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Carolyn MK's avatar

I love the cardinal Sarah book you cite here! Also, Reclaiming Quiet is available on hoopla to tomorrow, at least for my library network.

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Isn’t the Cardinal Sarah book amazing? It was super dense and I had to dip in and out of it over time, but WOW.

Thanks for the Hoopla heads-up - adding that to the original post!

Ishah Naomi's avatar

A great choice ❤️

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

I always love sharing these bookish joys with you, Ishah!

Meagan Davenport's avatar

Ahhh Sarah is such a gem! Enjoy!

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Isn't she though?! Thank you, Meagan!

Jill Warner's avatar

I'd been considering reading this, but deferred knowing there would be a bookclub selection coming soon. I'll have to miss the discussions, as I get to go to an icon painting retreat the first week of February!

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

We'll have the replays for you, of course! I am SO EXCITED about your icon (!) painting (!) retreat (!!) I'll look forward to hearing more...

Catherine Nunan's avatar

I am just as excited too!!! Icons. Wow.

Jill Warner's avatar

Presbyterians aren't known for icons, so I was super excited when our regional Presbytery offered an icon painting retreat for pastors. We'll be painting Archangel Michael and learning about icons from a woman who has painted Eastern Orthodox church ceilings in Ukraine!

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Oh!! What a dream!

Catherine Nunan's avatar

I am from a staunch Catholic family but we did not have icons at all growing up nor at our church and two years ago I bought my first one. My granddaughter Iris really likes it and she also asks Archangel Michael to keep us all safe sometimes at night prayer. So, she will be happy to know what you will be doing. Would you mind letting us know how it goes?

Jody Collins's avatar

Oh Kristin what a delight this is! Yay.

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Isn't it so exciting?!

Jessica Telian's avatar

One of my very favorite books!

Amelia Maness-Gilliland's avatar

I’m so excited for this!

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Yay! Ditto - this book is such a balm!

Lahni Blair's avatar

What a delightful duo 🤍🌟 This will be such a gift.

Sarah’s books have been deeply formational in my faith journey over the past several years. This Beautiful Truth met me in my own season of wrestling and suffering and Reclaiming Quiet is one I’ve returned to frequently since reading it last year. The prayers have been particularly meaningful along the way. I actually just framed one of the prayers last week to display in our entry way. The one that begins with “Oh, God, whose love is the root of all of our yearning, teach us to treasure our hunger. Draw us onto the pilgrim path, let foot and soul be restless to find you. Help us to enter the quiet we find each day as the pace of our own adventuring…”

So much to return to in this gem of a book. I hope to join in some capacity even if I can’t make all of the meetings.

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

This is so resonant, Lahni! Similarly, This Beautiful Truth met me in deep suffering, and with my own struggles with PTSD and anxiety. I felt so very seen by the vulnerability that Sarah has in her writing. Learning to pair hope with suffering has been an ongoing journey for me.

How absolutely brilliant to frame up one of her beautiful prayers, too…her reflections on our pilgrim nature hit so hard, in the best way!

Catherine Nunan's avatar

I too found Sally Clarkson and then Sarah and Joy at a time when I needed encouragement and help in bringing beauty, order, God, books and family worth into my life. I follow Sarah on Patreon and in her Vicarage blog so it will be lovely to chat with her over this book, which I have not read yet. It was not available in Australia when she did it on her Patreon Bookclub but it is now. Perfect timing! Grace's book is also now available so I get to go back and watch the recording of our chat with her too. Are they pigeons on the latest illustration? They look like the ones that were drinking out of my bird bath this morning.

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

Sally, Sarah, and Joy have probably been some of the most impactful spiritual companions (from afar) for me during motherhood, and somehow, I'm not surprised to hear that they have been your go-to's for encouragement, too. I keep meaning to explore Sally's subscription site as well!

I'm just so delighted that, since the timing didn't work out for the release of her book in Australia when she covered it on Patron, you'll get another opportunity to chat with her about it here! (Or watch the replay!) And YAY, I'm so glad Grace's book is out for you now, too.

Those pigeon-like critters are turtledoves...little reminders of Candlemas (two doves brought for the purification!)

Catherine Nunan's avatar

Of course - the turtledoves to be bought and used in the temple. I also need to watch your latest video which I missed due to the egregious time zone here. Is that available yet?

Kristin Haakenson's avatar

It is! We had such a sweet chat. The link is in the original post.