Michael Bates Courting!

[BalconySmoker]

Okay, I gotta give it to the guy. His gift to her was VERY sweet. A personalized journal with the first few pages including a story he wrote? That warmed my heart for sure.

It seems unusual for a guy in fundie land to be so romantic (Smuggar) and if they ARE romantic, it comes off really cheesy and lame (Mr. Waller) . Good for him, I would have squealed and tittered for hours after getting such a lovely present.

[3 ring circus]

I'm so happy for her. She looks so happy in these pictures. It's one of the first times you really see her personality come out.

I agree they cancelled the wrong show. I really enjoy the Bates family. Boob is just getting on my last nerve. His poor daughters have to find someone that is willing to put up with him. Can you imagine how hard that will be? And what they will be like? :cray-cray:

[medievalist1980]

Okay, first I'll admit that my view of Brandon is colored by the fact that he resembles someone I knew who came out as gay but then went back into the closet and is now married to a woman and has children. So I'm worried Brandon is gay. But what actually worries me more is that Michael didn't look happy to me. We know she is shy, but in all those pictures she had to play up to the camera - or try and keep up with Brandon, who excels at playing up to the camera. She looked horribly uncomfortable to me and I felt bad for her. I hope this is what she truly wants.

[punkiepie]

The Bates' need to start giving (and charging for) some conference/seminar talks on how to help your kids find a dating/courting partner. And it should be mandatory attendance for Steve-O, the Duggars, and the Botkins. Clearly they are doing something right in the land o'fundie relationships and adult children that these other "patriarchs" just can't get quite right. I realize that these fathers want to keep their daughters in perpetual servitude to them forever so maybe Pa Bates could give them a real Come-to-Jesus meeting about how that's a big fucking sin and they need to let their daughter's go and do the one and only thing they were trained to do: birthin' them babies.

I also think Michael looks really happy and I'm so glad she didn't get stuck at home as the spinster older daughter while all her younger sisters got married before her, a la Sarah Maxwell and those 35-40 year old Bradrick sisters. Especially since I really do think this lifestyle is probably the most suited to her- out of all the older Bates siblings, she seems the most comfortable and not at all like she wants to evolve onto the fundie-lite pathway. And I'm glad Gil and Kelly did whatever they did to help her not be stuck at home. I wasn't expecting this at all, but it's a happy surprise :)

[fullmetalheart]

Sonic has delicious tator tots. When I was recovering from my back surgery in July and my roommate asked what to bring me when she visited, I told her to bring a strawberry coke and Sonic tots. She did. ;)

That said, I'm happy for Michael. She seems happy enough.

[halien13]

I've been doing some research, cheers Google. Here's what I got:

-Oldest sisters Angie (38/39) and Alison (31) are strong independent career women. Angie has a BA from Spring Arbor University. Currently studying a Masters at George Washington University... Whoa! She is a senior executive assistant to the president of Business Roundtable (whatever that means...). Alison is an office manager for Michigan Executive Office. Both do running and Angie was in the Boston Marathon.

- RJ (36) and Craig (28-30) are both seriously hot.

-Becky and Brent (27) are twins. They speak on ATI/IBLP conferences, radiant purity, homeschooling etc... Becky is on loads of fundie blogs and everyone seems to adore her.

-Cara (26) seems to be the most fundie, close with Becky.

-Christy (22) and Amber (20) seem quite liberal. Christy used to work at a pizza place and both play sports. They wear pants and sleeveless tops.

I get the impression that the older kids were raised fundie-lite, then they got more conservative at some point, hence why the kids from Becky down are a bit more conservative and the younger ones are doing college plus instead of actual university. That said the two youngest seem a little less conservative, so maybe they eased of again?

[madpsych78]

Craig is a businessman. According to Linkedin, he graduated from Northwoods University in 2011 and he is a carpentry specialist at Clearwater Creek. However, his Facebook says that he is a loan servicing specialist (still stated that he graduated from Northwoods). He is politically conservative but his Facebook likes also include a lot of mainstream type stuff, including sports.

All of RJ's children have K names: Kensington, Kardigan, and Keaton (according to one source), but Keaton's nickname may be Rocco. RJ is a mortgage lender in Scottsdale, AZ. RJ's wife is named Heather and I think she is 42 and a real estate agent in AZ.

[Guest]

Craig is a businessman. According to Linkedin, he graduated from Northwoods University in 2011 and he is a carpentry specialist at Clearwater Creek. However, his Facebook says that he is a loan servicing specialist (still stated that he graduated from Northwoods). He is politically conservative but his Facebook likes also include a lot of mainstream type stuff, including sports.

All of RJ's children have K names: Kensington, Kardigan, and Keaton (according to one source), but Keaton's nickname may be Rocco. RJ is a mortgage lender in Scottsdale, AZ. RJ's wife is named Heather and I think she is 42 and a real estate agent in AZ.

Hold the phones. Kardigan? Like a sweater? Is a name? Of a child? In real life?

[Ralar]

Hold the phones. Kardigan? Like a sweater? Is a name? Of a child? In real life?

