Book Review Saturday (Edition 4)

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald.

I have some strong opinions on this book, but they will remain unsaid because I do not want to get on my soap box. My feelings are mixed. I thought Passionate Housewives was going to be more about finding joy in the everyday busyness of full time momming and not about the whole feminist movement. However, there were some times in the book where I could feel a relaxing of my spirit and feeling confident that I am exactly where God wants me to be.

I found the following passage nicely sums up a life at home. Being a full time stay at home mom is not perfect in any sense of the word, but it's good when you know where you're called to be.

"Building a rich and vibrant family culture takes time. It takes initiative and perseverance. There will be seasons when a wife's "culture-building" activities will be dominated by a steady stream of diapers and dirty laundry. Yet we must not miss the significance of these menial tasks -- for they can be compared to the broad brush strokes upon a grand masterpiece.

The home is a place where memories are made, meals are shared, truths are learned, stories are told, and lives are formed and defined. It is a place of industry and usefulness; a place where thousands of cultural expressions are conveyed and where a family's unique flavor and character are cultivated."

The defining light bulb moment for me came in the last chapter, so it was good that I didn't form too strong of opinions on the book and put it down before I  finished reading it in its entirety. In the end, Passionate Housewives Desperate for God has given me -- if nothing else, inspiration to continue to be a keeper at home.