'Hit the Road Jack' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Hit the Road Jack"

• Jackson just turned 16, so he and Gil head over to the DMV for the big driving test. “I’ll stand out here and pray for you, both of you,” Gil jokingly tells Jackson and the instructor as they leave the building.
• “Finding a car at the Bates house where everything works can be a challenge, admits Nathan. Thankfully, Jackson has a vehicle with working lights and brakes.
• The siblings describe Jackson as a cautious driver, but despite his nervousness, he passes the test.
• Jackson drives over to Zach and Whitney’s newly renovated house to discuss future plans. The two have always been close, and they have many of the same hobbies, including reading. “Man, I can’t tell you how proud I am of you,” Zach tell Jackson. “I want you to know, I’m always here for you.”
• At the Paine house, Erin and Chad are working on decorating the nursery. They know their hands will be full with three kids, but they are thrilled.
• “I’m nervous, I’m not going to lie,” admits Chad. “I’m worried about Erin, and I’m just worried about the baby. A lot of different thoughts cross your mind.”
• Erin and Chad cut out pictures of the kids, attach them to string, and hang them on a large, open-back frame. 
• “Chad is more of the functional guy, but my main thing is, the room’s gotta look good,” says Erin. “It can’t look like we just crammed three kids in here.”
• At the last minute, Erin decides she wants the frame painted pink. “You’re awesome,” Erin tells Chad. “I work you too hard.” “No, you don’t,” replies Chad, smiling. “This is fun.”
• Meanwhile, Nathan takes Trace to the airport for a flight lesson so Trace can see if being a pilot is something he wants to pursue.
• “There’s guys that want to be pilots for a career, and that’s great,” says Nathan. “For me, I fly airplanes so it can reach people with the Gospel and save people’s lives. So I want to see Trace reaching people with the Gospel and saving people’s lives.”
• Trace agrees but says he “might just do it from the ground.” Just like Jackson during his driving test, Trace is extremely nervous, but Nathan is impressed at how well he does.

'Seas the Day' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Seas the Day"

• Gil and Kelly have nine children who are still in homeschool. The oldest, Katie, is finishing up her senior year, while Jeb is in first grade. “Carlin has become such a help,” says Kelly. “And she really makes school fun.”
• “This is so fun,” Judson remarks during a school session with Carlin.
• Gil and Kelly and some of the kids pile in the van and head down to Myrtle Beach to meet Mama Jane’s sisters. They rent a home with an in-ground pool.
• After they arrive, their first activity is riding their bikes to Mama Jane’s beach house. The Bates aren’t wearing helmets, but UP flashes a message across the screen to remind viewers to wear theirs.
• Gil loves introducing his aunts and uncles to his children, many of whom have never met them. “[Dad] was literally beaming,” says Erin. 
• The group enjoys a meal at Dockside Seafood House, which is a new experience for the Bates kids. “The Bates do not like seafood,” admits Erin. “Can’t stand the smell of it, don’t like it,” adds Zach. 
• “I eat seafood,” jokes Judson. “I see the food on my plate and I eat it.”
• At the restaurant, the kids take turns trying shrimp and oysters. They aren’t huge fans.
• It’s mid-February and a bit chilly outside, but that doesn’t stop the Bates from watching the sunset on the beach. Carlin insists that she and Evan take photos. “We finally got [Evan] out of there,” says Warden.
• While the guys play football, Carlin has a chat with Papa Bill. She is earning her bachelor’s degree in general education and is also taking music classes to help her with teaching. Carlin lets Papa Bill in on a secret that Gil doesn’t yet know: She will be moving to Nashville when she marries Evan.
• On another day, the family goes walking with Gil’s extended family. “As long as I can remember, my aunts have been walking machines,” says Gil. “Even though my aunts are like in their 80s now, they can probably still out-walk our kids.”
• Later, Gil and some of his children go fishing on Cherry Grove Fishing Pier, a world-famous pier that is known for being the place where a record-breaking shark was caught. Gil remembers spending time there as a child. “In the end, the weather was winning, and so we decided to call it a day and come home with no fish,” says Lawson.
• It happens to be Jackson and Addallee’s birthday, so the entire family gathers to celebrate. “The cake is fun, the presents are fun…but…the most special part for me is hearing the other kids say something praiseworthy about their sibling,” says Gil.
• The Bates dad shares the story of how Addee stopped breathing as a newborn and was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. “I can remember that day because Jackson had convinced himself that you were his birthday present,” Kelly tells Addee. “And when the ambulance went pulling out, we were crying because of fear. He was crying because he said, ‘They’re stealing my present.’”

