Bringing Up Bates"New Beginnings"
- The idea of some of the Bates ladies starting a boutique had been thrown around for a while, until Carlin finally decided to give it a go. Erin and Whitney were eager to join the venture.
- Chad, Erin, Whitney, Zack, and Carlin get together to discuss the Bates Sisters Boutique. They have applied for a business license and are working on the website. When the topic of the return policy comes up, Erin is embarrassed to admit that she once wore a dress with the tag on and then returned it. “That’s probably not very honorable,” she admits. “I took good care of it.”
- “One of my biggest things for the business is to help other young moms and girls find dresses that are affordable but also comfortable and stylish," says Erin. "Carlin, of course, and Whitney are more stylish than I would be considered. I am more about comfort."
- Kelly takes Addie, Ellie, and Callie to the high ropes course at Ijams Nature Center. Kelly has been very busy with Carlin‘s wedding, and she wants to spend some quality time with her younger girls. “I’m not very adventurous, but I will do anything for my kids,” she says.
- “There’s a lot of ways you can describe my mom,” says Lawson. “Very adventurous when it comes to seeing things, scenic places, but some of those adrenaline rush things, not her cup of tea.”
- The ladies do great on the easy course. “There was one little moment where Callie started getting nervous,” says Kelly. “She started getting scared. Then she started panicking.” Kelly and the sisters encourage her, and she is able to push through and enjoy the rest of the outing.
- But then Kelly starts freaking out. “The girls were really patient with me, but I was determined to do it just for them,” says Kelly.
- The Bates appreciate their mom's can-do attitude. "It is super fun when our mom takes us out somewhere because she doesn't just sit back," says Addallee. "Whatever you do, she'll do it with you."
- "Well I'm really proud that my wife is willing to do things that are very uncomfortable for her and scary for her just because she loves the kids," says Gil. "She wants to be the mom that's there for every kid for everything they do."
- Carlin and Evan are honored that their wedding shower is the first official event in the new church building. The parents and grandparents each share a word of marriage advice. Kelly encourages them to continue holding hands, hugging, and kissing, even when they're married. Gil tells them to always put the other person first. Denese Stewart urges them to kiss goodnight and cautions them against going to bed angry. Paul Stewart reminds them to continue going on dates. Everyone laughs when Papa Bill tells Evan to listen to Carlin. "Just remember this: If she's not happy, you're not going to have a good time."
- The most thoughtful gift is from the mother of one of Carlin's piano students. It's a painting of Portland Head Light, the Maine lighthouse where Evan proposed.
- "Watching my family standing around in the room and all of them working and taking their time to invest in our lives, there's nothing like it," Carlin says, with sincerity.
- The episode ends with the dedication service at the new church building. "Our hearts were just overflowing with gratefulness," says Kelly. Evan's family is present, and they sing for the congregation before Gil begins to preach.
- "It's amazing how God, since it's His church, has been involved doing some miraculous things, says Gil. Having a building for his flock to call home is a dream come true for Gil.