MOVING UPDATE: NEW HOME FOR THE NEW YEAR!

The last few weeks of 2024 have been some of the busiest we’ve experienced as a family. Between creating Christmas traditions with our children before preparing to head to Tennessee for Christmas and celebrating Dad’s 60th Birthday with the whole Bates family, we were down to the wire on finalizing the details for our next home. While several doors were closing, we prayed that God would guide us where He wanted us to be, that it would be clear, and it would happen before the end of the year.

He answered our prayers in a unique way. In this video, we’ll share the journey and also give you a glimpse of where we will call home in this next chapter of our lives. While this new home is a bit different than we’re used to, God took care of the details, and it has been such a powerful reminder for us that often, what WE desire and hope for may not be what God desires for us.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

We are so fortunate and blessed to have found a wonderful new home, nestled within a community we love, with optimism and excitement for what 2025 and beyond will look like!

Happy New Year and may God Bless you and yours!

Chad + Erin

#Moving #Travel #Tennessee #Florida #SouthCarolina #Family #Home #Adventure #Work #FYP

[andreaweaver]

I will brag on my husband. When I was diagnosed with cancer 22 years ago, my husband took on all the kitchen duties. He has kept it up, and I am eternally grateful.

[eileendonnelly-yfxw]

Heavenly Father, we pray that You would bless Chad and Erin and their sweet family with a beautiful forever home with lots of land and that they can share that land with Trace and Lydia too! In Jesus Name. Amen!

[lisaengel]

That beautiful face has been crying buckets. I've moved enough to know it. Praying for you Erin, as you make this move, even if it's not yet your dream place. God is in the details. Trust him.

[Power]

Addy looks so much like her mom, a beautiful lady with a tender spirit.

[rootelation]

Erin, i agree, there are a lot of great guys out there....like you i am married to one of them. We dont live the traditional woman does everything in the house while dad goes out and works. We both work, and while im the primary cook, hes the primary cleaner. We both do laundry, and usually if i wash the clothes he puts them away. The garden is my happy place so i do whatever i want but hes right there to help when i call him and he makes sure im hydrated and well fed when im gardening. If im busy or tired he tends to the kids. I cant even express how grateful i am for such a loving and supportive partner God gave me.

[aimeemoore]

Chad is such a good man. What a blessing

[LindaSuggs-ds]

Where God Leads, He opens that door and Sends.❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🙏😇😇😇

[familybullen-kxns]

The last house had a way about it that felt off from the start . The new house has a functional kitchen and a happy feel about it and I think God is sending you there to settle and feel safe and give you rest while He works on the rest . Our forever home is in eternity and I think it is east to lose sight of this when the world puts so much emphasis on buying a “forever nest” in the world that will always be subject to the storms of this world, especially the financial storms. Living within our means and learning contentedness is harder than it seems but always brings blessings. We hope and pray you will be content in the waiting.

[carracoffer]

Just a little encouragement about living in town. When we bought our house, we looked for a country house...but ended up buying a house in town. A few years later, we have a son and now living in a neighborhood has brought his friends to our house and helped us make more friends and several of them need the love of Jesus. It has created opportunities to share Him more with those around us and I feel like we are able to share and show his love with more people than I ever expected. I hope that is an encouragement for neighborhood living.

[eringilligan]

That is a country subdivision! We are in Florida too and most neighborhoods don’t have all that space between houses. Beautiful!

[patriciatodd]

God did answer and you all listened. This will be an opportunity in many ways and the important thing is that your family is what makes it home. I pray you will get your farm in the future, but in the meantime your sweet and godly family will bring joy to any home.

[Heartmama]

I just realized how much you look like your mom…both beautiful women who are amazing examples!

[mariaruth]

What a blessing to be married to such a calm and uncomplaining man

[lianyshernandez]

Oh God, I can’t imagine the stress of moving again. We are going through the same kind of thing. Good called us to move away from the city to a small town to help a new church plantation 6 months ago and we are going to move again but to our first home. 🏠

[bibic]

We also were called to leave our country home to move to the suburbs while our older 5 were young. For that year and a half it was a challenge to be content while we learned to bloom where we were planted; but it gave the opportunity to hone in on homesteading skills that revolve around the kitchen and a small urban space, and most importantly, as a family, we learned a great deal about community. The experience strengthened our skills as we established relationships with the neighbors. Today, we live on 30acres and we still send those neighbors Christmas cards as we think back fondly to when we were part of their neighborhood. Be patient. Make it fun. And be encouraged. 💕

[kendrasteinhauer]

You are truly blessed and an inspiration to have such a loving Christian family....hoping our family can be the same with a lot of hard work and help from the Holy Spirit.

[brendahautaluoma]

My husband does all the dishes and unloads the dishwasher and does his own laundry(work stuff)plus when i was nursing he got our babies up and brought them to me and changed those night diapers as well as every other change! Hell go grocery shopping too if i make a list. Im.pretty lucky. We're 66 now and have been married over 35 yrs.

[denisebotting]

Good luck in the new house. It’s a shame you weren’t able to go back to Tennessee yet. Maybe you would do well in South Carolina at the grandparents farm, lifestyle you all enjoy! All the best for 2025

[tu]

Such a beautiful home with a nice large yard. You are blessed.

[anitarbalmer]

Erin, you can hear in your voice that this move is stretching you. Don’t be afraid of being stretched and leaning on the Lord. He is faithful. He is always most concerned with our growth. You and your family are precious to Him as you seek to honor Him and bring Him all the glory.