I have been wanting to read Anne Elliott's book, Juggling Life's Responsibilities: Biblical Help for the Married Woman, for several years now, so when I had the opportunity to review the book, I was thrilled! Like Anne, I concentrated on making good grades in college and looked ahead to finding the perfect job afterwards. Although I had excellent homemaking role models in my life (mother, grandmothers aunts, etc.), I was just too busy "bettering myself" to bother paying too much attention to all that "managing the home and tending to a husband and family" stuff. I somehow miraculously learned to cook rather well, but the rest of my homemaking skills were sketchy at best.

When I got married right out of college, I realized very quickly that my "education" in areas that truly mattered was sadly and woefully lacking! I wish I could count the number of phone calls I made to my mother and grandmothers to ask countless questions, get advice, and seek encouragement in my new role. Oh, how I wish I'd invested myself in learning these things beforehand. I would've saved myself (and my husband) a lot of trouble and discouragement, and my learning curve would have been much easier. That's why I want my daughters to be better prepared (physically, mentally, and spiritually) for their future roles as wives and mothers than I was.

Anne's book is the perfect resource for young women who are of marriageable age, those who are just learning to navigate as new wives or mothers, or women who have been married for years. The 288-page paperback is chock-full of practical (and sometimes humorous) advice and how-to's, wisdom for women who seek to live and thrive in their God-given roles, personal stories, and lots of inspiration and encouragement!

The Table of Contents is as follows:

Preface
Introduction: God's Design for You
CHAPTER 1 Setting Priorities
CHAPTER 2 Fulfilling Your God-given Roles
Part 1: Your God
CHAPTER 3 Thinking Biblically
CHAPTER 4 Tapping into God's Power
CHAPTER 5 Knowing God Intimately
Part 2: Your Husband
CHAPTER 6: Submitting to Your Husband's Leadership
CHAPTER 7: Being Your Husband's Best Friend
CHAPTER 8: Making Your Marriage a Priority
Part 3: Your Children
CHAPTER 9: Being a Godly Mother
CHAPTER 10: Filtering the Parenting Advice
CHAPTER 11: Realizing That Children Are a Blessing
CHAPTER 12: Loving and Teaching Your Children
Part 4: Your Home
CHAPTER 13: Being a Faithful Steward
CHAPTER 14: Wisely Building Your Home
CHAPTER 15: Creating a Peaceful Sanctuary
Part 5: Your World
CHAPTER 16: Contributing to the Body of Christ
CHAPTER 17: Learning from Older Women
CHAPTER 18: Ministering to Lost People
Conclusion: God's Plan for Your Future

Juggling Life's Responsibilities can be used individually or in a group setting, and there are extra credit assignments, optional group projects, a study guide, and an extra reading section at the end of each chapter. To find out more about the book, read the preface, and download Chapter One, you can visit Anne's website.

This book really inspired and called me to embrace my role as wife, mother, and homemaker--and to do it heartily as unto the Lord! Anne's fresh and candid writing is wonderful, and the following passage on motivation really caused me to think long and hard about why I should strive to follow this path.

You need to think about why you want to change. Without the proper motivation, your home may sparkle for a day or a week, but soon you'll revert to your old habits. Homemaking takes discipline, which isn't fun, and discipline requires great motivation.

Motivation is based on the same priorities we've been discussing all along. Most importantly, you are aiming to bring glory to God. You also want to please your husband. You want to train your children, and set a good example for them. You want to have time left over to do good for others.

I couldn't agree more. A highly recommended resource!

Product review by Amy M. O'Quinn, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, January 2011