The excitement began when we attended a church in Atlanta that was hosting the movie premier of The Solomon Bunch. The movie was produced and directed by Jason Prisk. (Jason also produced Erin’s Merciful and Mighty CD, along with the new CD she is currently working on.) This film is a comical, yet purposeful and wholesome film for children. http://thesolomonbunch.webstarts.com/index.html 

Next, we were invited to sing and share at People’s Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia, where we thoroughly enjoyed fellowshipping with Pastor David Mccoy and his family.

Finally, we topped our busy weekend off by meeting Sheri Hutson Camperson and her family. We have long enjoyed the music of The Hutson Sisters (daughters of Pastor Curtis Hutson). Their CDs are some of our favorites!

We are so grateful for the lives of others who have inspired us. When we have opportunity to meet, our hearts are refreshed and we leave rejoicing that God let our paths cross!

Erin recently had the opportunity to meet and interview with pianist Greg Howlett, whom she has long admired. Erin uses Greg’s teaching materials to assist her in giving piano instruction to her students, and our whole family enjoys listening to his incredible CDs.

Alyssa and Tori travelled with Erin to the interview in Atlanta. Greg kept the girls thoroughly amused with his fun sense of humor. I don’t know how Greg and Erin kept straight faces during the filming, with the two giggle boxes (Alyssa & Tori) on the side lines erupting in laughter! Greg is posting portions of his interview on his website (where his CDs are also available): http://greghowlett.com/   

I had opportunity to eat lunch with a friend recently who shared some growing she had done in her personal life. I noticed a new glow and an incredible peace about her, and commented on the change I saw.

She gleefully shared how God helped her realize her true worth to Him, enabling her to gain freedom from envy, gossip, and bitterness. Not that she won’t face these struggles again, she admitted, but now she has a new motivation… Comparing herself to a princess of the King, she knew these responses and wrong attitudes would not be fitting to represent her position in Christ, so she purposed with God’s help to conquer these “old weights” that had burdened her down.

She acknowledged that she had expected her joy to come from other people and other things, instead of Christ. Now, however, she is able to gain her confidence and contentment through Christ alone! She shared a quote from J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) that had helped spur this great change within:

“To be content is to be one who hangs on no created things for comfort and has God as his portion. Such a one is the one who is always happy. Nothing can come amiss or go wrong with such a one. Afflictions will not shake him, and sickness will not disturb him… He can gather grapes from thorns and figs from thistles…”

(Note: Mrs. Virginia Mulrooney has battled with lupus for 8 yrs. while still managing her home and homeschooling her 7 children. In spite of suffering, she exhibits a beautiful example of finding hope through Christ in the midst of difficult trials! I am so grateful for her humility, her desire to encourage others, and her strong faith.)

The children were excited to join Emalee Bean in celebrating her birthday at the zoo, where they had plenty of opportunities to pet the animals and enjoy a live tiger show!

Juju Chang visited our house to get an update on news about the addition of Jeb Colton and the new TLC show that will air March 13th. We met Juju last year when ABC did a one hour show on the family, and we all fell in love with her enthusiastic personality! We felt like we were having a reunion with an old friend, since Juju has such a way of making everyone feel so special!

Many have asked us about the upcoming TLC show. We recently agreed to do a one hour show (March 13th), along with another 8 half hour shows that will begin in the summer.

We prayed for a long time about this decision. Our priorities are to put God first, our family second, and ministry and work third. We want to be careful to maintain those priorities, but at the same time, the many e-mails we receive show that families are desiring encouragement as they endeavor to fulfill the difficult task of parenting. We certainly don’t claim to have all the answers, nor do we claim to have a model family… quite contrary, we recognize we have these same needs for encouragement. We are grateful for the many examples of other Godly families who have greatly influenced us!

The greatest message we are learning that we can pass on as encouragement to others is the message that:

A Family + Faith in Christ = A Foundation that can weather the storms of life!

This message has helped us to draw strength during the dark times and uncertain times, and we feel it is a message that can bring hope and encouragement to others!

As we learn more to lean on God for strength in our own lives, we pray that other families will also find the strength and wisdom needed to raise a generation of children that are eager to make a difference in this world!    

As our children grow up, we often face challenges – little lessons of life that have to be learned in order to experience true contentment.

One child might be concerned that another is faster, smarter, skinnier, prettier, more popular, more talented, more successful, etc.… We try to explain that God makes everyone different and has a special purpose in mind for each person. Which means each child will look different, have a different vocation, a different ministry, a different income, a different family size, a different amount of popularity or success, different hardships, etc.

Our job is to just accept His plan! When we yield to His will, we can become content with who we are and why we are different.

