I am sitting on our wrap-around porch, with red, orange and brown leaves swirling around me. The toddlers are napping. But if I am honest, I am having a hard time truly enjoying the near perfect fall weather and this rare quiet moment.

I am the first to acknowledge that parenting is a humbling experience. I think I have things figured out in one area or another, and then poof— things change. I change. The children change. The weather changes. We are back to scrambling around, looking for a remedy or a fix for the chaos that seems to fill many of our days.

I have great ideals for who I want to be as a mother, for the kind of culture I desire my family to have. Rarely do I feel like that person, rarely do I see that culture come alive.

I do believe that as women we have a unique ability to set the tone in our homes. But many days I don’t feel like I can access that gift. I think often of the words of St. Edith Stein who says “Each one must know, or get to know, where and how she can find peace,” or of Fr. Jacques Phillipe, who says “There is no good reason to lose your peace.”

When I had just one little person, I felt like, ok, this is hard, keeping my peace all the time, but yeah, it is possible. With two, it feels insurmountable. What do you mean, keep my peace, my voice gentle, my words kind when screeching and fighting and needs follow me 12 hours a day? How do you hit that level of of emotional and nervous system regulation? Edith, what if I can’t find my peace? Fr. Jacques, I feel like there are many reasons to lose it.

Yes, grace carries us through each day. But that doesn’t mean the chaos goes away. Sometimes what gets me through is that very thing that also drives me mad— tomorrow, something will change. Whether for the better or the worse, tomorrow will not be the same as today.

I guess that is just the journey of having young children? Young boys? I do love to read other people’s advice on how to survive with small children, specifically small boys, at home. Some ideas help but on my grouchy days I just resent people who, in my eyes, are “weather privileged” and can say things like “get outside for at least two hours a day…”

Ma’am, have you ever been to Manitoba? Last January/February was almost permanent state of -40 C/F. Yes, my boys have exorbitant amounts of energy and would benefit from rough, loud and outdoor play multiple times a day. But I just can’t. I’m not a toddler boy, after all.

I don’t entirely have a purpose in writing this, beyond just putting something other than parenting advice into the world. Being a mom is hard. Being a good mom is harder. Being a peaceful mom seems hardest.

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For those of you who are new to Searching for Shalom, welcome! I am a Hannah Chartier, a writer, a happily married mother of two toddler boys, lover of cooking, baking and preserving, and a passionate Catholic who loves to make theology practical.

in the kitchen

My goal for this summer was to have at least one day a week set aside for canning/preserving food. Now, I haven’t kept to that perfectly, but I have had more than a few afternoons standing over the water bath canner and chopping crab apples. I love to see what produce I can get cheap or even free, and there’s already been so much!

Early in the summer, a local garlic famer posted in a town group chat that she had free garlic scapes for anyone who was willing to come and pick them. If you don’t know what garlic scapes are, they are the tops of garlic plants, sort of like a green onion but garlic flavoured. I went out to the garlic fields and spent a lovely couple of hours snipping garlic scapes and chatting with the two other women who were doing the same. There was something so natural, so ancestral about harvesting food and conversing with other women about motherhood, cooking and more. And I got about 20 lbs of free garlic scapes! I pickled most of them, but also tossed a bunch in the food processor and froze those in small chunks for soup or frying.

The local museum in town has some crap apple and apple trees that are free for all, so I took my three year old and harvested a bunch. He had a glorious time, and was quite good at identifying with ones were “yucky” (worms, bruises, etc) and which ones were “yummy for pie and applesauce.” I mostly made them into applesauce, but also a delicious apple crisp. As of last night, I also made apple butter, a thick, creamy spread that is so, so wonderful. Since you can’t really make jam with apples, this is an alternative. I’ve failed three times in a row at making jelly, so I’ve given up on that as an option. We have about ten jars of cherry syrup which was supposed to be jelly. Keeps me humble, I guess!

It has been a great year for cucumbers, so lots of pickles have been made. I also tried my hand at fermented radish/turnip pickles which were pretty good. They basically tasted like saurkraut.

My sister came to visit, and we tried a few viral recipes together.

These brownies were the best I’ve ever had (and gluten free) and this popular beef/ cottage cheese bowl was so satisfying.

writing and speaking

Since my book came out in May, there has been some lovely opportunities to connect with people and share about the themes of rest and maintaining interior peace.

I chatted with Bonnie Landry (who wrote the foreword) in this podcast episode:

I’ve also been writing a series on the strengths of a woman’s soul over on my Edith Stein Speaks newsletter. I am always so edified and encouraged by Edith’s words. The most recent installment is on having a quiet soul.

Edith Stein Speaks

facets of a woman's soul: quiet

The Edith Stein Speaks newsletter breaks down St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross’ writings into bite sized pieces. They will feature a passage from Edith Stein’s work followed by a short commentary, connecting her work to other notable saints, theologians and modern day thinkers. To read her biography…

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3 months ago · 15 likes · Hannah Chartier

I also have a few live events coming up. Connect and Inspire is a women’s event, where I will be speaking on self-care, joy and creativity during busy seasons of life.

Finally, I will be leading/co-leading a few retreats in the fall, one in Alberta and one in the Winnipeg area. If you are interested, please subscribe to this newsletter for more updates.

things I’ve been reading, watching and listening to

It has been so hard to find good movies lately!? A few I’ve watched and enjoyed are Big Night (a restaurant movie from the 90s), and Project Hail Mary. I haven’t been locked into a show in a while either since I finished season two of the Pitt. I’m desperate enough that I might even consider watching season three of Rings of Power, but only because I’ve heard the Harfoot screen time will be minimal.

I’ve been reading lots. Five stars books include In This House of Brede by Rumer Wilson, My Wild and Sleepless Nights by Clover Stroud and The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. For spiritual books, I just finished A Path Through Suffering by Elizabeth Elliott, which was a simple and profound exploration of suffering. I especially enjoyed the personal stories, and the perspectives given by Elliot as a wife and mother.

Oh and Substack, of course! I send articles to my e-reader and save them up for a cozy reading moment!

By

Ramblings

What They Didn't Tell You about Catholic Sex in Marriage Prep

A quick disclaimer: I’m writing this article with the assumption that the married couple or soon-to-be-married couple in question are a husband and wife with basic human decency and that neither is abusive. I recognize that …

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3 months ago · 262 likes · 111 comments · Emily Hess

By

School of the Unconformed

The Eating Rebellion: Recapturing the common art of cooking

For those of you who prefer to read off paper rather than the screen, we have converted the post into an easily printable file below. Please consider supporting us with a paid subscription if you download it. Thanks …

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5 months ago · 160 likes · 39 comments · Ruth Gaskovski and Peco

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The Bookshop Barista

Beauty is the Apologetic

The morning of writing this, I had a routine OB visit that was extremely uneventful. My doctor calls these “social visits” - because there’s no bloodwork or anything, just a check-in chat. The only mildly eventful event was our discussion of my small umbilical hernia. It’s not an urgent problem. One that I could probably leave to be f…

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5 months ago · 22 likes · 9 comments · Shelby Arnette

I’ve been slowing down on listening to podcasts, as I find myself craving more silence. But I definitely still enjoy popping one on while doing dishes now and again.

I love the Always Here podcast for relatable, chatty motherhood conversations.

Pray As You Go is a staple for me; I love the Ignatian style meditations on daily scriptures.

And the Ancestral Kitchen podcast recently published this episode, which features a question that I sent in :)

I pray you have a beautiful week, and you can look forward to more articles coming soon!

Peace,

Hannah Chartier

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My husband and I have now taught this class three times, in separate groups of men and women. Because I only teach the women, I will mostly be expanding on that side of things. However, a lot of the lectures and resources are used by the men as well, but the discussions may be framed in a slightly different way. Also, each iteration of the course has been slightly different as I continue to educate myself on human physiology, moral theology and the spirituality of femininity. I will be sharing the outline of the most recent course that we finished in May 2026, and will include the free resources that I use. The hope is to expand next year to a wider audience, both by giving the class in collaboration with our local diocese here in Manitoba, and perhaps by having a Zoom option. Exciting for all of us that believe that (Catholic) body literacy should be easily accessible!

To note, the syllabus and course are designed by me, but some resources such as worksheets, articles and diagrams have been borrowed from a variety of places.

Introduction from the syllabus:

This course focuses on examining the experience of sexuality through the lens of Church teaching. Beginning with the physical and practical, young people can then integrate the intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of their person and mature into fully integrated human beings. Reading from a variety of sources will be used to help students engage and dialogue with their own experiences, and to critique the mainstream culture’s approach to sexuality.

Who is this course for?

Older teenagers (mature 16+), and young adults are the main audience. However, I have taught it twice now with mothers attending with their teenagers/young adult children. I personally thinking any adult could benefit from what is discussed!