'Eye Love You Day' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Eye Love You Day"

• Kelly is in bed recovering from vision correction surgery, so Carlin is in charge of homeschooling, and she runs a tight ship. She wakes the kids up earlier than usual, and the ones who won’t get out of bed get water sprinkled on their faces. “Half the time I’m not awake until she dumps the water on me,” admits Jackson.
• Gil loves pampering his wife, saying that he finally has her all to himself. Michael comes down from Chicago to cook and help with the children.
• One week after her surgery, Kelly is back in the swing of things. It’s time to start planning for I Love You Day (Bates Valentine’s Day). The theme is Growing Old Together, and the Bates mom is awarding a monetary prize to those with the best costumes. The goal of the theme is to honor Gil’s parent’s (Papa Bill and Mama Jane) and Kelly’s mom and new stepfather (Meema and Tom), as well as to express a hope that Gil and Kelly have for their married children. “That was all in fun, but at the same time, my prayer is [that] they will be able to grow old together,” says Kelly.
• Kelly and some of the kids go to Karm Thrift Store to find outfits for the party. “It was neat to see how everybody kind of envisioned what an older person dresses like,” says Erin.
• While searching for a costume, Kelly ends up finding something that she wants to wear on a regular day. Her kids poke fun at her, but she doesn't mind. “I am older,” says Kelly, laughing. “I’m not going to apologize.”
• “This is our biggest family holiday,” says Erin. The older girls help the little kids make gifts, like bath scrub and body wash, to give to family members (in addition to the big gift exchange). Erin says she “feels so successful” to be in her third trimester.F
• The topic turns to Carlin’s relationship and possible engagement. She and Evan have been talking about timing. “As an older sister, it’s just really sweet to watch your younger sister go through a relationship,” says Erin.
• “Don’t talk about getting married,” cautions Gil. “We done got enough people married.”
• “I tell you, I can’t give away the boys, but everybody wants to get the girls,” says Gil.
• The night before the big celebration, some of the couples decorate a big table at a local lakeside restaurant before the couples (both married and courting, including the grandparents), arrive. “This is not just any old date at the fast food,” says Kelly. “This is special.”
• “They’re excluding us from a lot of good fun and food,” says Lawson. “So this must change.” He arrives at the dinner in a suit, and Kelly tells him he is only welcome if he has “got a girl.”
• “Well I actually did bring somebody special here that I wanted to introduce you all too,” says Lawson. “You did what?!” exclaims Gil.
• Out comes Nathan, wearing a nightgown, curlers, and a gray wig. The room erupts in laughter. “Those two boys, it’s amazing what they’ll do to come to a good dinner,” says Gil, chuckling. “If he was dating somebody, this mama would know it,” states Kelly.
• During dinner, everyone shares their first impression of their significant other. Kelly was attracted to Gil’s athleticism and his “strut.” “Let’s just say he strutted his feathers, and this bird came running,” says Kelly.
• “I remember thinking, the guy that gets to marry [Michael] is going to be a very blessed guy, and I didn’t think I had a chance, but I’m the blessed guy,” shares Brandon.
• The next day, everyone arrives at the big house for the main celebration. Erin, Chad, Carlin, and Evan go all out. For contrast, the grandparents come dressed like young people.
• The winners of the costume contest are Evan (best adult male costume), Carlin (best adult female costume), Erin and Chad (best dressed couple), and Judson (best child costume).
• After a few games, it’s time for the gift exchange. “Honestly, the best thing about I Love You Day…is watching the other people open the gifts that you got them,” says Tori.
• Jackson’s gift for Katie is a pizza (delivered during the gift exchange), Ramen noodles, and a pair of shoes. Katie is thrilled, although she is only able to eat one piece of pizza before her siblings devour the rest.