We explain 2 Corinthians 10:12 teaches us that comparing ourselves is not wise. As long as our eyes are on ourselves, our circumstances, or others, we will not be able to focus on God and His purpose for our life. Looking at these other distractions can cause us to become envious, discouraged, bitter, judgmental, boastful, or worse!

On the contrary, when we rest in God’s plan for our lives, we can experience the joy of saying as Timothy said in 2 Timothy 1:12, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

When we accept His plan, we won’t have to criticize the successes of others. We won’t have to brag to boost our own ego. We won’t have to “keep up with the Joneses” to experience fulfillment.  We won’t have to compare or despair! We won’t become bitter; we’ll become better!

One of the greatest lessons we can learn in life is to simply TRUST God. We often focus on and fret over the details of our circumstances, schedules, abilities, relationships, looks, finances, etc.… while forgetting the most important lesson we can learn:

 HE is in control and is ABLE to meet our TRUE needs!

At one week old, on Feb. 7th, Jeb Colton came home from the hospital! He is doing wonderful and we are so grateful for the exceptional care from Dr. Anderson and Dr. Bass (along with the care provided by the many special nurses that assisted during Jeb’s stay)! We are also grateful for the sweet messages congratulating us on Jeb’s birth. The prayers for his quick recovery were answered and our hearts are filled with joy!

(Photos by Alyssa)

Jeb Colton Bates

 February 1, 2012  4:05 am

 7lbs.8oz.  20in. long

His name means “Beloved friend of God from Coal Town”

(Our town of Lake City used to be named Coal Creek)

Due to an excessive amount of amniotic fluid and a very quick descent through the birth canal, he ingested a lot of fluid which caused him to have difficulty transitioning and allotted for an unexpected trip to the ICU nursery. He is doing wonderful and should be heading to his new home soon! 

We are very grateful for prayers from friends and family over the past few weeks in anticipation of his arrival!

We’d like to thank everyone who prayed for Senator Rick Santorum’s daughter during her hospitalization this past weekend. She is recovering from pneumonia. Rumors were spread during his absence that he was dropping out of the race, but these rumors were false and we are prayerfully waiting for Florida’s results during the upcoming primary.

Zach, Lawson, and Nathan have had such a wonderful learning experience while assisting with the campaigning there (http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-with-santorum-off-the-trail-surrogates-work-to-keep-campaign-alive-20120129,0,3187747.story).

Zach wrote an e-mail response to someone’s question about why he supports Santorum. He forwarded it to me, and I thought it was worthy of posting, since others have asked:

   Senator Rick Santorum is the only candidate who can oppose Obama as a social conservative, economic conservative, and moral conservative! Furthermore, Rick has a comprehensive, conservative understanding of national security and is committed to protecting American interests abroad. (He also contrasts every other
Republican candidate on several of these points)
Under President Obama’s Administration, our economy and American jobs are being killed every day. It is going to take someone who understands the role of government rather than a “job creator” that hands out government jobs while steadily increasing inflation to accomplish this task. We need a President that will empower manufacturing and domestic energy production, and will encourage a healthy private sector in order to begin rebuilding our economy.
Sen. Rick Santorum has never voted to raise taxes (highest ranking with the National Taxpayers Union).
Sen. Rick Santorum led the fight for welfare reform, which passed in 1996, saving taxpayers billions and moving millions of Americans back to work – one of the largest cuts ever to a federal entitlement (entitlement spending is 60% of our national budget). Sen. Santorum fought for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution that would hold the American Government to the same accountability of the American public. Sen. Rick Santorum opposed the government bailouts, which has driven our economy further towards a depression. Sen. Rick Santorum has a comprehensive understanding of how policy can either restrict or encourage growth.
Rick’s economic plan directly takes on China’s competition in manufacturing jobs and makes it economically better for manufacturing to regain the title, “Made in America!”

American government under the current administration is way over their heads concerning national security and protecting American interests abroad. Nuclear Iran is a growing threat to America and American interests; Rick Santorum understands the severity of these threats and is dedicated to preserving America. During his time in office, Sen. Rick Santorum was the national leader, ahead of the curve by identifying and proposing real solutions to deal with the threat of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. Sen. Rick Santorum served on the Armed Services Committee for 8 years. Sen. Santorum was raised in a VA apartment; both of his parents worked for the VA. Sen. Rick Santorum was the author of the Iran Freedom and Support Act, sanctioning Iran from obtaining weapons of mass destruction. Sen. Santorum was the author of the Syria Accountability Act to combat the threat Syria posed to Israel as our ally.