Course materials:

The only textbook required is Women, Sex and the Church: A Case for Catholic Teaching, edited by Erika Bachiochi. Every class is about two hours, and includes a guided book discussion for whatever chapter and articles have been assigned, followed by a lecture. I don’t generally give assignments beyond the readings; however, the first time I taught it I required that attendees and in a two page reflection paper highlighting what they had gotten from the course. This was more for their benefit then mine, and I have switched just to ending the last class with some journaling/group sharing time.

CLASS ONE: Introduction to Holistic Sexuality and Female Biology

*The Introduction and Chapter One of Women, Sex and the Church should be read before this class.

For this opening class, I begin with a discussion of what we mean by holistic sexuality. It begins with the foundational understanding that we are a body and soul unity. In the words of St. John Paul the Great, “The body, in fact, and it alone, is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and divine. It was created to transfer into the visible reality of the world the mystery hidden from time immemorial in God, and thus to be a sign of it.” Our bodies are created good by God, and so by understanding our bodies better, we can learn who we are and what we are called to be.

Why do we use the word holistic? Holistic means we are striving to have an understanding of our sexuality that includes all aspects of the person. The goal is to have all aspects (social, emotional, physical, spiritual and intellectual) integrated in a balanced way. If one aspect is emphasized more than the others either within ourselves or in a relationship, this shows a lack of integration. Too often sexuality is limited to just the act of sexual intercourse, but it is so much more than that. So, the goal of this course is explore our sexuality, looking at all the points of the “star” equally.

We then turn to the book discussion. I won’t expand too much on what is written in the chapters, because hopefully you are inspired to read the book yourself. The introduction generally makes an argument for why the Church’s teachings are pro-woman, and chapter one gives a vision for authentic freedom vs. license within sexuality.

The lecture for this class is more of an interactive exercise, one that I find quite illuminating (and the students have told me it is for them as well!).

I simply give a un-labelled worksheet of external and internal female reproductive anatomy, and ask them to label the parts that they know. Usually the score is about 4/12. It is wild to see how little women know of their own bodies (and I include myself in this craziness!!) We then go over in detail the correct labelling, and the definitions of the different organs and parts. Usually, there is a lot of nervous giggles as I reassure everyone that our bodies ARE good and there is nothing shameful in discussing them within a safe context.

DISCLAIMER - images are accurate illustrations, not meant for young eyes.

Internal reproductive worksheet

External reproductive worksheet

Link to definitions

And after taking any questions, the first class concludes.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

I look forward to sharing more with you because the truth about our sexuality shouldn’t be hard to find!

On another note, my book “Rediscovering Rest: A Thirty Day Devotional” is now available. Available at rediscoveringrest.ca - shipping to Canada and USA!

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“I really do believe delight is a flywheel: the more you seek to be delighted, the more delight you’ll experience. You’ll start to see and hear and taste delightful things all throughout your day.”

I have pretty much taken a full-stop break from writing after the release of my book, so this will more be a curated list than a substantial essay. Too easily, I slip into thinking that rest and delight are things only for vacation, but the truth is there are many delightful things in my usual day to day life. There are difficulties too, but struggles and delight can exist in the same day, even the same hour.

nature activities with children

My boys had no interest in this activity, except for the part where they got to pull all the dandelions out of the cardboard after I had made it oh so pretty. It was still so fun for me though. However, going to the tiny duck pond and splashing the water with sticks is a truly exciting adventure for them.

rainstorms

oh the sound of rain. Open all the doors, or sit on the deck and let the therapy begin.

easy frozen yogurt

Siggy’s cappucino yogurt, chocolate protein powder and a “my pint” ice cream-maker = happy mom

in-person book chats

although my book is available online, it has been a wonderful delight to share it with people in my day to day life through conversations. I find it to be a unique opportunity to evangelize, since mentioning that I have a book often leads to people asking what it is about.

teaching holistic sexuality to young women

I just finished teaching a six week course on holistic sexuality to a group of local young women for the third time. It was truly a delight to accompany them as we explored the spiritual, psychological and physical aspects of womanhood. I always learn so much from teaching. Our final class was dedicated to Edith Stein’s view of women, and truly, that deserves a six week course of its own!

“To speak to Him thus is easier by nature for woman than for man because a natural desire lives in her to give herself completely to someone. When she has once realized that no one other than God is capable of receiving her completely for Himself and that it is sinful theft toward God to give oneself completely to one other than Him, then the surrender is no longer difficult and she becomes free of herself.” (Edith Stein)

praying near water

again with the water therapy… prayer and journaling by a lake, river or while listening to rain just hits different.

In This House of Brede by Rumer Wilson

Heard about this book from a booklist and got it from tehe library. Never read a book quite like this- a fictional inside look at life as a nun. I am reminded of Edith Stein's words: the strength of a woman is in her emotional life. Gorgeous, and touching.

Ancestral Kitchen podcast

It is truly delightful to listen and cook alongside the wise women of this podcast.

planning for next year

As much as summer is a time for being outside, and not “working,” I love getting to dream about the fall and the many ideas for things I want to do… putting on a rest themed retreat for women and hosting a creative writing workshop are just a few things I will be mulling over in the next while.

what’s delighting you these days?

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Jesus’ response to our worry-filled lives is quite different. He asks us to shift the point of gravity, to relocate the center of our attention, to change our priorities. Jesus wants us to move from the “many things” to the “one necessary thing.” 1

The one necessary thing is to live at the feet of Jesus, and receive the rest that he offers.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

So if you or someone you know desires to build a life of rest instead of hurry, worry and stress, consider buying this little book!

It is available for purchase on my website rediscoveringrest.ca, or on my publisher’s website, Novalis. Full disclosure, small-time authors don’t make much on royalties, so it is very helpful if you purchase directly from us since it gives us a bit more financial support! You can also request the book from your local Christian bookstore. Later in the summer, it will be available on Amazon.

If you want to review it on your Substack or podcast or other social media, please send me a note via the website and I can get it to you at a discount!

I am also having a book launch party, so if you are in the Winnipeg, MB area, please consider joining myself and some other lovely local creatives for an evening of music, discussion, food and rest!

Sometimes the idea that you need a book about rest can feel overwhelming in itself. But Hannah Chartier’s Rediscovering Rest makes it really manageable. Each day’s reading is so doable, with simple prayer prompts and practical questions that help you take small, bite-sized steps toward real rest. Chartier approaches rest from many different angles, but always in a way that feels practical and achievable. It’s a gentle thirty-day invitation to begin putting everyday ways of resting in the Lord into practice.

-Angèle Regnier, Co-founder of Catholic Christian outreach, inspirational speaker and author

As a mother of eight children, I often crave rest and rejuvenation. While reading this work, my heart was immediately filled with peace. It’s like my soul took a deep breath and sighed in relief. Each page exudes beautiful reflections re-orienting us to find our rest not in an activity or destination, but rather in the person and presence of Jesus. I highly recommend immersing yourself in this book to assist you in recalibrating your body, heart and emotions from frazzled to found, resting in the heart of Christ.

-Janelle Reinhart, award winning Christian musician and speaker, homeschooling mother

Finally, thank you to YOU, my readers, for your support and prayers! May God bless you abundantly and bring you into his rest!

-Hannah Chartier

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What is the book about?

Rediscovering Rest is an invitation to take Jesus at his word: He says “Come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.”

Our current culture glorifies productivity above rest. We are tired in at least one area of our lives– physically, mentally or spiritually. Probably all three!

How can we shift the orientation of our hearts from seeing rest as something we get one or two hours a week, to something we can live out each and every moment?

Looking at the wisdom of the Bible, and that of holy men and women who have lived the Christian walk before us, we find some key ideas of how to make that shift.

The rest we crave comes from having a right-ordered relationship with God, first and foremost, with others and with ourselves. When we seek this order, we will find peace.

Of course, it all starts and ends with this simple truth: Jesus is our rest. Or as Catherine Doherty said, we can do anything if we understand that Jesus is our pillow. This book invites you to look at your physical, mental and spiritual well-being honestly, and take sure and steady steps towards encountering the peace, the Shalom that only Jesus can give us.

Of course, I don’t claim to be an expert at rest. I wrote this book after my second son Marius was born, during one of the most sleep deprived times of my life thus far. I have struggled with insomnia, with addiction to my phone, with desolation in prayer– all things that have disturbed my sense of peace. Even so, God has offered his rest to me as I wrote this book. He offers it to each of us, regardless of our external circumstances. I pray that you will encounter him in a new way through this little book.

The Cover

And with that, I am happy to share the cover with you all!

Even though it took quite awhile for the publisher and I to find something we both agreed on, I believe this image captures the refreshment that comes from finding true rest. And although this image is strikingly feminine, the book is not exclusively written for women.

Where can I find it?

The book will be available to purchase by the end of this month on Novalis’ website. Shortly after, it should also be available on Amazon. If you are local to Winnipeg or Edmonton, there will also be some local bookstores that will carry copies. I will also have books available for purchase directly from me. Once this is all live, I will send out another newsletter with all the links.

Additionally, I will be having a book launch event in June, so please subscribe or keep in touch for more information about that!

