Sunday marked the first time Jill Duggar celebrated Mother's Day as a mom herself. As per the family's typical Sunday morning practice, The 19 Kids and Counting Star along with husband Derick Dillard and their loved ones all gathered together and went to church. However, E! Online revealed that this time around, quite a notable tweak in their routine took place as Jill and Derick's son, Israel David, was granted special recognition in church on Mother's Day.
"Baby Israel was dedicated today," revealed an insider to the media outlet. "It was a dedication from the parents to raise the child as a Christian," the source added. As for the cute baby's parents, the insider shared that both Jill and Derick "looked great" and even disclosed that the new parents appear to be "as close as ever." In addition, the source claimed that new mom, Jill, "stayed close" to her husband throughout the ceremony." Further observing the demeanor of Israel David's mom and dad, the insider described the Dillard family to be "really happy."
Following the service, the family went on to visit the Duggar home with Jill expressing her love and gratitude to mom Michelle Duggar whom she described to be a "godly example" in her life especially now as she also deals with the struggles of motherhood in her own family.
"So grateful to God for you as my mother," Jill said, referring to her own mother. "You're just a godly example of what a mother should be like and I hope to be like you," the 23-year-old added.
Jill then went on to say, "You're just a great role model and a model of Christ really to all of us. Love you a lot."
Meanwhile, new dad Derick also shared a heart wrenching post about his own mom who has been battling Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma since last year.
"Mother's Day 2015 is particular special for me because Mother's Day 2014 was almost my last with my mom," Derick wrote in the family blog. In an effort to explain the important of his holiday to him, Derick provided a bit of a background. He shared, "My mom had recently been diagnosed with stage 4 Non-Hodgkins lymphoma, the most aggressive form nonetheless. She had been instructed to remain as isolated as possible from people because the intense chemotherapy had acted as an atom bomb on her body and her immune system had been all but completely wiped out."
Despite the difficulties and challenges along the way, Derick proudly said that his mother, now a grandmother to his son, is slowly fighting back and recovering from the illness.
"A lot happened in the span of the next year. I was on a roller coaster of emotions that only accelerated as I got closer to the day I would meet Jill at the altar to be married," the new dad revealed. "This year my mom is celebrating not only Mother's Day, but also her first Mother's Day as a grandmother. My mom's story of battle and triumph over cancer is nothing short of a miracle, performed by the one true God, our Lord Jesus Christ, through many medical personnel to whom I am eternally grateful," he added.
