The Good Wife’s Guide {Review and Giveaway}

My sweet blogging friend, Darlene of Time Warp Wife and co-author of Reshaping it All with Candace Cameron Bure, is so encouraging and kind. I have been blessed by her in many ways. I have never met Darlene, but she is a kindred spirit. She is firm in her convictions and is living out Titus 2.  She has written a book called The Good Wife’s Guide and graciously gave me a copy to review and one for my readers.

I love the cover of The Good Wife’s Guide.  I love anything vintage and it reminds me of The Donna Reed Show or Leave it to Beaver.  We love old shows in our home that take us back to a more peaceful time. I am a romantic at heart and love the days of women wearing pretty dresses, gloves, and hats while visiting each other over tea.  And aprons, I love aprons! A simpler time.

But if you think that this book is full of rules of how to be the perfect 1950s wife, think again. Nor is it a book against working mothers. She speaks to us all~ whether we work at home or out of the home.

Darlene has beautifully written about the roles we are entrusted with as a wife and mother. It is a privilege. We start off seeing it as a calling, but as life happens, the importance of our roles seem to wear off and we grow weary. We lose focus. We often become selfish.

If we are going to be blessings as wives and mothers, we have to first get ourselves in order. How is our relationship with Christ? What are our priorities?  Are we selfish?  Do we spend our time well?  Are we domestically challenged?  Darlene will help us with these and many more areas.

How do we view our husband and our role as a wife?  Do we take our cue from the Bible or from Oprah?  Are we more into equal rights or what God has to say?  Is respect and submission found in our home?  There is great peace and freedom found in doing things God’s way, regardless of what the world has to say or the ridicule you will receive for doing it the way of the Creator.

She provides wonderful resources to help us become keepers of our home. There are verses for each room (love this!!), cleaning schedules, cleaning recipes and more!  After all, this the The Good Wife’s Guide!

I loved the fact that she admits that she struggles at times to keep her house clean. Can I just say that it is always a relief to hear someone admit that?  We envision that everyone else has it together and that we are the only ones who have science projects growing in the refrigerator and toilets or run out of clean underwear. Yes, that has happened to me, not Darlene. {sigh}

I love that she doesn’t always fold underwear. That always made me feel guilty for some reason, but now I am okay.  {I don’t do great folding sheets either. It just makes more sense to me to roll them up and put them in the pillow case so they stay together.}  Or that she puts socks in a basket to dig through. My husband has always said we should put socks or towels in a basket and get them when we need them, but I felt guilty for not being a “good wife”.  A good wife doesn’t do that, does she??  Thanks, Darlene, for giving me freedom in this area!!

Ladies, we sometimes forget that what we do is important or that it has to be perfect. Here is some encouragement from Darlene…

“I’ve come to realize that being a keeper of my home doesn’t require flawless perfection, and never has. It’s all about being a gift to my family and to the Lord through the small sacrifices I’ve made with a willing heart…”

We have all made those sacrifices…up with a sick child or husband at night, picking up after everyone else, putting aside something  you had planned to do something for your family, cleaning those toilets, etc…

Some more words of wisdom from Darlene~

“Purpose is found in those quiet moments when no one but God sees the work of your hands.”

“Where does your family fit in? Are you a stay-at home mom so that you can care for your children or your internet friends? Are you working two jobs to provide for your family or to feed your lust for the world? “

“That’s where trust in God’s plan must come into play. We have to believe that there is a time and  season for everything. Saying “no” today isn’t about closing a door; it’s leaving a room empty enough for God to fill it with something better.”

“Don’t nag him about his day or try to reshape his bad habits. Work on your own and practice acceptance at all times.”

I could go on and on about all that you will gain from this book, but you must read it for yourself.   You will be blessed and encouraged.  Your home will be changed for the better.

She just added 4 new chapters to the e-book and a print version will be out soon.  The book is on sale for $2.99 right now.

Enter to win a copy below using Rafflecopter.  Do one thing or lots of things to enter.

How about you?  Are there areas that you struggle with as a wife, mom, or in your house?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking up with: The Better Mom, These Five of Mine Plus Two, The Modest Mom, Raising Arrows