Jana Duggar is currently 31 years old. And she's the oldest single Duggar. Most of her married siblings tied the knot in their 20s. But that doesn't mean sparks won't eventually fly. According to Reddit fans, a Jana courtship may be on the way.
Not only are there rumors of Jana being courted, but James as well. James Duggar is currently 19, old enough in the Duggar world that the idea of courtship isn't so ridiculous. If you're not familiar with the Duggar family and Duggar lifestyle, all of this may seem a bit foreign. But courtship is a big part of how they operate.
For one, courtship means "dating with a purpose," according to the Duggars. And that purpose is, of course, marriage. "Courtship is really waiting for the one God has for you and praying through the whole process," father Jim Bob told Today back in 2014.
"It’s really examining the person and considering, ‘Would this be the guy I want to be the father of my kids?'" Michelle added. Dates are always chaperoned in the courtship stage. It may seem a little awkward to many, but those close with the Duggars likely assume the ritual is normal. In a way, it's almost like Michelle and Jim Bob are also determining whether or not the suitor is right for their children.
Even texting is a big deal to the Duggars. They recalled the situation between Ben Seewald and Jessa, who are currently married. Ben asked Jim Bob and Michelle if he could text Jessa, and the Duggars agreed — that is, as long as they were copied and pasted on every message.
When you court a Duggar, there is little privacy. And you also get to know the family very well. For the women in the family, brothers often take turns being the chaperone. That means that anyone who wishes to date and possibly marry one of the siblings has a good idea of how the family operates.
Kissing and hand holding, while they may seem innocent, are also forbidden. In a way, it makes it easier for suitors to really get to know the person they're dating. On the other hand, sexual chemistry can be important to a relationship. So it's a shame a couple won't even know if a kiss on the cheek will give a spark.
"We believe it’s best for them to save the physical part for marriage," Michelle said. "That way there’s no regrets." But some good news: They're willing to negotiate on hugs.
Having two children going through the process of courtship at the same time is a big deal. But the Duggars want to make sure that they approve of any person who wants to join their famous family.
Supposedly, Jim Bob gets plenty of emails from potential suitors looking to date his daughters. To some, that may seem a bit ridiculous. To the Duggars, it's completely normal. As he said, most applicants are guys who "are looking for a girl with really high standards." He takes these requests to his daughters, who also ask him what he thinks.
Curious about who's rumored to be courting Jana? According to a fan who participates in the Reddit subforum r/DuggarSnark, Jana has been happily seen with Stephen Wissmann. Stephen is also part of a fundamentalist family and is one of 13 children.
Not only did Jana reportedly spend Christmas with Stephen and his family, but his family made sure to visit during Jed Duggar and Katey Nakatsu's wedding in April. Obviously, their families are quite familiar with each other. It just has yet to be made official by the family.
James Duggar is currently rumored to be courting Lauren Caldwell. Lauren's sister Kendra and Joseph Duggar are married, so it's another fundamentalist family that the Duggars are well aware of. While Lauren was initially engaged to someone else, rumors started this year that the wedding wasn't going to happen.
While her Instagram states she's engaged to Titus Hall, fans on Reddit have noticed that mentions of the engagement or the pairing have been wiped from the internet. The family hasn't openly talked about it. But cancelling an engagement is a big deal for families structured like theirs.
Lauren was also once tied to Duggar brother Jed, which makes this news even more complicated. But it's extremely possible. Jim Bob Duggar and Lauren's father, Paul Caldwell, are very close. It's not unlikely that they played matchmaker between their children.
So, when might these announcements be made? According to the Reddit poster, it could still be weeks or months. "Apparently there are two announcements coming in the next weeks/months. The source is not mine, but is reliable," they said. The source apparently goes to church with the family.
If the news of courtship is true, this is big news for Jana. Since she's unmarried, she's still living with her parents in her 30s. And she's often talked about how she's looking for a relationship. However, she's admitted in the past that she's very choosy when it comes to a happily ever after.
But even if the rumors aren't true and Jana is still single, at least she'll continue being such an incredible aunt for her siblings' children. It seems like she has always been present for them and enjoys every moment she can. Even without a romantic relationship, she's still one of the most interesting Duggar kids.
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