'A Heavenly Honeymoon & A Courtship Countdown' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "A Heavenly Honeymoon & A Courtship Countdown"

• The wedding is over, and Tori and Bobby are off on their honeymoon. They fly into San Francisco and immediately grab a car and head to the Pacific Coast Highway. They stop at the Natural Bridges State Beach to eat sandwiches. “The first few days of our honeymoon, it really felt like we had snuck off somewhere and we were about to get caught at any second,” admits Bobby.
• Back home, Carlin and Josie discuss how odd it is to be the oldest sisters in the house.
• Tori and Bobby go on a private boat ride in Monterey Bay, and they sail past a large group of sea lions. After the excursion, the newlyweds have a FaceTime chat with Gil and Kelly, who are a bit down in the dumps now that Tori has left the house.
• To celebrate Tori’s birthday the following day, the Smiths check out beautiful Yosemite Valley. Bobby arranges for them to take a sleigh ride through a pine forest, complete with hot apple cider. “Going from courting and being engaged…always being careful that you’re not too close…to all of the sudden, in a split second you’re married and you can do whatever in the world you want, it’s just a really big difference that happens in a second,” says Tori. Bobby brings the birthday to a close with Tori’s favorite meal--steak--cooked together at the couple's mountain condo.
• Meanwhile, Kelton meets his dad, Michael Balka, for lunch to discuss the courtship proposal. The plan is to spend the day in Gatlinburg.
• When Kelton was 13, his mother passed away while giving birth to his youngest sister, Kerstin. (Kelton is the oldest of five.) “That was a really, really difficult time for our family, the hardest thing I’ve ever been through,” says Kelton. “My father has literally dedicated his life to pouring into me and his other four kids, and that’s part of the reason that me and him have such a close-knit relationship where we talk about everything. My father has built his whole life around carrying out my mother’s wishes in raising us.”
• To prepare for the big day, Kelton gets permission from the city to string lights on Emerets Cove Covered Bridge in Sevierville. His father and brother Carson help him.
• Next, it’s time for Kelton to surprise Josie. He shows up at the house with roses a few days before Josie was expecting everything to go down. “I was super nervous walking up,” says Kelton. “I have never done a courtship before.”
• Josie, Kelton, Gil, Kelly, and Michael head down to Gatlinburg. They take an aerial tram up a mountain to the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area.
• They go ice skating, and Kelton jokingly gets down on one knee. “I told him we should skip courtship and propose,” says Josie. “If it had been in my pocket, it would have happened, but I didn’t have it,” explains Kelton. “But it’s okay because it’s coming,” replies Josie. “It’s coming soon.”
• After ice skating, they drive over to the covered bridge. Josie and Kelton get out and walk under the bridge, while the parents watch from the car.
• Kelton shares some heart-felt words with Josie: “You know that I have had very strong feelings about you for a long time, and today one of the things that I love most about you is that you absolutely are my best friend. I love your sweet spirit and your tenderness for other people. I love your diligence and even your determination to succeed, that those who don’t know you well might not even see. I really love your green eyes though, and I love this little beauty mark that you try to tell me that you hate because it’s beautiful. But above all, I love your heart. I want to make a commitment to you tonight to pursue your heart, and I brought you a gift tonight to help remind you of my commitment to pursue your heart. I love you, Josie Bates. Can I have your heart?”
• Kelton pulls out a diamond heart necklace, and the two of them enjoy a romantic hug.
• The parents are elated. “Twenty-five years ago, two days ago, my wife and I got married, and then we came to Gatlinburg for our honeymoon,” says Kelton’s dad. “It was just amazing that it all just kind of lined up like that, and it made it seem somewhat surreal.”
• “My father and mother were truly, deeply in love,” says Kelton. “My father has told me my whole life that his prayer and his dream for me would be for me to find someone that meant as much to me as my mother meant to him, and I don’t know how anyone could mean more to me than Josie does.”

'The Bates Royal Wedding Celebration' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "The Bates Royal Wedding Celebration"

• “Our goal is for our children to be morally and spiritually and emotionally pure when they get married,” shares Gil. “We have chosen a route that we didn’t even know about when we were growing up. There’s a lot of names for it, dating with a purpose or courtship, but we don’t do the traditional dating.”
• Zach and Whitney relive their proposal: Zach surprised Whitney with a surprise trip to Florida, where he surprised her on the beach with flowers, a candlelight dinner, and, of course, a ring.
• Chad proposed to Erin under a gazebo after taking her on a ride through a park in a horse-drawn carriage. He pulled out a ring and popped the question: “Erin Elise, will you marry me?” They both cried and hugged. “Erin, she was the highlight of it all,” says Chad.
• The Paines also look back on their wedding, which was the first on both sides of the family. They show photos, although they don’t show scenes.
• After her engagement, Michael bravely allowed some of her brothers to tag along. Lawson and Nathan have different opinions when it comes to telling a lady how she looks. Lawson shares his: “If the girl ever comes up to you and says, ‘How does this look on me? What do you think?’ Wonderful, beautiful, perfect.” Nathan, on the other hand, says, “I’m an honest man. If it don’t look their best, I’ll just kind of say, ‘That’s not your best.’”
• “We’ve got a lot of excitement around, a lot of things happening, a lot of kids changing,” says Gil.

