written by Gil and Kelly BatesIf you had asked us 31 years ago, when we met in Anderson, South Carolina, what the future would hold for us, we could have in no way imagined the joy we are getting to experience now.
We met at Anderson Junior College (Currently Anderson University) in 1984. We were first introduced by a friend, but really began to form a friendship after we joined a campus ministry team that traveled to churches to sing, testify, and preach. Before long, glances were being exchanged and admiration was growing. It was in chemistry class that sparks began to fly. I was the chemistry lab assistant, so Gil cunningly decided to ask for some extra tutoring after class. I was certainly attracted to his humor and outgoing personality, but most of all, I was fascinated by his desire to love and serve God.
We began dating seriously in the summer of 1986 before transferring to Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee. By Christmas the following year, we stood before an altar exchanging wedding vows and committing our lives to one another.
Little did we know that 27 years later we would have 19 children! We have a sign hanging in our house that reads, "It all began when two people fell in love." That love has deepened over the years, and this Valentines Day we are reminded of the treasure we have in our relationships: with each other, with our children, with our friends, and with The Lord.
May this holiday be a time to celebrate and show gratitude for the special people in our lives!
By Gil and Kelly Jo Bates
By Gil and Kelly Jo Bates
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you so much for leaving a comment. We will try our best to answer to each comment but due to the amount of comments that we receive, we can only do our best.