.

The Duggars will officially receive the award at the organization's 2014 National Conference on January 21, 2014. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar will speak at the event, as will Josh Duggar, their oldest son. The family has not yet decided whether any other Duggars will be in attendance.

Students for Life is the nation's largest pro-life youth organization and is dedicated to training and equipping students in college, high school, medical school, and law school.

Tickets purchased ahead of time are $50 for students and $70 for other attendees ($45 and $60 if you register by December 31st). On-site registration is $60 for students and $70 for other attendees.

Conference location:
First Baptist Church of Glenarden
(one of the largest African-American churches in the D.C. Metro Area)
600 Watkins Park Dr.
Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774

Click here to register online.