'Mother's Day Special--UPdated' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Mother's Day Special--UPdated"

• They may have 19 kids, but Gil and Kelly still make a point of spending one-on-one time with each child on a regular basis. “One of our priorities is to become best friends with our children,” says Kelly.
• And the Bates kids say their parents do a great job at keeping up with all of them individually. “Somehow they always make time for everybody,” says Michael. “No matter how crazy or hectic their life is, they’ll take that time to talk with us and make sure it’s just us and them and keep that communication open,” agrees Lawson.
• In this episode, the network shares “proud mommy” moments from the past seven seasons, including birthdays, births, graduations, and baby announcements.
• “Mom’s whole life has been an investment into our lives,” says Lawson. “She is never thinking about herself,” says Erin. “It’s always somebody else.”
• “She is able to keep us all happy,” says Gil of his wife. 

'The Bates Get Candid' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "The Bates Get Candid"

• Small groups of Bates family members sit down with executive producer Matt Hightower to talk about what it’s like to film Bringing Up Bates.
• Gil and Kelly go first. “If we watch a show…Gil’s usually in tears,” says Kelly. “It really is tender because we realize now more than ever with five kids married that our kids are growing up fast, and there’s going to be a day, even though it’s hard to picture, that we’re sitting in an empty house.”
• “I don’t know if the house will ever be empty because I don’t think we can ever get the boys married off,” adds Gil, jokingly.
• “When I’m having a gloomy day, I want to call one of the kids or just talk to somebody, and it just kind of cheers you up to know that somebody’s just thinking of you or going through the same thing,” says Kelly. “And I think that was the goal for this show. It certainly wasn’t because we had it all together, by any means, because we don’t. It was just to say, ‘Hey, we’re going through some trials, some lessons, some growing pains, as well.’ And maybe it will encourage some other families to just stick it out.”
• What’s Gil and Kelly's secret to having a close-knit family? Praying together, playing together, and laughing together. “Laughter is a big part of our house,” says Gil. “I’ve got some really unusual laughers, some loud laughers, but we do a lot of laughing.”
• Next, Zach and Whitney, Erin and Chad, and Tori and Bobby come on set. What’s it like to have small children who have been on reality TV for their entire lives?
• “Carson, I think he still freezes up, even though he’s used to it like three days a week,” admits Erin. “He doesn’t quite act himself yet.”
• “Kaci, I don’t know what she thinks about it, but she just stands behind the cameras,” says Whitney.
• The last interview is with Lawson, Carlin, Josie, and Katie. Matt asks them what it has been like to live life in front of a camera.
• “Not growing up with a camera in my face when I was really little made it a harder adjustment, but little guys like Jeb and Jud and Callie…I think sometimes they may be just a little too loose on camera,” shares Lawson.
• Do the Bates watch all the episodes? The older kids admit that they don't, saying they would be too critical of themselves. Kelly approves them, and she sometimes gives the children who are featured in a particular episode a heads up so they can watch it. 
• When asked when she expects to get married, Carlin answers, “Definitely within the next year.”
• And the million dollar question: Which Bates is Matt’s favorite? “I love you guys, all of you,” says the executive producer. The Bates and their crew say they have become family.

'Tori's Winter Wonderland Wedding' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Tori's Winter Wonderland Wedding" 