If you are interested in having me on your podcast, featured in a newsletter or as a speaker for a live event, please contact me via the about section on my Substack.

What people are saying:

Sometimes the idea that you need a book about rest can feel overwhelming in itself. But Hannah Chartier’s Rediscovering Rest makes it really manageable. Each day’s reading is so doable, with simple prayer prompts and practical questions that help you take small, bite-sized steps toward real rest. Chartier approaches rest from many different angles, but always in a way that feels practical and achievable. It’s a gentle thirty-day invitation to begin putting everyday ways of resting in the Lord into practice.

-Angèle Regnier, Co-founder of Catholic Christian outreach, inspirational speaker and author

As a mother of eight children, I often crave rest and rejuvenation. While reading this work, my heart was immediately filled with peace. It’s like my soul took a deep breath and sighed in relief. Each page exudes beautiful reflections re-orienting us to find our rest not in an activity or destination, but rather in the person and presence of Jesus. I highly recommend immersing yourself in this book to assist you in recalibrating your body, heart and emotions from frazzled to found, resting in the heart of Christ.

-Janelle Reinhart, award winning Christian musician and speaker, homeschooling mother

For more book updates, articles on peaceful living, practical theology and more, subscribe today!

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The experience prompted me to remember a simpler time in life, where I had one ambition, one dream, one hope: I wanted to be a pioneer.

What do I mean by pioneer, you may ask?

Simply, I wanted to be Laura Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie. I wanted to wear long dresses with two petticoats. I wanted to churn butter. I wanted ride in a covered wagon. And I GREATLY desired to own a spinning wheel so that I could make my own yarn. Some things I took into my own hands for my clothing of choice was indeed a pioneer costume dress with a matching sun bonnet. I did not see it as a costume though. In my nine year old mind, being a pioneer was a lifestyle choice.

So many of us have that ache to return to the past. As technology moves faster, we want to move slower. The fancier and “smarter” things become, the more we crave returning to tactile processes for everything from education to how we cook in our own homes. Western culture has now been deemed “post-Christian”— those who still hold onto Christian values long for a time when most everyone was Christian, or at least held the Christian moral standards like in the pioneer days. Look at where post-modernism has brought us— to quote one of my favorite modern day minstrels, Noah Gundersen:

“It's hard living in the 21st century
Everything comes with a price
It's hard living in the age of anxiety
So I got some pills prescribed
I know that it's part of the problem
But there's only so much I can take.”

We turn to the past. We hold it up as an example of what the world should be, could be if only people would turn back to the old ways. Yes, tear down the cities; we should all be pioneers once again, living off the land and the fruits of our own sweat and tears.

Is that really what would fix this mess?

I recently finished reading Prairie Fires, which is an actual biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Maybe it was because I first read them at age six, but I did not realize until reading the biography that the Little House on the Prairie series were fiction, despite Wilder’s often confusing remarks that everything in the stories was true. It was very eye opening to read the historical context of the romanticized stories. In correspondence, personal notes and more, Ingalls made it very clear that her life growing up was one of desperation, and that most pioneers were forced into impossible situations where crime, starvation and insanity surrounded them. At least one of the “Little Houses” was built illegally by Pa Ingalls on land where the family was squatting. The local reverend that is much adored in the books and tv series was actually a scammer who abandoned his wife. I had such a strong impression of the courage and independence of the pioneers, but found myself faced with the fact that most of them were heavily in debt and were unable to feed themselves. This is not the image of the good, simple life of homesteading that I have long associated with Little House of the Prairie.

Reality meets reality. Life is hard, past, present and future. There is no one generation or culture that has all the answers. However, I don’t want to sound like I am joining the chorus of de-constructers as they tear down every culture, value system or institution that has ever existed. I firmly believe that the past holds wisdom that does indeed apply to our modern plight. Maybe I just feel like conservative discourse often minimizes that even when we were considered a Christian culture, many people did not live out Christian virtues. The sins of those generations were perhaps more hidden than those of our day and age.

In one of his first homilies, Pope Leo said that every generation is faced with its own unique set of challenges and temptations.1 Yes, we are faced with a lot in the 21st century. No, the pioneers did not have to deal with addictive hand held devices stealing our contentment, nor the lab grown food-like items that are constantly pushed into our grocery carts, slowly tearing our bodies down. They had their own struggles. But despite the imperfections of the Ingalls family and other homesteaders, they persevered. They formed tight-knit communities. They reveled in the small joys of life, like maple sugar candy and wild violets.2

They faced their challenges, looking to the future.

The courage.

The community.

The appreciation of simple things.

These are not just romanticized ideals, but wisdom that we can carry as we face the struggles of our own time.

Pope Benedict said there is “the consoling reality that in every generation saints are born. Through all the sadness, the negative aspects of history, we see the birth of forces for reform and renewal because the newness of God is inexhaustible and always gives new strength.”3

So you may find me in my kitchen, gleefully making ancestral homemade saurkraut4, while also being very grateful for my dishwasher. You may find me praying ancient prayers, with friends who drive an hour in a car to join me in my home. I am hopeful that as we learn form the past, its glories and mistakes, we find renewal and strength for our day. By God’s grace, we are called to be pioneers of 21st century sanctity, with or without a butter churn.

I am going to share a weekly meal plan for my family, created on the Plan to Eat platform. It really has made meal planning so much smoother for me, mostly because I can just drag and drop all our family approved recipes into the calendar and go from there.

the plan:

the breakdown:

Monday: I have been cooking either a whole chicken or a beef heart most Mondays, and usually either of those will provide us with meat at least through til Wedesday. This week is a chicken, so I will roast that up and serve will some locally grown millet (similar to quinoa) and a classic carrot salad.

Tuesday: I honestly never follow a recipe for soup, but my main formula is onions, carrot and cabbage, with broth made from the chicken bones. Add noodles, sage, thyme, salt and call it a day. I am trying to revive my sourdough habits, so I will try to make sourdough biscuits as well. For supper, greek chicken bowls that feature shredded chicken, rice or millet, a greek salad, and homemade tzatziki. We are dairy free for Lent, so no feta this time.

Wednesday: We will definitely have leftover of either soup or the bowls, so that covers lunch. We often have people over for supper on Wednesday, and shepherds pie easy to make for a bigger group. My husband grew up with the bottom layer having creamed corn, so I’m going to try that this week.

Thursday: We are all obsessed with homemade sausage patties made with local ground pork. The recipe is from Ancestral Kitchen’s Pastured Pork ebook, but you can find similar recipes online. My boys, who are somewhat picky with their protein, will eat these patties three times a day. I’ll serve them with devilled eggs and biscuits or bread. Supper will be a spaghetti and meatballs, which are really the sausage patties shaped differently.

Friday: Ah yes, the meatless day. And now cheese-less as well, which makes the options somewhat less appealing. I’m going to try this Wild Rice Salad perhaps with chickpeas or sardines, with wild rice blend from Adagio Acres. Supper will be these lentil enchiladas (sans cheese) and perhaps guacamole. I honestly doubt my boys will eat either of these meals, so they will probably get random leftovers. A few other meatless classics for us are Baked Beans (my boys LOVE these), and shrimp stir-fry.

Breakfasts are pretty straightforward, so I won’t elaborate on those. For snacks, we always have organic cheerios, homemade fruit jello, cut up fruit, salami sticks and either some healthy-ish muffin or cookie around.

What are your favorite recipes for Lent? Bonus points if they are dairy-free!

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Have a great week,

Hannah Chartier

I’ve been itching to do one of these posts, mostly because I love reading and hearing about what is helping other people in their day to day lives. I first encountered the reflection prompt “what is saving my life?” from , and I’ve found it a helpful and fun practice for growing in gratitude. There is so much heaviness in the world, but also so many little things made for our enjoyment. Without further ado, here is a list of things that are saving my life during this winter season.

1. John Guerra’s JESUS album. Beautiful and calming devotional folk that highlights the words of Jesus. This song is my favorite.

2. An annual 24 hour January retreat. I went and hid at a local retreat center for 24 hours of rest and recollection. It was the first time I have left both kids overnight which I was a bit worried about, but everyone did fine. Unlike previous retreats I’ve taken, I went in with no agenda, other than a desire for prayer and to look at my priorities for 2026. Oh, and an undisturbed night of sleep. And that is exactly what I got— such a great way to start off this new year.

3. The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander. A small and poetic book that has brought me to tears multiple times. I feel that I am beginning to understand that Mary is my friend and my mother, too.

   “In this great fiat of the little girl Mary, the strength and foundation of our life of contemplation is grounded, for it means absolute trust in God, trust which will not set us free from suffering but will set us free from anxiety, hesitation, and above all from the fear of suffering.”

4. Reading literature. I’ve set aside my chick flick novels and am deeply enjoying a return to the classics, as well as to some of my favorite childhood authors. Rainbow Valley by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Middlemarch by George Eliot, and some of Janette Oke’s books have been wonderful companions in the chilly evening hours.

