19 Kids and Counting’s Josh and Anna Duggar Relationship Timeline Before and After Child Porn Trial

The Beginning

The twosome crossed paths at a Christian homeschooling convention in 2006 and started their courtship one year later.

‘I Do’

After one year of courting, Josh and Anna tied the knot in September 2008 at Buford Grove Baptist Church in Hillard, Florida, not far from where Anna grew up. The ceremony — which included their first kiss — aired on season 2 of 19 Kids and Counting in 2009.

Baby Makes 3

The couple welcomed their first daughter, Mackynzie, just over one year after they exchanged vows.

New Addition

Son Michael arrived in June 2011. During their wedding, the conservative couple vowed to leave it “up to God” to determine how many children they would have.

A Very Special Episode

An October 2013 episode of the TLC series Josh & Anna: Our Story, reviewed the pair’s first five years of marriage with never-before-seen footage from their courtship and beyond.

Babies No. 3 and 4

Josh and Anna’s family continued to grow, with son Marcus arriving in June 2013 and daughter Meredith in July 2015.

’19 Kids and Counting’ Canceled

TLC suspended production on the Duggar family’s reality series in May 2015 after Josh confessed to “inexcusably” molesting five girls — some of whom were his sisters — between 2002 and 2003. The show was officially canceled two months later.

The Scandal Continues

Shortly after the cancellation of 19 Kids and Counting, Josh owned up to cheating on his wife in an emotional statement posted on the Duggar family’s website. “I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife,” he wrote at the time, noting that he was “ashamed” of living a “double life.” The lengthy statement ended with a plea for forgiveness and for prayers directed toward his “precious wife Anna and our family.”

Rehab Stint

One week after his confession made headlines, Josh checked into a long-term treatment center to help with his pornography addiction. “For him it will be a long journey toward wholeness and recovery. We pray that in this he comes to complete repentance and sincere change,” the family wrote via their website in August 2015. “In the meantime, we will be offering our love, care and devoted support to Anna and our grandchildren as she also receives counsel and help for her own heart and future. … We ask for your continued prayers for our entire family.”

Anna’s Difficult Year

In January 2016, Anna broke her silence on her husband’s scandal in a vulnerable blog post detailing her visit to his rehab facility in Illinois. “2015 was the most difficult year of my life. Yet, amazingly I’ve found that in my own life crisis God has drawn near to me (‘He’s near to the brokenhearted’ Psalms 34:18) and my faith has been more precious to me than ever before,” she wrote. “I want to thank all of you for your prayers and your messages of hope. I can never express how your kindness and prayers have brought encouragement when I needed it most — outpacing the grief and discouragement at every turn.”

Couples Counseling

The twosome thanked fans for “the prayers, love and encouragement” they’d continued to send as they navigated their ups and downs, revealing in a lengthy blog post in May 2016 that they were “working with a professional marriage and family counselor to take important steps toward healing.” The post continued: “It isn’t easy and some days are very difficult. It is a long road to rebuild trust and a truly healthy relationship.”

The More the Merrier

In honor of Josh’s 29th birthday in March 2017, the Duggar family shared a rare photo of Anna, her husband and their four kids. “We pray that you diligently follow and serve the Lord with your whole heart all the days of your life and that this year is a wonderful year for you and your family,” the caption read. Weeks later, Josh and his wife announced that they were expecting baby No. 5, a son. “Beauty comes from ashes and we cannot wait to see and kiss the face of this sweet new boy!” they wrote at the time. Mason was born in September 2017.

Big Night Out

As they continued to recover from the scandal, the duo reportedly made an appearance at Bringing Up Bates star Josie Bates‘ October 2018 wedding to Kelton Balka.

11 Years Down

Anna reminisced on “how the past 11 years have flown by” as she marked her wedding anniversary in September 2019 — and seemingly referred to her husband’s cheating debacle. “The joys we’ve experienced together have far surpassed the shadows of sorrow we’ve walked through. Through it all, God’s kindness and grace has sustained us,” she wrote via Instagram. “I am thankful for the seven children He has given us together (five here/one in heaven/one due in Nov)! 💕 I love you so much, Joshua, and look forward to growing old together! (Gotta admit though … being young together is pretty fun too!)”