• A few days before the wedding, Tori and Bobby meet at their future residence, an apartment where Bobby is already living, to pack for their honeymoon. They will fly to San Francisco, driving to Carmel, and then head to Yosemite to spend time in a beautiful cabin.
• Meanwhile, Gil and the boys start spray painting the trees, but the paint doesn’t stick. “This is called a lesson about procrastination,” declares Kelly. “Last week, the weather was warm, and last week, the paint would have stuck, and the trees would have dried. This is the whole theme of the wedding right here in this yard. Y’all have to do better than this.”
• Elijah, a friend of the Bates, solves the problem with a paint sprayer. “Y’all get a bonus for this job,” says Gil.
• Michael arrives from Chicago, and Kelly puts her to work adding slips to the flower girl dresses.
• On Friday, the day before the wedding, family and friends are at the church decorating. Bobby’s family arrived the night before and is busy setting up for the rehearsal dinner, at which they will serve Mexican food. Tori decides to do the dinner first so the rehearsal isn’t delayed by wedding party members arriving late.
• When Tori and Bobby see the finished sanctuary, they are tickled. “I feel like I’ve poured so much into this wedding emotionally, so it meant a lot to me to make this just perfect for her,” says Kelly.
• It wouldn’t be a Bates rehearsal dinner without tears and sweet words. Carlin admits that she is a little jealous because she would like to switch places with Tori. Gil stands up to protest, with a smile on his face. “Wait a minute! Whoa, whoa! One at a time!”
• In the words of Josie, “The rehearsal was chaos.” But with such a large wedding party, that’s almost a given.
• On the morning of the wedding, Tori says she is scared, nervous, and excited. While she has her hair and makeup done, others run around making final preparations. The time comes for her to unveil the dress to her bridesmaids and some family members.
• Bobby puts on a blindfold so he and Tori can pray together before the ceremony.
• The guests are all seated, the wedding party has entered, and it’s time for Gil and Tori to walk down the aisle. “She’s walking to me, and we’re about to start the rest of our lives together,” says Bobby. “It literally felt like the entire world just stopped.”
• When the other pastor asks Gil who gives the bride away, Gil responds, “Her lovely mother, myself, and all of her 18 siblings.”
• After the sermon, Bobby sings a love song that he wrote for Tori, while playing the piano. “And the rest of our lives begin here today, but I just want to stay right here with you. Wherever we go, come whatever may, we’ll never forget these promises. Like two notes on a page, just follow my lead. You know that I’ll take us where we need to be. Keeping this love within, our song never ends.”
• During the couple’s vows--which are the traditional ones, lead by Gil--Tori stumbles over the words “lawful wedded husband.” After that, Tori starts laughing uncontrollably, although some members of the audience think she is sobbing, and she becomes embarrassed and is concerned that she’s messing things up. “This is your day,” Gil assures her. “You’re not doing anything wrong.”
• “The whole wedding, I was just honestly trying to make everything so perfect and do everything so perfect,” says Tori. “It’s just not me to be perfect.”
• While Tori and Bobby tie their unity braid, Lawson performs a song that he wrote for them, accompanied by Rachel Leftwich, Andy Leftwich’s wife. “We’re not in this thing alone. We won’t get it right on our own. It’s gonna take help. It’s gonna take faith, but with you and God and me, one plus one equal three.”
• Before they know it, Tori and Bobby are sharing their first kiss, and it’s slow and sweet just like the bride wanted.
• During the reception, Gil announces the bouquet toss, adding a plea. “No Bates kids, please. No more Bates kids for a couple years. Give me a break.” Josie ends up catching it!
• “It seems like as soon as we recover from one wedding, another daughter is announcing a wedding date,” says Kelly. “We’re happy for Tori, we’re happy for the future of our other girls, but we are praying it will slow down.”

'Countdown to I Do' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Countdown to 'I Do"