5. Meal planning is something I struggle with, and so this next one has greatly alleviated a weight off my mind. The Plan to Eat website/app make meals planning for the week so quick and even enjoyable. Simply add recipes (or find them on the database), drag and drop meals onto a calendar, look over the auto-generated grocery list and then print off a calendar for the week. You can see your friends recipes and meal plans too, for inspiration. There is a free trial option, which I have used up, but have chosen to pay for it. Check it out here. This program paired with grocery pick up orders has brought me so much peace of mind!

6. Drinking half-caffeinated coffee. I’ve had my suspicions about my capacity for caffeine for a while now but…. I just really love a cozy cup of joe, especially early in the morning. In an attempt to get rid of what I was pretty sure were caffeine headaches, I cut my consumption in half by making half-caffeinated coffee. It has done the trick—no more headaches, still little bit of extra energy and I get to enjoy my coffee (with lots of heavy cream, of course).

   

7. Beginnings and endings of creative projects. In recent months, I’ve been able to finish one large writing project and start another. The completed one is a book for Andre Regnier for which I was the editor. The book is called Hearing God’s Voice: A Guide to Daily Conversational Prayer. It’s a short and simple guide to having a vibrant and personal prayer life. I am glad to see it out in the world now. That project being done gave me the space and time to launch my new publication. St. Edith Stein has been a source of inspiration and wisdom for me for a while now, and it is my great joy to share her work. It also feels good to start something fresh when the outside world is cold and dark.

8. Reading substack articles on my e-reader. I send them to my device vi Instapaper and have really enjoyed pouring over them slowly instead of having another website to scroll through. Some favorites lately have been , and .

9. Good food. Some nourishing favorites lately have been Ancestral Kitchen’s fermented gingerbread cookies, homemade jello with added elderberry syrup, mashed potato puffs (a kid favorite) and date peanut chocolate bark. It is amazing what food can do for one’s mood (speaking as a woman and close observer of two toddlers.)

What’s saving your life this winter? I’d love to hear all about it!

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I am so excited to share this announcement with all of you! There aren’t too many details yet, but I want to tell a bit of the story of how this has come to be.

In 2024, I told my husband I was going to start a Substack and post every week. I put my best effort into that, and found myself falling in love with writing. As 2025 approached, I knew I needed another challenge to continue my creative growth. God made it very clear to me that it was time to write a book. And over nine months, I did. It wasn’t very glamourous. Most of the time, I wrote in fifteen minutes stints during toddler nap time, or beside the bathtub as my baby splashed my laptop mercilessly. It felt like I was living ’s Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood. 1 Special emphasis on the margins part!

But despite my attempts to quite, and multiple months where I completely abandoned my manuscript, a draft was completed. A query letter was sent, and in a whirlwind of events, my books was accepted for publication with a traditional publishing house here in Canada.

As much as I know my book will be read by other people, God has used it to do his work in my own heart. Please pray for me, as I am still in the thick of editing.

And look for Rediscovering Rest, in late summer/fall 2026.

a new newsletter

n other news, I have also started a new writing project called Edith Stein Speaks. It will be a once a month letter, with a deep dive into a passage from Edith Stein’s writings. I am slowly learning what I love to write and right now that is Edith Stein and food, respectively. If you’re interested in learning more about Edith Stein and her work on femininity, masculinity and spirituality, consider subscribing. You won’t automatically be subscribed even if you are following Searching for Shalom.

Get the details here.

Thank you for all your support.

Blessings on your new year!

Peace,

Hannah Chartier

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The tree would be alight, the presents wrapped and the food would be prepared. Her childhood Christmases were a happy blur of song, smells and more gifts than any child could wish for. It was so easy at Grama’s, with log cabin coziness and tasteful luxuries for the body, mind and soul.

Her Grampa always used to hide a box of Pot of Gold chocolates under his bed to be discovered by gleeful grandchildren. The chocolate wasn’t even good, but at Christmas, sugar is appreciated in any form.

However, going to Grama’s wasn’t an option this year. It had been ten years since Ellen and her husband had put down roots in the small town they now called home. As more children came, the logistics of traveling across provinces in the bitter winter led them to stay put for the holidays.

Those first few years of not returning home were tearful ones for Ellen. She felt the weight of being far from family at Christmas keenly. It felt like a battle to institute traditions that came so effortlessly when she was surrounded by her parents and siblings. Yet, a few years ago, while sitting by the Christmas tree with two toddlers crawling all over her, she made a silent resolution. Christmas was not be a time of sadness and regret. It she couldn’t be with the family of her childhood, she would do her best to create a culture in her own home that encompassed all that her heart longed for. Comfort. Joy. Good conversation, with a side of rambunctious laughter. And great food.

This resolution had made all the difference over the years. Although it required work on her part, Christmas was a truly joyous time for Ellen’s family. But this year she was tired. The baby preferred not to sleep at night and the constant -20 C weather had given everyone a bad case of cabin fever.

Blessedly, Ellen wasn’t on her own. As her thoughts turned toward weariness, her husband arrived home from work, bring relief to her very bones. She shared her burdens with, and her smiled in that knowing way.

‘Darling, you are the heart of this home. Look at the joy that is already so present. Let’s not get caught up in the details. Let’s turn back to the best of our holiday traditions and just be together.”

Goodness, he always knew just what to say. Yes, a simple Christmas would be enough. Perhaps a quiet Shepherd’s dinner on Christmas day, carols, and a bible reading. The children wouldn’t notice fewer decorations, or less variety on the cookie platters. They didn’t rely on those things for their sense of Christmas cheer, even though sometimes she acted as though they did. The joy and peace of her own heart would spread to them.

Grasping her husband’s hand, she stood up and went to fix a crooked stocking. Joy was simple. Peace was simple.

Christmas could be simple.

I like to dabble in short stories from time to time. You can check out my other ones here:

Thank you, books of 2025. You made me laugh; you made me cry. You made me want to be a better mother; you led me to reflect on how grateful I am for my marriage. You helped me grow in faith; you made me rage against the machine. You gave me greater knowledge of my body and my mind; you made me want to be a better writer. Thank you, for the journey.

Once again, I want to spend some time highlighting my favorite books of the year. Most of the books I read have been recommended to me either by in-person friends and family, or by other writers on Substack. I find that reading recommendations has really enriched my intellectual enjoyment. Please, if you have made a similar post, or just have some favorites to share from this year, leave a comment or reply to this email.

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I really found myself gravitating towards fiction books written either during or about the early 20th century. This was thanks to a post awhile ago from that highlighted author Elizabeth Goudge. I found myself in awe of the two books I read by her, and others of a similar flavor by Dorothy Whipple, Benedict Freedman and Arnette Cousture. All of these authors highlighted how every generation faces a unique set of challenges, and opportunities for virtue. Each of us has a choice to embrace our circumstances as part of God’s plan for us, or fight them to our own demise. We can choose joy and that it what makes life worth living.

“You’ll see, you’ll come to understand. These big things, these terrible things, are not the important ones. If they were, how could one go on living? No, it is the small, little things that make up a day, that bring fullness and happiness to a life.” (Mrs. Mike, by Benedict Freedman)

Without further ado, my favorite books from 2025!

Best light-hearted fiction: Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center1

I just loved how this book portrayed the life of being a toddler Mom, with all the fun and all the emotional messiness. It was perfect for reading during midnight feeding moments with the baby.

“That was the tricky part. You poured inordinate amounts of time and attention and affection into your kids, but the result was indirect. You didn’t point out a cat to your one-year-old and then watch him, minutes later, say ‘Cat.’ Instead, you pointed out a hundred cats to your one-year-old and then, one day, watched him point to a cat and say ‘Mama.”

Best non-fiction: Edith Stein: The Life of A Philosopher and Carmelite by Teresia Posselt, O.C.D.

I took a class on Edith Stein over the summer, and this was our required reading. I am not exaggerating when I say that this woman, this saint, has changed my life. Her biography was a wonderful testament to her journey towards martyrdom. It was written by the nun who was her prioress and has much of Edith’s own words.

“God is there in these moments of rest and can give us, in a single instant, exactly what we need. Then the rest of the day can take its course, under the same effort and strain, perhaps, but in peace. And when night comes and you look back over the day and see how fragmentary everything has been and how much you planned that has gone undone and all the reasons you have, to be embarrassed and ashamed: just take everything, exactly as it is, put it in God’s hands and leave it with Him. Then you will be able to rest in Him – really rest – and start the next day, as a new life.” (Words of St. Edith Stein)

Best spiritual book: The Soul of the Apostolate by Jean Baptiste Chautard

The thesis of this book is basically that everything we do needs to be rooted in a deep and abiding prayer life. In a world that values productivity, this helped me sort through my own weakness for constantly doing and get back to the heart of what it means to be a Christian.

“Let the men eaten up with activity,” he says, “and who imagine they are able to shake the world with their preaching and other outward works, stop and reflect a moment. It will not be difficult for them to understand that they would be much more useful to the Church and more pleasing to the Lord, not to mention the good example they would give to those around them, if they devoted more time to prayer and to the exercises of the interior life.”

