Celebrity Couples

Josh and Anna Duggar: Overcoming Scandal and ‘Rebuilding a Life Together’

(Photo: Twitter / @DailyNewsPick)The past few years of Josh and Anna Duggar’s marriage has been […]
josh duggar
(Photo: Twitter / @DailyNewsPick)

The past few years of Josh and Anna Duggar‘s marriage has been anything but perfect.

The couple continued to commit themselves to rebuilding their life together after Josh’s infidelity scandal, PEOPLE reports. On Friday, they announced in a Duggar family blog post that they are expecting their fifth child, a baby boy due later this year.

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They admitted the last two years have not been easy, but believe “beauty comes from ashes.”

Click through our slideshow to see a timeline of the couple’s relationship.

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(Photo: Twitter / @ArkansasNewsBit)

Josh and Anna met when they were teenagers at a Christian homeschooling convention back in 2006. Shortly after, the two began courting.

Two years later, they exchanged vows on Sept. 26, 2008, at Buford Grove Baptist Church in Hillard, Fla. The couple shared their first kiss and promised to leave the decision of how many children they would have “up to God.”

Three months after their wedding, Anna and Josh told PEOPLE that married life is “great.” They also expressed their need for a big family.

“I would welcome a big family,” Josh said. “My parents have been wonderful examples.” Added Anna: “I would love to have as many children as God would bless us with. Growing up in a large family, and Joshua in a mega-family, you learn so much more. I think a large family helps you prepare for life.”ย 

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(Photo: Twitter / @RebeckaSchumann)

Just a little over a year after their wedding, the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Mackynzie Renรฉe, who is now 7. Siblings Michael, 5, Marcus, 3, and Meredith, 19 months, later followed her.

One month before Anna gave birth to their fourth child, Josh’s scandal hit the news.

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(Photo: Twitter / @au_headzine)

In May 2015, Josh apologized for his “wrongdoing” after a 2006 police reports revealed he was investigated for inappropriately touching underage girls, two of which were his sisters Jill, 25, and Jessa, 24.

Months later in August 2015, it was reported that the oldest Duggar son had an active account on Ashley Madison, a website created to facilitate cheating on your spouse.

He issued an apologetic statement on the Duggar family 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. I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him,” the statement read.

The statement continued: “I brought hurt and a reproach to my family, close friends and the fans of our show with my actions that happened when I was 14-15 years old, and now I have re-broken their trust. The last few years, while publicly stating I was fighting against immorality in our country, I was hiding my own personal failings. As I am learning the hard way, we have the freedom to choose our actions, but we do not get to choose our consequences. I deeply regret all hurt I have caused so many by being such a bad example. I humbly ask for your forgiveness. Please pray for my precious wife Anna and our family during this time.”

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(Photo: Twitter / @christianhlines)

Shortly after his confession, Josh, 29, sought treatment at a faith-based rehabilitation center in Rockford, Ill. The family announced his rehab attendance on their website stating, “Josh checked himself into a long-term treatment center.”

They asked their fans to pray and support for Anna, 28, and their grandchildren during that time.

Anna visited Josh at rehab and said it was “an important step on a long difficult road” to try and repair their marriage.

After six months, Josh was released from the rehab center, returned to his family and continued to seek professional counseling.

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(Photo: Twitter / @etnow)

When he returned, the couple entered marriage counseling.

“It isn’t easy and some days are very difficult. It is a long road to rebuild trust and a truly healthy relationship,” they said.

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(Photo: Twitter / @AOLEntertain)

Josh and Anna have been enjoying their life together after months of staying out of the public eye.

The recently announced they are expecting their fifth child on their family’s website.

“For nearly the last two years, we have quietly worked to save our marriage, focus on our children, and rebuild our lives together as a family. Doing so is never easy after a breach of trust,” the blog post began on Friday.

“We’ve learned that a life of faith and rebuilding a life together is simply done one day at a time,” the post continued.

“As we continue our journey as a family and rebuild our lives, we are delighted to share with you that we are expecting a new baby boy later this year. Beauty comes from ashes and we cannot wait to see and kiss the face of this sweet new boy!” Josh and Anna announced.