I just finished reading Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar’s new book, A Love that Multiplies.  Here’s what the publisher says about the book:

“In this second book from the Duggars, they focus on the principles that equip them to face life’s challenges—drawing from their most recent challenge with the 3-month premature birth of their newest child, Josie. They also share the new challenges their older children are facing as they prepare for adult life. Central to the book is a section on the principles that the Duggars have consistently taught their children. These simply worded principles are basic to the Duggar family and are shared in a way that other parents can incorporate in their own homes. A special chapter on homeschooling gives valuable information to parents who are considering this route or are already invested in it. The world continues to be amazed by their nineteen well-groomed, well-behaved, well-schooled children and their home life, which focuses on family, financial responsibility, fun—and must importantly, faith. The Duggars show how parents can succeed whether they’re rearing a single child or several.”

“Children are a gift, a reward, and a blessing,” says Michelle Duggar.  Living in a house that is over 7,000 square feet, the family not only have 19 children but they also homeschool ALL of them.  I’m. so. totally. amazed.  They are really a great family, Michelle is so sweet and gentle and soft spoken (can she e-mail me just an ounce of this, pleeeeease?).  While living under the microscope with their TLC TV show, 19 and Counting, they have polite and well-behaved children (still kids though, they do get in trouble, lol) and it amazes me that their family is as large as it is and they train their children so well.

“Six children under the age of five can be very overwhelming, but now that they are teenagers…it was all very worth it,” says Michelle about herfirst five kids…five seems so small compared to the 19 they have, eh?  I love how Michelle and Jim-Bob in this book are so realistic about their life.  Some fascinating fact I learned about them is that they are Debt free (for over 20 years), they homeschool, and they have a strong family bond, they are open to life, their family is like a well-oiled machine, kids have chores and help the house run so well, they do 40 loads of laundry a week, they go as a family on mission trips to help others, and spend $3,000 a month on groceries!  WOO HOO!  Really truly, they are my heroes…as a homeschooling family with five children, I feel like such a whiner…they really have something good going on in that home!

Here’s the Table of Contents for the book:

Table of Contents

Preface: Our Biggest Test Begins

Part 1: Little Baby, Big Challenges
1. Little Eyes Watching
2. More Babies on the Way!
3. A Surprising Test Begins
4. Praying without Ceasing
5. Miracles and Milestones
6. Difficult Priorities

Part 2: Shaping Hearts and Minds
7. Living under the Microscope
8. Opportunities to Reach Out to Others
9. Developing a Servant Heart
10. Making Faith Fun

Part 3: Big Hope for Our Children’s Future
11. Homeschool, Duggar Style
12. Vocations, Goals, and Roles
13. Daily Training, Tips, and Practicalities
14. Life Is a Classroom

Part 4: Big Hearts, Full of Love
15. Protecting and Cherishing Our Relationships
16. Michelle’s Heart for Children and Moms
17. Jim Bob’s Lifelong Hobby
18. Do the Duggars Date?

P.S. Answering the Big Question

Though I enjoyed the entire book and learned so much from the Duggars but my favorite chapter of the book is Part 3: Big Hope for Our Children’s Future where they discuss homeschooling, vocations, goals, roles, daily training (great tips, by the way), and how life is a classroom!  I just love their House Guidelines:

1. Always use soft words, even when you don’t feel well.
2. Always display kind actions, even if you have been mistreated.
3. Show joyful attitudes even when no one is looking.
4. Have sincere motives with no thought of self-gain.
5. Think pure thoughts.
6. Always give a good report of others. Never talebear unless physical harm will come to someone. Use Matthew 18.
7. Never raise a hand to hit.
8. Never raise a foot to kick.
9. Never raise an object to throw.
10. Never raise a voice to yell.
11. Never raise an eye to scowl.
12. Use one toy/activity at a time.
13. Never let the sun go down on your wrath. (Don’t go to bed angry or guilty)
14. Amendment J.O.Y. – Make serving your family a priority.  Put Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last.

Want to read the book?
Here’s your chance to win a copy of it.  Three lucky 3 Boys and a Dog readers will win a copy of their own of A Love that Multiplies {$19.99}, here’s how:

REQUIRED COMMENT: Visit the Duggar Family’s website, look around, then come back and tell me something you learned about this lovely family.

BONUS #1: Follow @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

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CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on July 5th, 2011

OPEN TO: US and Canada

*DISCLAIMER: I was given a copy of A Love that Multiplies from Simon & Schuster to help facilitate my review.  Any opinions stated are strictly my own.*