Best re-read: The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

Honestly, this book makes me long for heaven like no other. In an engaging way, it shows how our attachment to sin keeps us from all that we can be.

“No natural feelings are high or low, holy or unholy, in themselves. They are all holy when God’s hand is on the rein. They all go bad when they set up on their own and make themselves into false gods.”

Best fiction: The Bird in the Tree and Pilgrim’s Inn ( The Eliots of Damerosehay #1 and #2) by Elizabeth Goudge

These books are BEAUTIFUL! Set in the beautiful English countryside, they tell the story of a family that faces decisions about love, loss and what it means to build a legacy. Maybe that all sounds generic, but I was deeply moved by the stories. I hope to get my hands on the final book of the trilogy in 2026.

“If you think this life is all there is,” he said, “then self-sacrifice must seem to you sheer insanity. If you do not think so then it is only common sense. It all depends on your point of view.” (Hilary Eliot to David Eliot, Chapter 9)

Honourable Mentions:

Hormone Intelliegence by Dr. Aviva Romm

Mrs. Mike by Benedict Freedman

Emilie by Arnette Cousture

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collin

a few cozy winter things I’ve been enjoying:

1. This article by . Inspiration for body, mind and soul during this season.

Catherine Shannon

Winter Thriving Guide

Happy Monday, good afternoon, good evening to my fellow melancholic depressives and welcome to your comprehensive, all-in-one guide to loving winter…

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2 years ago · 1122 likes · 14 comments · Catherine Shannon

2. My folksy Advent playlist:

3. Chicken Taco Soup

Thanks for reading!

1. Write letters and/or Christmas cards to your family and friends. Just keep a stack on the counter, so they are just as accessible as a device.

2. Print out articles from Substack or elsewhere to read offline. Trust me, you’ll get a lot more out of them if they are on paper.

3. Bake an obscene amount of cookies. Give them all away.

4. Knitting, crocheting, sewing— try one. I’m actually pulling out a sewing machine for the first time in ten years. Handicrafts can be strangely addictive.

5. Read a thirty day devotional. Some favourites are Advent and Christmas with Henri Nouwen , or 33 days to Morning Glory. 1

6. Keep a crib board, deck of cards, puzzle or short board game out. Play it every day with roommates or a spouse. The senior citizens have it right.

7. Watch a show like Planet Earth instead of scrollllllingggggg. They are beautiful, informative and will genuinely enrich your life.

8. Make salt-dough ornaments and paint a new one every day. They are not just for kids, and can make beautiful stocking stuffers.

9. Pray the rosary. No excuses. Pray it in little stints if you have to— a decade here and a decade there.

10. Go for a walk everyday. I am the worst at this once it starts getting cold, but it clears my mind up in extraordinary ways.

“If you would get exercise, go in search of the springs of life.”

– Henry David Thoreau, Walking

Let’s try to have a truly peaceful Advent, shall we? Also, if I could create a case that makes your phone feel burning hot when you try to pick it up, would you buy it? hah.

If you need more reasons to get off your phone, read this.

And please, tell me your ideas for being present this Advent!

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Expect real stories and experiences on Searching for Shalom. I hope you enjoy them!

As I wrote in my essay on The Gift of Siblings: “When I reflect on my childhood, I often ask myself: were my growing-up years actually unusual, or does everyone think that their childhood was unique? The truth resides somewhere between the two, but many parts of my experience stray far from the status quo of family life in North America.”

Growing up in a Catholic missionary family is not something a lot of people have experienced. At the Mennonite university I attended, I found kinship with the many pastor’s kids and those whose families had spent time as over-sea missionaries. Strangely, I could also relate to the children of military families who had moved around a lot. I think I am counting correctly when I say that we moved nine times before I graduated high school.

My Dad held many different positions in various Catholic institutions and ministries. He was underappreciated and underpaid in most of his positions, but a true desire for evangelization kept him and my Mom committed to ministry. As a child, it was very exciting if you were chosen to tag along with Dad to a parish mission. A parish mission usually consisted of two or three evenings where my Dad would give a talk, play music and lead prayer at a Catholic parish somewhere in Western Canada. These trips often included multiple outings for sushi with kindly parishioners, musty smelling ex-convent retreat centers, lots of people telling you that your Dad is amazing and of course, a stack of good books to read while Dad was preaching.

My favorite was when we would get to go to a certain retreat center in the Canadian Rockies. It was a huge building, with countless rooms of uncomfortable single beds. When I was eleven, it was decided that I would accompany Dad and a priest friend to this beautiful place for a week. I spent the week before doubling up on schoolwork so I could be totally free during my time there.

What eleven year old is excited to go to a retreat center for a week? Apparently, me. There was a team of young adults living there, and they took me under their wings, treating me as a friend, even though I was clearly a rather awkward pre-teen. I remember spending a lot of time in the kitchen, baking dainties for the conference. I still blush to think of all the flattery I received for my baking attempts, even though I am sure they were mediocre at best.

In order to get to the retreat center, we had to drive on a rather perilous pass through the mountains. In the winter, this road was known for being solid ice. Sure enough, we had a near death experience when the car hit ice and started to spin beside a cliff. My Dad yelled “JESUS!!!” (in a prayerful kind of way). I simply remember thinking, “it’s ok, I’m ok.” Whether or not I was thinking in spiritual terms or not is unclear. But we did make it out alive, if perhaps a little rattled.

You may wonder if I felt spiritually enriched by these opportunities to attend retreats and parish missions at a young age. Here’s what I’ll say to that: no prophet is welcome in his hometown. And no kid likes to listen to their father preach, gospel or no gospel. However, there were abundant opportunities for daily Mass, confession and even prayer ministry which I enthusiastically participated in. I believe that those experiences did help me develop a deep love for the sacraments, and an early recognition of what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ.

As Catholic missionary types, my parents also highly valued ecumenical collaboration. They were always introducing themselves to whichever Protestants they could find, leading to my siblings and I attending a good number of Bible-believing youth groups. Interestingly, I also stayed the night at an old order Mennonite family’s home while my mother gave birth to my fifth brother. I was friends with their daughter through a local knitting group. I distinctly remember getting into trouble because I read aloud to the other kids from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Apparently, C.S. Lewis’ fantasy was highly controversial in those circles. But their lack of appreciation for Lewis was almost made up for by the heavenly homemade donuts that we were allowed to feast on multiple times a day.

I was also taught how to drive by a Protestant pastor who happened to be our neighbor. I cannot fully remember why my own parents did not drive with me, but Pastor A happily did. He was a kind man with a big personality and a suave Peruvian accent. I never got the impression that he was trying to convert me, although he did thwart my attempts to argue apologetics with him. Before the language of accompaniment came out, all my Catholic friends and I were big into blasting them Protestants with all Catholic arguments. Why it never worked… I wonder.

Did you feel like you were supposed to convert your friends, when you were a kid or teenager? Or was that a side effect of being a Catholic missionary kid? All I know is that the Lord works in mysterious ways. Even though I don’t have data to report on whether my wholehearted attempts made any difference, I trust that God was laughing, or at least smiling, at my fervent endeavors.

That is all the memory vignettes of missionary childhood that I have for today. More to come!

Peace,

Hannah Chartier

I want to be better at promoting other creatives that highly value truly human stories and experiences. Below, you’ll find a few link to articles that I’ve enjoyed.

On the internet and AI by :

Slowdown Farmstead

humankeeper

I saw a duck standing on a rock beside the lake yesterday. All of the other ducks have gone, none remaining to keep her company. She was without flock or partner, looking (if I dare wade into the tempestuous waters of deciphering a duck’s look) utterly bewildered. Or perhaps I can say with more certainty, very, very alone…

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a year ago · 97 likes · 33 comments · Tara

On Social Media by :

The Bookshop Barista

Time to Come Back to Earth

In my initial planning this was going to be a more research based piece. But there are hundreds of “why social media is bad for you” articles citing all the data you should need to be convinced. Yet, very little changes in our collective attitude. When it comes to social media, as with any subject, I…

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a year ago · 15 likes · 19 comments · Shelby Arnette

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I was first introduced to Les Misérables around the age of eleven through the Focus on the Family Radio Theater version of it, which is brilliant. As a homeschooled kid whose mother heavily limited television (thank you, Mom!), radio dramas were just the best.

Soon after that, my Dad showed us Susan Boyle’s rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream,” as well as the 25th anniversary cast performing “One Day More.” Was it just the fact that Nick Jonas sang a short solo that made me watch it on repeat? Possibly. Ironically, watching it now, it is very clear that Jonas is the worst singer of the bunch. Haha.

My next Les Mis immersion happened in 2012, when the musical was made into a movie. We watched an edited version that excluded two explicit scenes, but that did not matter to me. The next fifteen years of my life have consisted of lip-syncing, singing, acting out, and even performing versions of the soundtrack. My younger sister and I went through a phase of being deeply obsessed with Aaron Tveit, who played the character Enjolras. I am not lying when I say I could sing the full three hours, beginning to end.

