Just as Jill Duggar and Derrick Dillard, who wed last year, welcomed their baby boy Israel David to the world, another member of the big "19 Kids and Counting" brood might be inching closer to marriage. A new courtship is blooming between 18-year-old Josiah Duggar and his 17-year-old girlfriend Marjorie Jackson.
According to reports, the two first met when Josiah started taking Spanish lessons from Marjorie's mother Analucia at her home. He revealed to People that he was "very impressed with the way [Marjorie] was with her siblings and her love for the Lord."
He then retold that their trip to El Salvador was when Marjorie really "caught [his] eye." She is a pianist, actress, author and an all-around lover of the arts, and has already published a book that encourages bible reading to girls her age. The bilingual young lady (she knows English and Spanish) will be off to college soon to take up graphic design courses to follow the footsteps of her father Greg, who is a graphic designer.
As for Marjorie, she told People, "I have always admired him and his family," and also revealed that "it was an immediate thing."
Marjorie's and Josiah's parents approve of the couple's courtship, and each side only has words of admiration for their respective families. They reportedly think that the couple's "strong level of maturity" and their love for God and their families make it feel all the more that the two were made for each other.
The Jackson matriarch saw it all coming, telling People, "We saw their relationship as friends growing, and we saw it heading that way."
"Of course, we think Marjorie is an incredible young lady and we think very highly of Josiah," Marjorie's father remarked, saying that he considers Josiah thoughtful and respectful, with a "desire to do the right things." And as any father would, Greg also noticed how the Duggar son treats his daughter with respect. Furthermore, "he chose a love for the Lord that we share."
On the other hand, Josiah's mother Michelle, who described Marjorie as an incredible young lady, seems to be very impressed with her son's choice, saying, "Those firstborns tend to be go-getters, and that is definitely the case. She has such a fervency and will make such a difference in the world. She has so many gifts and talents and has such a humble spirit."
Duggar patriach Jim Bob himself remembered the first time he and his wife Michelle went on a date. They were 19 and 17 back then.
He said, "They get to a maturity level where they can focus on their relationship with the Lord. The true joy in life comes from serving God and serving others. Josiah has a lot of skills, he is gifted in doing video work and he's making a living."
