Yes, it has been another long hiatus since we last journaled about our journey. We have been in Nashville most of the time.

I (Michelle) did take a trip with my sis to see our Mammaw and Pappaw in Missouri and went to a baby shower in Memphis with my sister-in-law.

We have both been enjoying some reading. I am a little bit addicted to Madeline L'Engle right now and think I need to take a break. Dane has been reading more educational material like Power Trip by Amanda Little (a native of Nashville) and The City in Mind by James Howard Kunstler. For you readers out there, I'm on a online book club called Goodreads. Let me know if you want to join!

We have had some fun bike rides and hikes. We've spent a lot of good time with our families. The Huguenot Restoration Society is a work in progress. I've gotten some nursing practice in at my old stomping ground, Siloam Family Health Center. Monday's are refugee day at Siloam and I give LOTS of shots! We semi-fulfilled a dream of Dane's when we had pizza every days for 7 days straight. His actual dream is to see just how long he could stand eating pizza every day. Don't worry Dane has not fallen off the deep end, we're talking healthy homemade pizza!

We are in the throws of searching for a job as well. Dane is applying for city planning/community development type jobs and we're also looking into the possibility of teaching overseas. This weekend we are going to a teaching job fair. We are hoping that what is next in life is revealed to us as clear as a bell. That may not happen, but we're hoping. We are also realizing that where we end up is going to be much more than a career, it's going to be church, community, neighborhood....you know, life. And we want to live fully wherever we end up.

Although this is a year of Jubilee for us, it's not without its share of problems and sorrow. Learning to walk through sorrow ourselves and with others seems to be something that God is teaching us about. We know that our best efforts are very inadequate. We're thankful for God's grace with us and for us and in us.

Sorry, no pictures.

Until next time....

Our past 3 MLKJ Day weekends have been spent in a cabin. The first year it was just the 2 of us, the second year was with 3 other couples and a sister, and this year was with the Forlines Family (Dane's immediate family). We would highly recommend all three options. Technology for entertainment sake is kept to a minimum, while hiking, playing games, cooking and eating are main events. Bandu was wildly popular this year, especially with the guys (thanks for letting us borrow it Adam). One evening Mama Forlines treated all the girls to a spa treatment, while the boys played Monopoly. It was wooooonderful!

Papa Forlines playing risky with his extremely high tower

Dane and his tower using all the Bandu pieces. Quite an amazing feat!

Chris, marking his territory on one of our hikes

This past week has been chock full of culture! Cousin Samuel from France came to get the ball rolling on developing the Huguenot Restoration Society. It is still in the baby stages, but we've got it started. Samuel, in his spare time, works on restoring old Protestant Huguenot temples (churches) in southern France. He enlisted our help to try to involve some Americans in the effort. While Christianity is not very widespread in France, Samuel hopes to revive some of the the local bodies of believers that are still present and meeting in some of these old temples by restoring their place of worship.

Our office space for the week

Unity

Michelle's dad is still away, and in addition to working Big Oaks Farms in his absence, we've had the opportunity to be involved at the church he pastors. Last Wednesday night, Michelle spoke to the ladies at their church and I spoke to the men about our summer trip to Cuba. We were able to share how our mutual commitment to Christ and the common salvation we've experienced being covered by the same blood transcends any national, lingual, cultural, and all other differences. Ephesians 2:19-22 says

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you
are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the
household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles
and prophets,Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone
. . . and are being built together into a dwelling place for
God by the Spirit.

A local church we visited in Cuba

Sunday I had the honor of leading the SS class lesson. I decided to teach on unity - a topic I had thought a lot about last week after reading Howard Snyder's Community of the King. In preparing for the lesson, I began to see how welcoming and hospitable the Ephesus church here in NC has been towards us, on this visit and every visit. In this small way, I've been able to see why Jesus spent so much of His prayer to His Father while in the garden on being made perfect in one. In John chapter 17, just before He was arrested, Jesus prays that the glory He has given us from the Father would unify us so the world may see that we are one.

This means that the Church come together, in spite of national identities, ideological conflicts, doctrinal differences, race, political affiliations, denominational affiliations . . . and rally behind the name that gives us all our hope and ultimate identity.

That doesn't mean acceptance of anyone who claims to be spiritual or religious. Baal (any false doctrine) has no power to overcome the divisions of the world to bring us all together. But as Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, Christ has called us to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.

For whatever reason, God has chosen to allow for discenters and quarrelers to use compelling doctrines to cause division within the church. But praise Him that "He is our peace, and hath made us one, and hath broken down the wall of hostility between us."