This deep love of the musical prompted me to read the original novel, which is around fifteen hundred pages. Well worth it, though. There is so much background and depth given to the characters that is impossible in a film or audio adaptation.

As a young adult, I attended a small Catholic college that, to my great joy, was filled with nerds like me. A group of us decided to perform “One Day More” costumes and all at an in-house kitchen party. I played Cosette. The young man I had started to develop feelings for played Marius, her love interest. It was romantic, and has become even more so now that that man is my husband. There is a recording of this performance, but I shall keep that from the rages of the internet.

At the same college, we also had to write a reflection paper on Les Miserable, in light of the Theology of the Body by St. John Paul II. More on that later.

A few years ago, my husband and I discovered that the Les Misérables musical was originally written in French. My husband, whose first language is French, began to play it around our home. It brings a whole new level of emotion to listen to it in the original language. The translation to English is not word-for-word, not even close. I have enjoyed hearing how the French version holds onto poetry, where the English opted for having a good hook.1

Perhaps the way that Les Mis has most clearly become intertwined with my life happened on a cold February night, shortly after I learned I was pregnant with our second child. The name Marius popped into my head with no prompting. Once it was there, I inexplicably knew that would be the name for our baby, even though I did not yet know it was a boy. And now we have had a little Marius crawling around our home for almost a year. It brings me a great sense of kindred spiritship when people recognize the name from Les Mis. Interestingly, after we chose the name, we learned that there is a St. Marius and that my husband had a great, great uncle named Marius.

Why has this story been on my mind lately? My husband and I just purchased tickets to see the touring Broadway version of Les Mis, which is coming to us in early 2026. In anticipation, I have been listening to the soundtrack and reflecting on how stories influence and shape our lives.

There are so many themes in the story of Les Mis, but a few stand out to me.

The first of these is the battle between the Gospel and the Law.

The criminal Jean Valjean, faces condemnation on all sides, until he is met by grace in the form of a Catholic bishop. This encounter leads him to change his life. He sees his sin, and leaves the old man behind. A new story begins.

“I am reaching, but I fall
And the night is closing in
As I stare into the void
To the whirlpool of my sin
I’ll escape now from that world
From the world of Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean is nothing now
Another story must begin.”2

He embraces a new name, and builds a life for himself.

Yet, one man cannot accept this. As much as Valjean embraces redemption and grace, the police inspector Javert does not. He believes only in the law, which says the guilty must be punished. He is relentlessly in seeking out Valjean, in order to return him to prison.

“And so it has been, and so it is written
On the doorway to paradise
That those who falter and those who fall
Must pay the price!”3

Ultimately, when grace and law face each other, grace wins. When the law meets radical forgiveness, Javert’s world caves in and he despairs. But Valjean’s acceptance of grace leads him to the light of heaven.

Another theme of the story is that of the struggle and beauty of bodies, of the flesh. The character of Fantine is rejected, objectified, and later dies because of actions of the flesh— namely, the “unholy” circumstances that led her to give birth outside of wedlock. She is forced into prostitution, ruined forever in the eyes of society. It is only Valjean who still sees the goodness of her body and its beauty, despite how it has been treated. The brokenness of her body illustrates the brokenness of her soul. “Where will she end -
This child without a friend?”4

This brings me to Theology of the Body:

“The body, in fact, and only the body, is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and the divine. It has been created to transfer into the visible reality of the world, the mystery hidden from eternity in God, and thus to be a sign of it.” (TOB 19:4).

The body is an icon, an image, that point us to God. Too often, we judge people based on their outward presentation. If their appearance displeases us, we make an assumption about what they are on the inside. If we see someone dressing in a promiscuous way, with ugly tattoos or acting in a way that is not in line with their biological sex, we are quick to condemn. But Valjean reminds us that the body shows the soul. If the body is displaying disorder, our first reaction should be mercy and grace. It is illustrating a point of struggle and suffering in their soul.

Another part of the story that points to the power of the body to point us to heavenly mysteries is that of the love story between Marius and Cosette. They pass each other in the street, and the next thing you know, they are singing to each other: Marius: “A heart full of love”, Cosette: “A heart full of you, This is a chain we’ll never break.”5 It is love at first sight, taken to the extreme. It may seem silly at first, but I think their story is a deep testament to how beauty can move our souls. Marius sees Cosette and his world is forever changed. He tells his dubious friends:

“Had you been there tonight
You might know how it feels
To be struck to the bone
In a moment of breathless delight!
Had you been there tonight
You might also have known
How the world may be changed
In just one burst of light!”6

Beauty has that power. And even though it can make us uncomfortable to admit, the beauty of the body should fill us with awe and wonder. After all, it shows us something of the beauty of God. Before becoming Pope Benedict, Cardinal Ratzinger wrote that “The encounter with the beautiful can become the wound of the arrow that strikes the heart and in this way opens our eyes.” 7Marius and Cosette open themselves wide to beauty, and to love— and their lives are forever changed. Even in the midst of a bloody revolution, with death grasping at theirs heels, they allow beauty to pierce them.

One of the final lines in the musical of “Les Misérables” is this: “To love another person is to see the face of God.”8 All the characters join together in a chorus that celebrates the truth of beauty, the truth of life. Even though we experience deep brokenness in our bodies, sinfulness, and pain, that is no match for the glory of God that is man fully alive. 9

In closing, deeply human stories have so much to offer us. As I have experienced with Les Mis, the truths that they carry can shape our minds and lead us to see the world with new eyes. Les Misérables reminds me that even amidst suffering and seeming failure, our lives have meaning and purpose. Every time we embrace beauty, or extend grace to a suffering person,10 we are making God visible.

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Things I’ve Enjoyed Lately

1. If you haven’t checked out ’s compilation on the body, please do! There is something for everyone there; “an ongoing education in embodiment through physiology, sociology, and theology/ethics/moral and spiritual depths.”

Life Considered

the [female] body: a compilation

Listening through The Unsettling Of America a year or two ago gave me some lightbulb moments. Especially pertaining to how modernity’s treatment of land fertility echos how we treat women and their bodies. I think he’s on to something…

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3 years ago · 98 likes · 16 comments · Haley Baumeister

I turned to it once again after reading recent article on Rethinking Complementarity.

2. This simple and delicious recipe for chocolate that is healthy. To note, you can use any nut butter and i is much, much better if you use maple syrup instead of stevia.

3. Two podcast episodes that made be feel deeply seen as a parent of toddlers, as well as this article by .

   Notes from Home

   On Raising Intense Kids

   I have a stock response for when people comment on how similar our children look to one another: “We make one kind of baby.” The saying is also true to one aspect of their personalities: they are intense. When we found out our third child was a girl, our first thought was “Thank you, God…

   Read more

   a year ago · 13 likes · 7 comments · Katie Noble

4. A fun (and clean) show called A Man on the Inside.

Peace,

Hannah Chartier

free food and stocking up

Fall has come again, and I am inspired. Usually, I feel overwhelmed by the amount of food preservation that I could be doing, but this year I have decided to really lean into my motto for the year: “be a chill Mom.”

And so, I mostly just focused on using my own garden foods, and taking in the free produce that is offered to me. The area I live in a just a hub in the fall for vegetable and fruit overflow. And honestly, is there ever a good reason to say no to free, fresh, unprocessed food?

I was given 20 pounds of tomatoes, which I canned up as crushed tomatoes. As well, I took in a huge can of ketchup leftover from camps and turned it into homemade barbecue sauce. 10 lbs of extra cucumbers were made into dill pickles. Free zuchinni showed its friendly face, but not in an overabundance like years past. It has been enjoyed in stir-fry, muffins and this delicious baked oatmeal. Many baskets of free crab apples from the local museum property were turned into apple jelly that failed to jell and so became apple syrup.

I am also learning, thanks to More Than Farmers, how to store winter vegetables so that they last well into the snowy months. My car trunk is currently filled with butternut and buttercup squash, pumpkins and acorn squash that I got for a $1 each. They are my loves. About 10 lbs of carrots, grown in my own tiny garden boxes, will be stored in the extra fridge for mid-winter carrot cakes and other such delights. I have bags of beet leaves and blanched beets in the freezer. And what I am most proud of is the ten small jars of pickled jalapenos that came from our own plants. My two-year-old was gleeful as he kept finding more and more of them hidden behind leaves yesterday.

Vegetables and fruits aren’t the only things you can store up on in the fall. Many farms are butchering right now. We just got ten chickens from a local Hutterite colony for about half the price that they would go for in a supermarket. My pork guy (how fun is it is say “my pork guy”) will be butchering early November. Bring on the bacon, ground pork and lard, please. I think I need another freezer.

If you are just not sure where to find local products, I advise going to a farmer’s market. Once you find one farmer you like, they can likely point you in the right direction for many other items.

coffee things

I am a total sucker for expensive, non-homemade coffee. Even though I have a milk frother and all the fancy things, give me a shaken oat pumpkin cold cream cold brew latte with extra whip any day. Half-sweet, of course. But trying (and somewhat failing at) a no-buy month in September, I have adopted the motto: “coffee is something we make at home.”

