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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.

The Good Wife's Guide {Review and Giveaway}

I love the cover of The Good Wife’s GuideI 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?



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

Mary Clendenin

Mary Clendenin lives on the family farm with her husband and 2 sons, whom she home schools. She enjoys farm life with her guys, gardening and making memories with her family. She loves to help others learn how to live a healthier lifestyle, learn about natural remedies and how to do business at home. Mary believes that home and family is your first ministry and a legacy that will live on long after you are gone.

18 Comments

  • Awe–thank you so much!! I’ll share this link with my readers on facebook and twitter tomorrow. I am so blessed that you posted a review–and such an eloquent one. Wow. Thanks again!

  • Sabrina says:

    making enough time for intimacy after a long day with 3 kids under 3 1/2 years.

  • Nicole says:

    I definitely struggle with the housework- I love it (sort of) but work outside the home right now and when I am at home, I just want to relax! I think this book sounds wonderful! I’ve read Darlene’s housework tips and schedule on her blog and got a lot out of them!

  • Jennifer Fujimori says:

    I struggle with remembering to remain patient and gentle when I am frustrated.

  • Chloe says:

    I struggle with time management!

  • Chelsea Wipf says:

    I struggle with not getting upset and impatient with my children when I am stressed about something different entirely…and time management.

  • Penny says:

    I struggle with meals & housework.

  • Willie Mitchell says:

    I struggle with housework due to some health issues but feel I have used it too much.

  • Cheryl says:

    I would definitely say I struggle with organizational skills and housework. It seems no matter how much I try, I just cannot get enough done to look like I have accomplished anything. We are a homeschooling family and when school comes first, housework gets put by the wayside. I would love to learn how to better accomplish this task for the Lord and my family!

  • Sharon says:

    I struggle with perfectionism and that means being too tired or annoyed to be tolerant or to just have fun and allow a bit of mess. When the family make mess I feel so irritated 🙁

  • Deanna F says:

    Mostly I struggle with time management which tends to mean I neglect through cleaning at times. But I’ve found some great resources on pinterest that (by God’s grace) might help me create more structure! 🙂

  • Michelle says:

    I struggle with staying on top of dinners. I never learned to cook as a kid so I have been teaching myself. I am started to realize that I am a pretty good cook! The best part is trying new recipes pretty much everyday I just have to get better at meal planning and staying on top of my pantry!

    Michelle Growing Mama

  • Elizabeth says:

    Just like with our Christian life — so easy to get busy DOING that we forget about BEING. I am always eager to Serve my husband and wash his clothes and iron his shirts and cook him a nice meal, etc. But I struggle with Being All there at the end of the day . . putting aside my home manager’s and home educator’s and mother’s roles and being his WIFE.

  • Rona says:

    Learning to be his wife first then homemaker.

  • Lena says:

    I would love to read this book!

    • Lena says:

      Oops forgot to tell what areas i struggle with most. I really struggle with my understanding that my husband has to work longer hours some days than what he was scheduled. By the end of the day I am wiped out because the challenges of our son are sometimes more than I can find the grace in myself to deal with. I want him home asap after his scheduled time, but the reality is that is not possible with his job. So, I guess I struggle with understanding, grace, and gratitude.

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