Sunday, January 1, 2017

Celebrating the Bates Patriarch


Wishing the Bates dad a very happy birthday! At age 52, he has 19 children and five (soon to be six, when Lexi Mae Webster makes her grand debut) grandchildren.

Did you know that Gil and Kelly Bates only planned to have one or two children? They also planned to wait about five years after marriage. But if you remember our birthday post from two days ago, their oldest son, Zach Bates, was born on December 30, 1988, only 11 days after Gil and Kelly's first wedding anniversary.

Photo courtesy of UP
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15 comments:

  1. UnknownJanuary 1, 2017 at 12:49 AM

    Happy Birthday Gil Enjoy your day! Happy New Year to the family.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 1, 2017 at 10:04 AM

    Happy birthday Gil! I didn't realize they had Zach so close to their anniversary.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 1, 2017 at 10:56 AM

    Happy birthday Gil!! You're a great father and set a great role model!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 1, 2017 at 11:01 AM

    They should have stuck to those plans. Nobody needs 19 children.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 1, 2017 at 6:04 PM

      Their 19 kids are blessings from God. It may be a lot to handle but they've done an awesome job. They decided to follow God's plan and it worked out well. They're wonderful parents.

      Delete
    2. Bates FanJanuary 2, 2017 at 1:22 PM

      I think they have done a better job rearing 19 than most people do rearing 1 or 2. By the way, I am sure the youngest 17 or thankful they had 19 :-)

      Delete
    3. AnonymousJanuary 3, 2017 at 7:45 AM

      Denise Dunn- I will agree that from what I see in the media about the Bates, they have done a remarkable job raising their huge family. It is a good thing that they are encouraging their children to become independent. However, I think it a bit arrogant and audacious to assume "God's plan" is being followed. No one can know that. The fact of the matter is, the Bates stepped up to the plate. The best anyone can do is use the brains and common sense God has given us. Some people are simply not cut out to have children for any number of reasons. Some would have a hard time providing for the physical and emotional needs of one, let alone 19, and birth control should be their ongoing companion. If someone expects to be blessed with children, they'd better make dang sure they are capable of blessing the child with a loving and stable home.

      Delete
    4. AnonymousJanuary 3, 2017 at 12:51 PM

      I agree, Denise and Bates Fan.

      Delete
    5. ReginaJanuary 5, 2017 at 2:29 PM

      I agree also Denise and Bates Fan!

      Delete
  5. Long NguyenJanuary 1, 2017 at 11:07 AM

    Happy Birthday

    Gil

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownJanuary 1, 2017 at 11:35 AM

    Happy Birthday Gil and Happy New Year to you and your family. Praying 2017 brings many blessings to you all.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJanuary 1, 2017 at 4:53 PM

    Wishing you a day of happiness and a year of blessings. God Bless you.
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIL
    Joan,Marion and Marilyn

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:27 PM

    I didn't know they had planned to have so few children! Why did they change their minds?

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownJanuary 1, 2017 at 11:10 PM

    Happy Birthday Gil!

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2017 at 10:40 AM

    Happy Belated Birthday Gil! Hope you had a good day and Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete

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