Hence, I am attempting the following things for my enjoyment and that of guests that enter my hearth.

Sweet Cream Cold Foam

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

Maple Marshmallows

Pumpkin Scones (to die for!!!)

All I can say is help me God to not darken the door of all those super cute coffeeshops.

That is all the food stuff for today. Hope you enjoyed it all! What your current fall food obsession?

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If you are looking for some spiritual nourishment, I recently wrote an article on what it means to abide in Christ.

“The fruits of abiding in Christ are peace, joy, an ability to discern God’s will, and a greater desire to serve God and others. When we abide in Christ, we feel content. When we meet God in our day to day lives, we can begin to see how the circumstances of our lives have been arranged to lead us to greater holiness and ultimately the eternal peace and rest of heaven.”

On my reading list lately:

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Withyweather Farm & School

Michaelmas Traditions

In lieu of writing my monthly “Homestead Happenings” newsletter for September, I wanted to share a little about our Michaelmas traditions. I’m planning to share more about this year’s eclectic curriculum choices in October, along with a list of our favorite “slow TV’ options for children and the family. We’re currently still settling into our school yea…

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a year ago · 5 likes · 2 comments · Emily Phillips

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The School for Housewives

More sleep, more food

The School for Housewives brings you short, practical, and thoughtful messages to inspire you to make your home. If you’re new here, go to the homepage for the previous Lessons; the categories are arranged in the menu bar at the top…

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a year ago · 97 likes · Leila Marie Lawler

Peace,

Hannah Chartier

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Gentleness is a quality of character that embodies mildness, tenderness, and a considerate nature. It is often associated with humility, patience, and a spirit of peace.1

Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit. We cannot force ourselves to be gentle. Rather, gentleness grows as we commit ourselves to prayer, discernment and openness to the Holy Spirit in our lives.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5)

When we experience the gentleness of God, we are able to in turn bring that into our homes and our lives. These Scriptures point us to the gentle nature of God.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart. (Matthew 11)

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40)

Many of us struggle, seeing God as a harsh, critical, controlling figure. Indeed, this view of God has been prevalent for most of Christian history. For many years, I struggled with scrupulosity, believing that I had to live up to a very high bar of perfection in order to be loved and accepted by God. As a young adult, being immersed in the spirituality of St. Therese of Lisieux finally helped me to understand the tenderness of Jesus. I return to this illustration from her autobiography in moments when I am tempted to believe that God is a severe task-master that I must please.

‘The good God would not inspire unattainable desires; I can, then, in spite of my littleness, aspire to sanctity. For me to become greater is impossible; I must put up with myself just as I am with all my imperfections. But I wish to find the way to go to Heaven by a very straight, short, completely new little way. We are in a century of inventions; now one does not even have to take the trouble to climb the steps of a stairway; in the homes of the rich an elevator replaces them nicely. I, too, would like to find an elevator to lift me up to Jesus, for I am too little to climb the rough stairway of perfection.

So I have looked in the books of the saints for a sign of the elevator I long for, and I have read these words proceeding from the mount of eternal Wisdom: “He that is a little one, let him turn to me.” So I came, knowing that I had found what I was seeking and wanting to know, O my God, what you would do with the little one who would answer Your call, and this is what I found:

“As one whom the mother caresses, so will I comfort you. You shall be carried at the breasts and upon the knees they shall caress you.” Never have more tender words come to make my soul rejoice. The elevator which must raise me to the heavens is Your arms, O Jesus! For that I do not need to grow; on the contrary, I must necessarily remain small, become smaller. O my God, You have surpassed what I expected, and I want to sing Your mercies.”2

Accepting God’s gentleness will lead to an overflow of the virtue in our own lives.

In a recent podcast, Sally Clarkson highlighted this verse from Proverbs.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15)

What would happen if we committed to applying this wisdom to our most immediate relationships? With our spouses? With our toddlers? In our online interactions? Oh, what about in our relationship with our own self, our own bodies?

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength. It is wonderful how attractive a gentle, pleasant manner is, and how much it wins hearts.”3

Maybe you associate the word gentle with the gentle parenting movement, which is equated with excessive permissiveness. Gentleness is shown in the manner in which we approach any situation. We can hold a boundary, gently. We can have a hard conversation, gently. Whenever we are inclined to respond with harshness and hardness, we can change the whole mood by stopping and taking a moment to think about how we can instead exude consideration and peace in our words and actions. Gentleness is strength; it is not about being a pushover.

Again, this all starts with our relationship with God. As St. Edith Stein reminds us, “we are not able to attain this condition by willing it, it must be effected through grace.”4

This week, spend time meditating and praying with Scriptures that illustrate the gentleness of God. Ask Mary, the gentle mother, to intercede for you. The more you surround yourself with gentle influences, both on earth and in heaven, the more your nature will be transformed.

Finally, a collage of gentleness inspired images.

Things I’m enjoying this fall:

1. This nourishing baked oatmeal from Ambitious Kitchen.

2. This very cute book “Saints Come in All Shapes and Sizes,” illustrated by a family friend.

3. Friends bought me these slippers a while back, and I’m not sure who likes them more, me or my baby, who has decided they are his favorite toy.

4. I have cut down on my Substack reading (and writing!) but these articles have brought me encouragement and delight over the past while.

   The School for Housewives

   Put everyone to bed earlier

   The School for Housewives brings you short, practical, and thoughtful messages to inspire you to make your home. If you’re new here, go to the homepage for the previous Lessons; the categories are arranged in the menu bar at the top…

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   a year ago · 69 likes · 5 comments · Leila Marie Lawler

Liturgy in the Home with Maria

Go With Haste to Your Elizabeth; or How to Care for a Pregnant or Postpartum Mother

When I was a college student and highly selfish (although I didn’t know it at the time), I would spend a lot of time thinking about the Annunciation. I would read and reread the opening chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke, stunned by the happenings reported there. But what would most often stay with me were the thirty-ninth, fortieth, and fifty-sixth vers…

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2 years ago · 70 likes · 21 comments · Liturgy in the Home with Maria

A Warm Hearth

Crunchy Lies

This essay is pretty personal, so I may put it under a paywall at some point. For now I will leave it free to all readers, so that others might possibly learn from my experiences…

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2 years ago · 525 likes · 64 comments · Emily Phillips

I was trying to explain to my sister recently how completely and utterly sappy being a mother has made me. These poems further illustrate my point. 

Marius

there are so many moments
shared by no one 
but you and I 

the accidental noises you make 
that sound like "mama,"
your hand on my cheek 
as you fall asleep,
giggles when I nibble your ears.

it is so sad
even devastating 
to think,
to know, 
that you won't remember 
any of it.

it will only be me
holding in my heart 
the sweetest moments of life. 

Xavier

I see your blue eyes,
peaking around the corner,
a giggle hidden, 
just waiting to erupt. 

How can I be upset
about another little mess
when the reason, the person, 
behind them all
has not yet curbed 
his curious and adventurous nature?

But that’s just not me. I’ve always been someone with a wide variety of interests. Yes, I am a mother and a homemaker. I am also a writer for various faith-based publications and organizations. I really enjoy cooking and reading. I have a heart for building community. This Substack flows from my life. You will find faith-based reflections, humorous stories, recipes and cooking chronicles and booklists. Woven through it all is my desire to live a life that is grounded in the peace of Jesus Christ. Hence, the name, searching for shalom. Fun fact: Shalom is also my middle name!

Now onto the main topic: COOKBOOKS!

As a child, I may have been known to read cookbooks. There was one particular cookbook with a blue cover that had the most gorgeous photography. My siblings and I would sit and look at it for hours, mouths drooling, saddened when we were called to a dinner of spaghetti and meat sauce instead of the delectable banana tarte tatin.

As an adult, I may be known to read cookbooks. As I was perusing my shelf the other day, looking for a good read, I realized that out of the 10 or so that I own, there are only four that I find myself using regularly. The others sit forlorn, waiting for the once-a-year moment when I may pick them up.

#1 The All Purpose Baker’s Companion

I’ve been striving to on my phone less and that includes using it to look for recipes. I won this book in a silent auction and I’m so grateful that I did. It has everything baking related— bread, cookies, pies, cakes, muffins, crackers, even sourdough recipes. I’ve made the sourdough crackers many times, as well as hamburger buns, whole wheat bread, carrot muffins, waffles, and pie crust— no duds in the lot.

#2 Nourishing Traditions

This is not so much of a cookbook as a cooking bible for anyone who identifies as crunchy. I don’t agree with all the author’s nutritional anecdotes, but hey, I don’t agree 100% with anyone except Jesus. This cookbook has taught me how to ferment foods, how to soak grains for better digestion, how to make homemade sauces… the list goes on. Some of the recipes are um, weird? You ain’t gonna find me making sauteed lamb brains with garlic anytime soon. But there are over 1000 recipes in there, which leaves me with a lifetime of new things to try. They are all based on the principles of eating whole, nutrient-dense foods, as explained here.