Fellow Christ follower, please do not let secondary differences get in the way of our primary calling: that being gathered together as one in Christ, we be to the praise of His glory, forever and ever.

Beeswax candles

Mom and I ventured into the world of beeswax candle making on Saturday. We used a kit, but the hope is that the wax from Dad's beehives will one day be used. This was the practice run.

Melting the wax in our makeshift double boiler

The molds and wicks for the tea light candles prepped and ready to go


filling up the molds with the melted wax

The imperfect results, but we were happy with them!

baby goat is doing great!

Babies

The last couple months have been a new kind of journey for us. We found out we were pregnant in mid November. It was new and exciting, maybe a bit scary to think about, but overall we were very happy and thankful. It was fun telling family and friends, looking for maternity clothes at thrift stores, reading about the baby's development, and much more.

A couple of weeks ago we had a miscarriage at about 9 weeks. We were semi-prepared for it due to some issues with the pregnancy that made us worried that a miscarriage could happen. Despite being semi prepared, some of our hopes and dreams died with the baby. It was sad for us. We know that God is still omnipotent in our lives. God is still good. We hope and pray for another baby sometime in the future, but our first little Forlines baby is in heaven now.

Thank you to the many who have prayed us through this.

Today we did get to experience some new life. While the primary farmer is away from Big Oaks farms on a mission trip, Dane and I are in charge of the farming duties. Today we went on a bike ride and when we returned home Dane saw one of the goats in an odd position. Dane thought the goat was having some difficulty with a bowel movement and didn't think anything of it. About 30 minutes later I (Michelle) went out to check on the animals and give them some lunch. I noticed a little bundle of joy on the ground beside the black Mama goat. We knew that she was pregnant, but Dad didn't think she was due for a while. Mildly put, I got VERY excited and started yelling for Dane at the top of my lungs. We went out and marveled at the new life.



It was amazing that 1 hour after being born this little cutie was walking, bleating, and knowing exactly where to look for milk on her Mama. We think it's a girl. We are awaiting to see if a descent of the gonads proves us wrong. What a joy to experience this! I told Dane it's going to be 100% more exciting when we have a baby!

Christmas Food

Since we've been married, we have alternated years spending Christmas with each of our families. This year, it's off to the coast of North Carolina for Christmas at the Haas House.

Food usually plays a prominent role around the holidays, and for us, 'tis no exception. The nature of our food, however, can get a bit extraordinary. For starters, take a look at the cute little goat below with the pretty eyes - since our full stomachs are worn off, the photo is the only remaining evidence that this Christmas goat ever existed.






French heritage can be found often in the Haas family, as evidenced by our night of galettes, crepes, and, thanks to Joseph, chef extraordinaire, delicious creme brulee.






From France we traveled to Italy (only culinarily), where our chef prepared homemade pasta alfredo . . . scratch factor - 8.5!


To work off all the poundage, we enjoyed a Christmas day hike through the woods, and a few days later, a stroll through quaint downtown Washington, NC.

Peaceful chapel in Washington

This month marks the halfway point for the jubilee year. So far, we both agree that the journey has taken us beyond our expectations. The opportunities we have had to reconnect with family and old friends has been priceless. We have also got to see many different ways Christ is using His church. We have been tremendously blessed throughout this journey of jubilee, and look forward to the second half.


We have been in Nashville for the past 5 weeks, save a weekend excursion to Memphis. Before leaving for NC for a Haas Christmas, here are some Nashville highlights.


Our garage in McFerrin Park has been moaning the decades of neglect it suffered prior to our ownership beginning 4 years ago. Revisit the blog to see a pic of the completed renovation.






One of our favorite hiking places nearby is Radnor Lake about 15 minutes away. We almost always see deer. Lately we've also seen geese, turtles, and a variety of beautiful birds.

While at home, board games and card games become one of the favored pastimes. SkipBo burst on the scene after being found at a thrift store jungle for 75 cents.

Papa 4lines - cheating at SkipBo with a Cubby up his sleave.

One of the main attractions on our Memphis trip was a house concert with the Pates Family Singers (not their official name). We also enjoyed a raucous Christmas party, hours of visiting friends, and an urbane Sunday brunch atop one of Memphis' tallest buildings.

Back in Nashville, Mom and Dad 4lines have been quite accommodating, allowing us to nourish the Christmas spirit through twinkly lights staple-gunned to the kitchen cabinets.

I think they complement nicely with the always-elegent Christmas tree. Merry Christmas!