A couple in Alabama just named their newborn son Krimson Tyde. RJ should add Krimson to the list for upcoming babies.

[Dandruff]

I'm so happy for her. She looks so happy in these pictures. It's one of the first times you really see her personality come out.

I agree they cancelled the wrong show. I really enjoy the Bates family. Boob is just getting on my last nerve. His poor daughters have to find someone that is willing to put up with him. Can you imagine how hard that will be? And what they will be like? :cray-cray:

I also get a good vibe from the pictures. I can imagine them happily married, with him perhaps working for ATI or the two of them travelling the world as missionaries.

The Bateses would certainly have a more interesting show now, but at the time they were cancelled I found them just as boring as the Duggars and putting the same happy veneer over the extremism. I do like the Bates parents more than the Duggars, but not by a whole lot. They seem cut from essentially the same cloth. What's pulling the Bateses ahead (in my book) is that they seem to be actively advocating for happy futures for their children...even if they need to loosen the reins a tiny bit to do so. The Duggars seem all about their politics and the show and keeping all their children present for both.

[anjulibai]

I'm really surprised how mainstream so many of Brandon's siblings are. Perhaps there's some hope that Michael will get a chance to view the world outside of Gothard.

[boxedin]

Hi, Bates news always brings me back to FJ. I was reading about ATI's International Ministerial Institute. The school in Texas that Brandon was attending, along with a Staddon and a Paine. One thing interesting is that they now allow women. The other is that no courting, engagement, etc... are allowed during enrollment. I wonder if Brandon and Michael have been waiting until he was done with school.

familysupportlink.org/2010/07/02/international-ministerial-institute-now-open-to-young-women/

"Brandon is a young man with a love for the Word of God. He has a passion to see the eyes of others opened to its rich truths. He has a heart for international ministry and a burden from the Lord to preach. He has served with an international ministry for the past 4 years and is currently studying at the International Ministerial Institute in Texas." From website about 2013 Russian Tour apassionforjesus.com/international/russia_2013_tour

edit to add stuff..

[boxedin]

According to the Paine's website, Nate's graduation in Texas was November 15th. According to a response from Kelly to a question, Brandon called them to ask permission to court on Thanksgiving day. hmmmm

[singsingsing]

So Nate Paine has graduated, eh? I bet we'll see him in a courtship next. Didn't Thomas Paine stop studying at/working for ATI (I'm muddy on the details) because he met a girl?

[boxedin]

Nate is going to do 2 extra semesters. It's a three years program, but if you do four you get a B.S.... Which is probably BS

I don't know how many years Brandon has done. One thing is for sure... with this education, he is not moving away from ATI. My guess is that he is past the drinking koolaid, probably swimming in it.

[Mela99]

He does seem like a sweet guy. Lovely gesture.

[boxedin]

He does seem like a sweet guy. Lovely gesture.

I do agree. I am actually happy for Michael and Brandon.

About her name... I grew up watching Michael Learned as the mom on the Waltons tv show when I was a kid.

At the about the same age, I thought is was amazing that Princess Michael had met a Prince with her name. LOL

[Arete]

So, allow me to nag-how does he plan to support her and the arrows?

Romance is sweet, but it doesn't put food on the table.

[boxedin]

I think he will do whatever it is that David Waller does.

I'm not here a lot... but here is a video where Chad met Erin and Brandon met Michael.

The Bates blog about meeting the Paines at this party. I guess Brandon had a lot to do with the play.

chadsperspective.blogspot.co.nz/2011/02/valentines-slideshow_13.html

[RosyDaisy]

I'm thinking Gothard may have had a hand in these relationships (except Zach and Whitney), since Gil is on the Board of Directors. Aren't the Paines, Websters, and Keilenes ATI royalty or close to it?

[boxedin]

Check the video at about 4:00 for some Bates and also DW fabulousness. Also about 5:45 or so on for Brandon and more Bates.

[boxedin]

I'm thinking Gothard may have had a hand in these relationships (except Zach and Whitney), since Gil is on the Board of Directors. Aren't the Paines, Websters, and Keilenes ATI royalty or close to it?

I'm thinking he is pleased and will be at Alyssa's and Michael's weddings. I think these are grand ATI matches.

The Bates are my favorite family. They have their own cave. That is sooo awesome!

[lilith]

Are the Websters ATI? I didn't know that there were successful ATI politicians (JimBob Duggar doesn't really count).

[lilith]

I think he will do whatever it is that David Waller does.

I'm not here a lot... but here is a video where Chad met Erin and Brandon met Michael.

The Bates blog about meeting the Paines at this party. I guess Brandon had a lot to do with the play.

chadsperspective.blogspot.co.nz/2011/02/valentines-slideshow_13.html

Wow, that was Waller-tastic. Thanks! I've never waded through the archives of Chad's blog.

I didn't see Priscilla there - wasn't that the time they were both working at headquarters?

[anjulibai]

Are the Websters ATI? I didn't know that there were successful ATI politicians (JimBob Duggar doesn't really count).

I don't think still, but even if not, it's still a great match from an ATI perspective because John is a politician's son, and thus has connections that ATI can use.