• Kelly, Tori, and all but three of the bridesmaids make one last trip up to Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, for a final dress fitting at Renee’s Bridal.
• Renee Miller unveils the completed wedding dress, and everyone loves it. “That’ is the most beautiful dress in the world,” says Kelly, who was not a huge fan of the gown before the alternations. “The bling is so awesome,” says Tori. The bridesmaids who are present try on their dresses, and they look great.
• Back at the Bates house, Gil and the boys cut down small trees to decorate the sanctuary.
• “When a girl gets married around here…it’s a family project,” says Gil. The guys are all a little unsure about what Tori and Kelly want, so it’s a bit of a guessing game. They think they have it all figured out, until Kelly returns. “That’s kind of scrawny,” says the mom of 19, looking at one of the trees that was cut down. “It’s gotta look like a tree, big tree, fluffy tree.”
• Six days before the wedding, Kelly takes a few trees to the church to see how they look. “If this was any wedding except for a Bates wedding, I would say we are way behind,” says Kim Nafziger, friend and wedding planner. “But because this is a Bates wedding, this is kind of typical.”
• Erin, Chad, and Carson visit Dr. Vick’s office for an ultrasound. “I’m going to hold her hands,” says Carson, when he sees his baby sister on the screen.
• Dr. Vick gives Erin a clean bill of heath. “16 more and you’ll be there,” he jokes.
• “Every time, I say this is my last,” says Erin. “I don’t know what happens. I’ve gotta stop looking at newborn babies. I think three strikes and I’m out.”
• During a lunch break at work, Bobby works on honeymoon details. He and Tori are planning to go out west to the Yosemite area. Bobby admits he has never planned a vacation or seen a significant amount of snow.
• Kelly gathers the planning team and drops a bombshell. She is having laser surgery to correct her vision as a 30^th anniversary present, and she is considering having the procedure four days before the wedding. Kim is very uneasy.
• After seeing the doctor, Kelly ends up deciding to wait on the surgery. The doctor says Kelly’s thin cornea will require a type of laser surgery that has a 4-5 day recovery.
• Carlin does a hair trial for Tori’s wedding. “Are you putting your hair in a bun?” asks Nathan. “On your wedding day, you never put your hair up or in a bun. You leave it down.” Tori wants an updo because she doesn’t want her hair to take away from her dress.
• Nathan holds to his opinion. “At the end of the day, a girl is going to look her very best when her hair is down. Now up hair is great. There’s times for that. There’s times to wear buns. Hey, there’s times to wear your hair in a shower net, but your wedding is not one of those days.”
• To celebrate their anniversary, Gil and Kelly enjoy a romantic dinner at The Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge, which is where they spent their honeymoon. “This was a really needed break,” says Kelly.
• One week before the wedding, Lawson plays a Christmas charity concert. In the middle of the show, Nathan jumps up on stage and invites his parents to join him. He gives them flowers and tells the audience how dedicated his parents have been to each other and their children over the years. Lawson and Carlin sing one of Lawson’s original songs, “I Will Always,” for Gil and Kelly, who are incredibly touched.
• “My life was mapped out different in my mind 30 years ago,” shares Kelly. “I was very much going to be the career woman, and I wasn’t going to have children for at least five years.” The mom of 19 says she wouldn’t have chosen the life that she is now living but that she couldn’t imagine anything better.

'Another Beautiful Season of Blessings' Recap

Bringing Up Bates "Another Beautiful Season of Blessings"

• As the show opens, Zach and Whitney are sitting on the porch at Papa Bill and Mama Jane’s house in Honea Path, South Carolina, waiting for the rest of the family to arrive for Thanksgiving.
• Is Gil’s mom ready for the chaos? “I don’t think you ever get ready,” says Mama Jane, chuckling. “Having Thanksgiving here with all the children, it really is a wonderful thing. I know the children love it, and I know they want to keep coming, but I don’t know how much longer I can lift that turkey.”
• Papa Bill needs help building a barn, so the Bates guys get to work immediately. “I like to see them working together…but I don’t stay long because I get a little bit nervous,” admits Kelly. “I’m just seeing an accident waiting to happen.”
• The guys are hoping to finish the project before they leave. “My family, we love to help,” says Zach. “We can bite off a great project and leave you hanging right in the middle of it.”
• Kelton pulls Evan aside and asks for pointers, as he is planning to seek Gil and Kelly’s permission to court Josie.
• “During our building project, we had some other people competing for our workers,” says Nathan. “Every few minutes, I’d see some little pretty girl walking over there, like one of my sisters…and off they go.”
• Meanwhile, the ladies and kids pick pecans, a Bates family Thanksgiving tradition. They also help Mama Jane make brownies. “Mama Jane has a reputation for being quick to fuss about people being in her kitchen,” says Kelly. “She likes a clean house. But deep down, she loves the kids being there.”
• At lunchtime, the ladies bring food to the workers. “I don’t like to stop work for many things, but I’ll stop anything I’m doing for food,” says Zach. While they eat, the engage in a competition to see who can climb a big tree in the least amount of time.
• “There’s all levels of crazy, and the Bates crazy is on the top level,” says Nathan.
• In the midst of all the chaos, Gil and Kelly sit down with Josie and Kelton for a relationship check-in. “We definitely feel like God is leading us toward the courtship,” says Kelton. He wants to ease into it and asks for permission to make it official around New Year’s.
• Josie and Kelton have been talking for three years, but when things started getting serious early on, Gil asked Josie if she would be okay with “putting the breaks” on the relationship until she got a little older. They ended up taking a break, but Kelton stuck around, and it has been about a year since they got back together. Gil and Kelly grant their permission for the couple to court.
• After the barn is finished, the guys play football (another Bates family tradition). When Mama Jane calls everyone in for supper, they sit down and share what they are thankful for before eating. Gil gets emotional: “I just thank the Lord for getting to grow up here, for my mom and dad and all they did to invest in me, to have a brother like Greg, a sister like Jenny. And I’m just grateful that Mom and Dad are still here, and praise God we get to all be together as a family.”