Monday, November 6, 2017

33 Bates and Counting

 Gil and Kelly Bates at Norris Dam

As they approach their 30th wedding anniversary this December, Gil and Kelly Bates' nest is emptying quickly. They have...

4 married kids (Zach, Michael, Erin, and Alyssa)
1 child who will be married in December (Tori)
3 single adult children (Nathan, Lawson, and Trace)
2 unmarried adult children who are in relationships (Carlin and Josie)
4 teenagers (Katie, Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah)
5 kids ages 5-11 (Addallee, Ellie, Callie, Judson and Jeb)
6 grandchildren ages 9 months-3 years (Bradley, Allie, Carson, Kaci, Brooklyn, and Lexi)
1 grandchild coming in April (Everly Hope Paine)
4 children-in-law (Whitney, Brandon, Chad, and John)
1 soon-to-be son-in-law (Bobby Smith)

When do you think the next big announcement will be made (ie pregnancy, relationship/courtship, or engagement)?

 Callie Bates

Jackson Bates

 Ellie Bates

Jeb Bates and Judson Bates

Photos courtesy of thebatesfamily.com

34 comments:

  1. Carlin and Evan courting in January

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  2. My hopes are that Brandon and Michaela get the blessing they have been praying for. Sending my prayers to all of you. You are such a beautiful family!

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    1. I agree-hope the next major announcement is from Michael and Brandon

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    2. Just a serious question: when would you stop praying for a child and accept this is what God has for you? When would you know your road is the road whitout biological children? Maby there is something else for you?

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    3. To answer @5:44, my opinion is prayers should be to accept what God has planned for them. ie maybe the plan is children or maybe the plan is no children. Seems very stressful to focus on "needing" children. Should be a time to be grateful for finding a loving spouse. So many marriages end in unhappiness or divorce over the question of children.

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    4. They have expressed that the desire of their hearts is to be parents and I would guess they are praying for whatever plan GOD has for them. Remember that God always answers prayer - it may be yes, it may be no, it may be not right now, or it may be let Me show you what else I have in store that you never knew to ask.

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    5. Wow 7:20 am. That is so profound. It hit me like a ton of bricks about a problem of my own. Thank you.
      I also pray for them for God to give the the desires of their hearts, however He chooses to give it to them.

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    6. 5:44- There are many good people, who'd make wonderful parents, but find themselves unable to have children for any number of reasons. I really don't think God is deciding childlessness for them. If that were the case, why would He allow unfit people to procreate? It makes zero sense and I'd like to think that a loving higher power would be more logical than that. Stuff happens...all the good and the bad that comes with life. If a couple truly wants to have children, but is facing infertility, they have to ask themselves at some point- what's more important, having a biological child or being a parent? One also has to understand that it does not take any talent to make a baby. Being a good parent is another matter.

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  3. I say dometime in December. Love the new pucs of the youngest Bates.
    Kim

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  4. The 3 youngest girls are such angels! And as far as the next big family announcement, my guess is soon Carlin will announce a courtship and soon Josie will announce a relationship, but I don't know which will come before the other.

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    1. Josie already announced a relationship: next stage for her is courtship.
      I think that Carlin has been in a courtship for a while now, they're just waiting for tv programming to announce it.

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  5. HAPPY 30 TH ANNIVERSARY GIL & KELLYJO BATES. WOW YOU GUYS GOT 4 MARRIED KIDS SOON TO BE 5 WHICH IS TORI 6 GRANDKIDS SOON TO BE 7. WOW YOU GUYS ARE REALLY BUSY WITH THAT.

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  6. ALMOST FORGOT MY GUESS WILL BE ANOTHER COURTSHIP WITH NATHAN AGAIN HIM & ASHLEY WAS A GREAT COUPLE SO SAD THEY BROKE UP I HOPE THEY GET BACK TOGETHER AGAIN IF NOT IT COULD BE LAWSON BECAUSE HE IS SO HOT JUST LIKE NATHAN OR IT COULD BE TRACE ONE OF THE BROTHERS I COULD BE WRONG ON THAT.

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    1. You don't have to write in all CAPS. 😁😁😁

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    2. Neddy, in the internet world when you type in all CAP letters it means you are yelling. I'm sure that is not your intent but good internet ettiquet is to type in small letters instead of all CAPS.

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  7. I think Nathan will announce a courtship or engagement. He is a wonderful guy. But I HOPE that Michael will announce a pregnancy.

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  8. Can you make this same list for the Duggars too? It would be fun to look at the differences and similarities of both families 😁

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    1. Duggars:
      6 married kids (Josh, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Joy)
      5 adult single kids (Jana, John, Josiah, Jedidiah, Jeremiah)
      4 teenagers (Jason, James, Justin, Jackson)
      4 kids age 7-12 (Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn and Josie)
      6 kids in-law (Anna, Derick, Ben, Jeremy, Kendra and Austin)
      9 grandkids (Mackynzie, Michael, Marcus, Israel, Meredith, Spurgeon, Henry, Samuel and Mason)
      1 grandbaby on the way in 2018 (Joy & Austin)

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  9. I do hope Michaela is the next with an announcement...however I understand her situation and hope she knows that it will happen in Gods timing.

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    1. Just curious- Why would God care when she conceives? If all is in God's timing, He make no sense when children are born every day into abusive homes. He's got a lot of explaining to do. I don't believe that God orchestrates our lives. We're at the mercy of time, chance, our fallible human bodies, and our own decisions.

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    2. No, He does work everything according to His will, and is sovereign over all things. Praying your eyes will be opened to His salvation, mercy, and the truth of Who He is!

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  10. Or is it 21 Bates and counting?

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    1. I think they are counting the grandchildren and inlaws as well.

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    2. I'm thinking 21 Bates Family + 4 in-laws + 6 grandchildren + Bobby + new baby Everly = 33?

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  11. Love seeing pictures of the younger Bates kids. Callie and Ellie are darling.

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  12. The youngest kids are really growing.

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  13. Carlin and Evan will start courting this February, around Valentine's Day.

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  14. What a blessing to see what God had in store(and still has in store)for 2 people. I was so moved reading the blog today. Thanks so much for taking the time to do this.
    Happy anniversary Gil & Kellie Jo.

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  15. I hope that all of these announcements will be made soon, not sure which order:
    Michaela announces a pregnancy
    Carlin gets engaged
    Josie gets engaged
    Whitney announces her 3rd pregnancy
    Lawson, Nathan and Trace announce "get to know you" relationships

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    1. My top choices would be:
      Michaela and Brandon pregnant or adopting
      Lawson and/or Nathan announcing a relationship
      The others are younger and have plenty of time. And I think Whitney might be really stressed out with adding another baby to her two kids plus new job.

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  16. I can't get the Bates on my television but I truly remember them from the Duggar show. I read this blog and watch the videos everyday. They are a sweet godly family. I know it's early but Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary to Gil and Kelly and I hope it will be a special time with your family...Jane

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  17. And Alyssa is also expecting (Zoey), due the same time Everly is. So, they’ve got 34.

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  18. Hope 111110

    Michealla and Whitney and Tori
    is pregnant

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