I Met Michelle Duggar!!!!!

Warning: You're about to see how crazy I am.

Yesterday morning started out like this:

Yep, an exciting morning of grocery shopping at Aldi with the kiddos. I hadn't taken the time to put on any make up or take a shower that morning, so of course I ran into several people I knew at the store- one of whom wanted to take our picture(it was my best friend's sister, and she wanted to send it to her.) After seeing this picture, I think I kind of understand why we get so many stares and comments when we're out. :)

By the time we had finished shopping, I was pretty worn out and feeling less than awesome about myself and my parenting skills. I happened to notice that the friend who had taken our picture at the store had tagged me on Instagram. I almost put off looking at the notification, since I figured it was just this picture, but I went on ahead and checked it anyways, and to my disbelief one of my friends had posted that the Duggar's were at the St. Louis Zoo.

I was instantly trying to figure out if I could really justify a trip to the zoo that day. We were already planning on going later this week, and I had been planning on having a normal homeschool day. Besides, I had a car full of a weeks worth of groceries, parking is kind of a nightmare over there, I wouldn't have any help with the kids, and what were the chances that  I would actually see the Duggar's once we got there?

I tried to put the thought out of my mind, but by the time I made it home with the groceries I decided I had to take the chance. I quickly unloaded the food, had the kids change into cooler clothes, and changed my shirt because in my excitement I had accidentally spilled coffee all over the front of it. Ahem.

When I told the kids we were going to the zoo, and that we might get to meet the Duggars, I was met with great excitement(although Lily kept telling me that the Duggar's were just pretend. When I assured her that they were real she got very excited about the possibility of meeting the little girls.)

We made it to the zoo, parked approximately a million miles away, and started walking. And walking. And walking. But almost as soon as we entered, we saw Jim Bob and Jinger Duggar! I'm pretty sure I just gawked at them, but they did stop and talk to me. Jim Bob made some comment about me having a" nice looking little family."

A little further into the zoo, I saw a huge crowd of kids, and sure enough it was the Duggar clan. There was a small line of women waiting to talk to Michelle, so I just sort of stood there taking it all in. Jack, Anna, and Lily were all running around in the same group as the Duggar kids, it was a little surreal. :)

By far though, the best moment for me was getting to meet Michelle Duggar. She was so gracious, and even though she had just finished talking to several women in front of me(and no doubt had talked to many other strangers that day) she just acted like she had all the time in the world to talk.

She gave me a signed picture, encouraged me to keep loving on my husband and babies, and to keep pointing their hearts to Jesus. 

Needless to say, it was a great day. :)

Linked to A Mama's Story , A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Modest Mom