Family of 8

In November 2019, the couple welcomed their sixth child, daughter Maryella.

‘Counting On’ Cameo

“It means a lot when our family is included (on rare occasions) in the events that air on TV with Joshua’s family,” Anna gushed via Instagram in August 2020, teasing her family’s appearance on Counting On despite the fact that they’ve never been regularly featured since 19 Kids and Counting was canceled in 2015.

Still Going Strong

In September 2020, the couple were all smiles as they marked their 12-year anniversary. “12 years ago today we said, ‘I do!’ I’m so thankful for God’s grace and kindness that has continually surrounded our family! Joshua, I’m looking forward to growing old with you!” Anna wrote in a celebratory social media upload at the time.

Happy Holidays

“Such a great weekend to launch the #ChristmasSeason making memories as a family!” the mother of six captioned a sweet set of Christmas pics in December 2020, smiling alongside her husband. “Everyone joined in on the fun and Christmastime feels more near! ❄️.”

Legal Trouble

In Touch confirmed that Josh was arrested and taken into police custody in Arkansas on April 29. He pleaded not guilty to charges of receiving and possessing child pornography on April 30.

Baby No. 7 Arrives

On November 16, 2021, Anna announced the birth of their seventh child, Madyson Lily, revealing she was born on October 23.

Anna Stands By Josh

As Josh’s trial for child pornography progressed, Anna continued to support her husband and was frequently filmed holding his hand or rubbing his back.

Found Guilty

On December 9, a federal jury found Josh guilty of one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. According to prosecutors, some of the images were of minors under the age of 12.

Not Budging

Anna “doesn’t consider divorce” from her husband “an option” as he awaits his prison sentence, a source exclusively told In Touch in May 2022. “Some of her relatives want her to, but it goes against everything in her being.”

Advice From Family

Josh’s cousin Amy King pleaded for Anna to “protect her own kids” after Anna’s father, Mike Keller, wrote a character reference letter asking Judge Timothy Brooks to “please be merciful.”

When asked what she would tell Anna if she could, Amy exclusively told In Touch: “I would tell her to call, to contact me, come to my house and let me just, girl to girl, woman and woman and mama to mama, you know… just, I’m here. I’m here. She doesn’t have to be trapped in this.”

Sentencing

Anna supported her husband and attended his sentencing hearing on May 25, 2022. After a judge ruled that Josh would serve about 12 years in prison, Anna initially had “no reaction” in court.

However, an insider exclusively told In Touch that she was not  “shocked” over the judge’s decision and she was “relieved” that the trial was over.

As for whether Anna would divorce Josh or wait for him to serve his sentence, a separate source added, “She’s not the type to look for or even consider starting a new life with another man, but there are plenty of upstanding, religious men in the church who would appreciate and take care of a woman like Anna. There’s a lot of sympathy for her.”

Birthday Visit

Anna hinted via her Instagram Story on June 23, 2022, that she would be spending her 34th birthday visiting her husband in jail.

“Officially 34,” Josh’s wife wrote over a blank white page. “14 years since I said, ‘YES!’ Road-tripping to visit my bestie.”

While alluding to a visit with Josh, she added, “Jesus I will cling to You come what may.”

Moving On?

Anna is “coming to terms” with Josh’s prison sentence, a source exclusively told In Touch in October 2022.

“Anna doesn’t want to get her hopes up and while he’ll always be the father of her children, she’s not sure if there is a future with Josh,” the insider added.

While the source noted that Anna “still communicates with Josh,” she is “working hard” to accept that he may not be a part of her future.

A Fresh Start

Anna is considering a move to Texas to be closer to Josh while he serves his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) in Seagoville, Texas. However, a source exclusively told In Touch that the couple are “not seeing eye to eye on her plans to move.”

“The problem is that Josh doesn’t want Anna and their kids moving away from his family,” the source revealed in October 2022. “He thinks it will create too much of a disconnection for her and his kids.”

While Josh knows that he “can’t raise his kids from prison,” the insider added that “he’s afraid of outside influences.”

“He also fears that if Anna is distanced from his family, she might be influenced to leave him,” the source said.