#3 Ambitious Kitchen cookbook

This is the cookbook I turn to when I want to try something new. It's my equivalent to scrolling Pinterest for recipes. There's inspiration from many different cuisines, as well as someone staples like Better For You Banana Muffins (family favorite), soups, and an amazing Honey Mustard Sweet Potato and Chicken Sheet Pan. The pictures are really what makes this one stand out!

#4 Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

This book is a hybrid textbook and recipe book. With water color illustrations, charts and flavour wheels, it will teach you everything from how boil a perfect egg, what spices go well together and how to plan a dazzling dinner party. Samin (the author) includes simple yet gourmet recipes and menu plans. This cookbook truly makes cooking an art form without being overly complicated. And there's a Netflix series that goes with it!

Recipes I made this week from Nourishing Traditions

South American Saurkraut - I had an abundance of vegetables from our weekly CSA vegetable box, so I planned to make saurkraut. I realized that I also had lots of carrots and onions, so I added those as well.

Pancakes- I made these with barley flour, since I had some on hand. They don’t get fluffy like store-bought pancake mix, but are still soft. We have them for breakfast with butter and rhubarb sauce, but will also eat them as a snack with cheese.

Beet soup (Borscht)- I have so. many. beets. From our CSA, but also from my own raised bed garden. I made this soup, and it was so simple and so good. I also added beet leaves before blending it, because they are such an easy green to add to anything from stir-fry to smoothies to soup.

BBQ sauce - this was for BBQ pork bowls, which consisted of ground pork with onions, rice, and roasted vegetables (broccoli and beet leaves). Also used it for chicken later on in the week.

Things I’ve enjoyed lately:

1. Reading the book How to Break Up with Your Phone, with a group has already helped me cut down on phone usage.

2. This episode of Culture Apothecary was really good, especially for women with strong personalities!

3. The Chosen Season Five.

   ---

   Peace,

   Hannah Chartier

Hello!

I’d like to start off by saying this post is not a prescription. It is not advice. I am simply sharing my journey, and my thoughts on this topic. I don’t think badly of you if you have arrived at a different conclusion than I.

I don’t like the phrase “screen time.” To me, it sounds like we are trying to propose that having times of checking out on technology is as necessary as having “supper time” or “bath time.” However, those activities are inherently essential to our well-being, while scrolling on social media, playing an iPad game or watching Netflix are not.

There’s a lot of “buzz” around our relationships with technology and more specifically, handheld screens. It’s not disputed in the wellness or the scientific community that prolonged screen use leads to cognitive setbacks, including loss of memory, attention span and decision-making capabilities.1 That’s not to mention what it does to our eye-sight, sleep, and stress management. Oh, and it also affects mental health and relationships—negatively. The study that I’m referring to cites excessive screen use as “more than two hours”, albeit they exclude work time from this definition.

Ugh, and my phone tells me that my daily average is ____.

Screens also make real life seem boring.

I 100% attest to this happening in my life: on days where I use my phone more, I feel less motivated, less excited and bored by my regular life.

This video basically explains how screen usage reduces our ability to experience pleasure and excitement by dulling our dopamine receptors. Over time, we need more and more stimulation to experience these sensations.

This is so sad. Sad for me, sad for my kids, sad for everyone.

Real life is beautiful. It is exciting. If you doubt that, starting reading literature like Narnia or Little Women. Watch your kids walk in the forest. The characters in our favourite stories and the little ones among us, know the wonder, joy and excitement of normal life.

The research is compelling. But, on its own, it is not enough to make me change my ways. If I’ve learned anything from studying psychology and working in the field of addictions, it is this: no matter what you know in your head, change requires heart knowledge. It requires an intrinsic desire to change, not simply an extrinsic motivator. Many people with drug or alcohol addictions whom I have worked with didn’t argue that their addiction was good for them. They knew it in their heads that drugs and alcohol were harmful. But they didn’t have the internal conviction to do anything about it, until they did.

Maybe you feel like comparing smartphone usage to drugs or alcohol is a little… extreme. There are stark differences. But there are similarities as well.

Full disclosure— I fit into that definition. No, I don’t spend eight hours a day on my phone or laptop. I have hobbies that do not include screens. But I am dependent on them. I do not feel able to put my phone down for an afternoon, without thinking about checking it somewhat obsessively. I usually end up giving up.

Why am I approaching this topic now? I’ve had a phone for almost ten years now. Honestly, my phone use didn’t really bother me until about two and a half years ago, when I had my first child.

Being a mother has made me hyperaware of how my device pulls me out of the present moment. It has helped me realize how I use my phone to check out or self-soothe on hard days. Most of all, it has prompted me to think about what behaviours I want to model to my children, because those little eyes are always watching.

I recently listened to a podcast where Melanie Hemp, the founder of was interviewed. Not only is her review of the research on screens compelling, but her own personal story of witnessing her son’s addiction was eye-opening.

As a mother who dealt with the pain of having a child with an all-consuming screen addiction, Melanie has now started an organization to promote being countercultural, to “move your child from the online world back to the real in-person world.”

We can talk about giving kids screen boundaries all day but if we aren’t first looking at our own hearts and habits, we are not going to be able to help our children have a good relationship with technology.2

My husband is a high school teacher, and he has witnessed the lack of interest, attention span difficulties and mental health issues that plague most teenagers, all of which go hand in hand with the fact that they spend 5-12 hours a day on their phones and other devices.3 It saddens me greatly to think of all we are missing out on because of screens.

If I don’t want my children to be addicted to devices, then I cannot dabble in screen addiction. I need to live in the real world, not just expect them to.

I’ve tried a lot of things to put a boundary on how I use my phone. Blocking apps, turning off my phone for certain blocks of time or even days, but I in days and moments of weakness and exhaustion, I drift back into the listless and distracted phone usage that has become my norm and the norm of many people I know. My sister and I were talking about these kinds of efforts. Both of us will obsessively look at our photos app or check our email even when all the scrolling-type apps are blocked. We agree that the dopamine hit we crave comes just from opening our phones.

Now I will say that I think it is possible to have a healthy relationship with a smartphone. I’ve seen it done, and I am glad for the people that are able to have the discipline to create and keep strict boundaries on their own. I can’t seem to at this point in my life.

Part of this is because of a lack of virtue and discipline on my part (help me, Lord!), but also, these damn devices are made to be addictive! They are made to change your brain chemistry! They are made to steal your time!

I’m saddened that part of me is okay with being an addict. As someone who has recovered from an eating disorder, I know the harms of compulsive, unhealthy behavior and the struggle of getting over an addiction.

But I also know what freedom feels like after getting over the addiction.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

I desire freedom. I desire to live a peaceful life.

I see that it is not realistic for me to have a life of peace, and fully live in the present moment while also being overly dependent on my device.

In one of his first homilies, Pope Leo spoke of how every generation faces a unique set of challenges and temptations. Yet, the Holy Spirit always equips the faithful to overcome through the grace of God.

Fighting against the normalcy of technology addiction may just be one of the unique challenges facing our generation.

All of this has made me come to the conclusion that, for me, in this season of being a young mother, I need to drastically change how I use my phone. It is going to be hard. Heck, it is going to be very inconvenient. I will likely go through some kind of withdrawal. And man, the practicalities of it are daunting. It may take me some time to figure out how, but I believe peace and freedom are worth more than a little inconvenience.

It won’t be forever. Many of us need start from ground zero and rebuild a healthy relationship with technology. Maybe you feel the same?

Finally, I’m looking at this mostly as a smartphone issue. I enjoy watching shows with my husband (ANDOR!) or a few homesteader YouTube videos now and again. My toddler greatly appreciates his quiet moments of Franklin en francais and the classic Milo and Otis (seriously the best kids movie ever made). I’m not against all screens at all times for all people. I think each of us has to look at our behaviour and identify where we are experiencing a lack of freedom/ an inability to find moderation.

Maybe you’ve realized that I am writing this article mostly to convince myself. So if you are someone who has managed to effectively put boundaries on your smartphone use, tell me your story. If you’ve started a digital detox group, please invite me. And if you’ve already given up your smart phone, please enlighten me on the practical side of things (maps, podcasts, etc?)

Or if you too are struggling with healthy boundaries… maybe we can do this together? I would love to do a book club with Catherine Price’s How to Break Up with Your Phone this summer, starting in the next few weeks. If you’re interested, please reply to this email, or leave a comment, and I’ll get in contact with you with some details.

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What would life look like without the constant niggling feeling that we should check our phones?

Can we learn to enjoy the simplicity of a disconnected life?

“Enlighten us, O my Saviour, that we may see what we are attached to and please set us in the freedom of the children of God.” – St Vincent de Paul

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Be ScreenStrong

Are You Too Distracted to Parent?

Guest Post By Dr. Adriana Stacey, MD…

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a year ago · 29 likes · 4 comments · Melanie Hempe