Joy-Anna Duggar Courtship: Inside The Duggar Daughter’s Sudden Romance With 15-Year Friend Austin Forsyth
Joy-Anna Duggar is the latest Duggar sibling to enter into a courtship. But this one comes with a twist! The 19-year old Duggar daughter just announced her courtship with a family friend of 15 years, according to People. Joy-Anna has known her beau, Austin Forsyth, since she was 4-years-old.
Joy-Anna Duggar revealed that she is in a courtship on the TLC special Counting On: Jinger’s Wedding. The big news comes just a few weeks after Joy-Anna’s sister, Jinger, wed Jeremy Vuolo in front of 1,000 friends and family. Now it’s possible that Duggar parents Jim-Bob and Michelle will be forking over more cash for yet another wedding sometime shortly.
In a video posted on the Duggar family website, Joy-Anna introduced fans to Austin, who dropped the bombshell that he just asked her to be in a courtship with him.
“And I said yes!” Joy-Anna revealed. “We’ve known each other for a long time.”
Joy-Anna Duggar’s beau revealed that they have known each other for almost 15 years and that he picked a special spot to pop the courtship question. Austin revealed that the last time they were there together was August 1, 2015. Joy-Anna detailed the special, fully chaperoned night she had with Forsyth, while he told fans that the location he chose to take their relationship to the next level is a place he often goes to spend time with the Lord.
“There was a whole group of us that came up,” Joy-Anna said. “And we were just hanging out and it was really late at night, stars were just gorgeous. For me, that’s really special, but then just being with him. And then now it’s even more special because it’s where we start our courtship.”
Joy-Anna Duggar also revealed that she was “surprised” when Austin asked her to be in a courtship with him.
“I was not expecting this. So happy,” the Duggar daughter said.
In a video posted on the Duggar family website, proud parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar offered congratulations to Joy-Anna on her courtship.
“We’re really excited for you, Joy,” Michelle said. “We’re so thankful for Austin, he is a great guy. We’re excited for the future for what God has in store for you guys.”
Fans of the Duggar family are also surprised by the seemingly sudden courtship. According to the Hollywood Gossip, Joy-Anna’s life-changing moment came at the Fort Rock Family Camp, an Arkansas Christina retreat destination owned by Austin’s parents, Terry and Roxanne Forsyth. The Forsyth’s are longtime friends of Jim Bob and Michelle, first meeting them in 2002. THG also revealed that Joy-Anna’s beau is 22 years old and works at his parents’ Arkansas tourist spot, which is described as a “recreation of an 1800s old west” town. The Forsyths share the famous family’s strict religious views—they even appeared on the CMT reality show World’s Strictest Parents—so this courtship appears to be a match made in heaven.
We are extremely happy to announce the courtship of our son, Austin! He and Joy have honored the Lord and will be… https://t.co/GKEB2ddtU6
— Fort Rock (@FortRockFC) November 16, 2016
Of course, eagle-eyed Duggar fans may have seen this courtship coming from a mile way. The Duggars had been to the Forsyth’s camp multiple times and have even written a testimonial about the Christian-themed hideaway. Last fall, Jim Bob and Michelle posted photos of a marriage retreat they attended at Fort Rock.
https://www.facebook.com/duggarfamilyofficial/posts/725948637538788
Also, the 18 Kids and Counting episode “Duggars and Daughters” featured a father/daughter camping trip to Fort Rock Camp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTuHo3hj6Jo
On the heels of her courtship news, Joy-Anna Duggar is even pictured on the Fort Rock Family Camp website, so it already seems like she’s part of the Forsyth family.
https://www.facebook.com/Pickles4Truth/photos/p.1057563107675831/1057563107675831/?type=3&theater
Fans even noted that Joy-Anna was wearing a Texas necklace in her 19th birthday photo last month, so some speculated that perhaps she had met someone from Texas. The Forsyth family relocated from Texas to built Fort Rock.
Of course, because Austin Forsyth is a Duggar family friend, some critics think Joy-Anna’s parents could have had a hand in this courtship. But Jim Bob Duggar with has been vocal about the fact that he is not his children’s’ matchmaker.
“I do not choose who my children marry,” Jim Bob told People. “Over the years, I have suggested guys to my daughters or we have had a lot of guys that approach us and are interested in this girl or that girl, but each of our girls have chosen their spouse on their own.”
You can see Joy-Anna Duggar’s courtship play out when new episodes of Counting On return to TLC in January.
[Featured Image via Duggar Family/Facebook]