Sen. Santorum has a faithful record with his family, which is the most important institution and one of the foundational pillars of a strong society. Sen. Rick Santorum is 100% Pro-Life. Sen. Rick Santorum wrote the law that ended Partial Birth Abortions. Sen. Rick Santorum strongly supports marriage as between one man and one woman.
Santorum also has a faithful record as a proven conservative in Congress and Senate. Unlike his opponents, he does not change his views to be politically correct, nor does he try to run to the middle to gain support. He has always fought corruption in Washington and has an unmatched record reforming Washington.
Rick Santorum was a member of the “Gang Of Seven” that exposed taxpayer scandals at the congressional bank and the congressional post office. Rick successfully passed term limits for the heads of Congressional funded committees. Rick exposed millions in wasteful spending abuses at the Pentagon.

If we hold our government responsible to respect our views and not to compromise their vote in what they say they believe, then we should hold ourselves to that same standard and vote our consciences and convictions – not what the media suggests. The Bible teaches the principle that a man who is faithful in small things can be trusted with larger things. Rick Santorum has been faithful in the small things, such as family; furthermore, Rick Santorum was faithful to the conservative cause while serving in Washington.

The two other main candidates in this race were opposite sides of many of these important issues more than once…  As Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney wrote his State healthcare plan, “O’RomneyCare”, which specifically wrote in funding for planned parenthood. “O’RomneyCare” also allowed taxpayer funding to help a woman obtain an abortion for only $50.00 (human life is worth far more than fifty dollars!) While running for Governor, Mitt Romney noted that he was more liberal than Ted Kennedy on social issues.
Speaker Newt Gingrich explained himself as a Wilson, Roosevelt, LaFollette progressive. Newt Gingrich for 20 years supported the individual mandate (Government has the right to force you to purchase something whether you want it or not, a progressive view and the foundation of ObamaCare and O’RomneyCare).  Gingrich and Romney are attempting to align with conservatives, understanding that Americans now want a conservative in the White House. Even Barack Obama in recent speeches, has courted the blue-collar “conservative values” voter… but the record of all three proves otherwise! Like all politicians, Romney, Obama, and Gingrich are attempting to sway the American voter by taking small steps toward conservative principles. In contrast, only one true conservative candidate has been unchanged in his record, standing for what conservatives stand for and refusing to change his values regardless of the supposed political stance of the nation. That man is Sen. Rick Santorum!

Many of Ron Paul’s supporters hold the claim that Ron Paul is a constitutionalist and conservative. I do not have time to go into the distinctions regarding libertarianism vs. conservatism, but I will say that while Ron Paul calls himself a conservative, any issue that arises produces the same answer: “That’s a state issue.” Most of us do not want a Federal government that is out of balance, but at the same time, I have yet to hear Ron Paul address one federal issue that he would show responsibility for – even when it comes to the defense of this country. This mindset of “falling for whatever the people will stand for, while it may make good rhetoric, is
impractical and quite simply impossible. Under the Paul administration, every state would have the potential to develop border problems. One state could legalize everything, turning that state into a moral and economic nightmare, while a neighboring state could be attempting to maintain a conservative approach – causing unmanageable problems between the borders of each.  In his 20+ years in congress, he has run 632 bills and only 1 small one has been passed! To repeal Obamacare and rebuild our economy, we must have a president who is able to get the right things done!

Rick Santorum has always been and remains a courageous conservative. Let us also take courage to stand up and make a difference! It is not enough to just vote for Rick. The liberal media, Occupy, and many other liberal groups are attacking and ignoring Rick Santorum. They are willing to stand on their views and beliefs and they are very active. Many of these groups are very vocal and even come to our rallies. Christians and those of us that claim to be conservative, must be active as well! Everyone can help:

Call or e-mail others
Put out signs and bumper stickers
Encourage others to be involved
Donate to Rick’s campaign
Start a prayer chain for Rick Santorum (and his precious daughter Bella)
Pray for and encourage others to pray for this country
Visit ricksantorum.com

Faith + Family = Freedom!!!  Join the fight!!!

One of our favorite things to do as a family is to be involved in ministry. Throughout the year, we are invited to participate in church services in other parts of the country. During school months, we slow our travelling down to churches that are within a half day’s drive… but we were still able to squeeze in a few special church services over the past few months. With each meeting, we’ve left feeling blessed to have met, fellowshipped,  and worshipped with new friends.

A highlight at Bible Missionary Baptist Church in Rockwell,North Carolina, was having my mom, Gil’s parents, and many of his aunts, uncles & cousins attend the service!

At Progress Baptist Church in Fletcher, North Carolina, we were able to participate in “Family Emphasis Weekend” with Pastor Doug Raynes and his family.   

At Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Oliver Springs, Tennessee, we were able to sing and enjoy the preaching of Pastor Garvin Walls. We also enjoyed fellowshipping with our good friends, Assistant Pastor Ben Graham and his family.