A Month in the Life

Illusions
If you’ve ever been able to go to a place like Universal Studios you will see that much of TV or movies is just a façade or illusion. During the filming of Wife Swap, there were a few illusions that persist.

The illusion of a limo ride. So you think I rode in a limo from Missouri to Texas? Nope! Try ONE block. What a let down!

The illusion of the passage of time. I’ve watched the show so many times that it is hard for me to believe that people actually swallow the editor’s time line and sequencing of events. Mercy!

The illusion that Steve is serious and always uptight. Anything but!

The illusion that we have boring friends…..well maybe!

YAWN!
We had a few friends that were bold enough to enter the unknown world of Reality TV along side us. The crew wanted to contrast the way we ‘party’ with peach pie and prayer, (ha!) to the ‘Meeks style’ kegarator parties.

We appreciate Delbert, Kim, the boys and that precious little pink bundle for joining us the first night. They were awesome! Poor Delbert gets his share of harassment from all of us since the airing; “Deeeelbert???” It is intense pressure to have a normal, interesting conversation, with a camera zooming in on your every move. Delbert is fun and hilarious, but when he noticed every time he started talking, the camera would swing his way, he decided not to talk. Thus we have many shots of little Emma.

Many thanks also to Stephanie, who joined us that night, and for making sure the girls looked lovely while I was away.

Adios Amigos!
Yesterday was crazy, rushing home from Branson’s Bible Quizzing finals, and getting packed for our multi purpose 10 day trip just ahead. On the way home, I stopped in to our dear friends Bethany and Pablo to grab one last hug goodbye.

Bethany and Pablo and their two children joined Steve and the girls when Tish was living as Kristin.

They may be forever remembered as our boring friends by viewers, but in our hearts they are hilarious, adventurous, and exciting. In just a few more days they are boarding a plane to Guatemala, Pablo’s homeland, to be missionaries for an unknown extended period. They have an anointed ministry and I believe that God will be doing a mighty work through their sacrifice.

To my dear ‘boring friends’, Adios and God be with you!

Kristin

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Deitsch un Englisch
Today we embark on a road trip. Armed with Atlas and TomTom, we are headed to upstate New York for a Mennonite family reunion – on my mother’s side. There were thirteen children in my mom’s family and most of those have large families as well. There were nine of us kids back home, and so the multiplication continues.

Even though some of my siblings are not going to this event, I expect a huge turnout. My aunt is ill and I think many will make the effort to go. The largest number will be coming from Pennsylvania, but also, from Missouri, Kentucky, and Indiana. The majority, are Old Order Mennonites, and nearly all are considered “Plain People”. There are only a few who look like English Townspeople, or “Englische Shtetlah”, and fewer still who don’t speak the “Deitsch”.

I waited too long to reserve a room and the nearby hotels are full, as I am sure are the local homes of the Plain People. We will be staying further away from the reunion site to find available lodging.

Grandma was at the last reunion we went to, but she is gone now. They had two funerals for grandma, one in Indiana and one in Pennsylvania, given the large numbers of direct descendants and their geographic locations.


Reminiscence
We left Pennsylvania when I only two, and my family was one of the few pioneers for the Plain Mennonite community in Missouri. Today, I guess there are a few hundred families here, represented by several different churches.

As a child, I was only able to return to Pennsylvania once. That was now thirty years ago, but I distinctly remember, four things about that trip.

I remember:

the smell of the coal-burning cook stove, and watching Grandpa stoke it,

the sight and sound of a huge steam engine my uncle was using for power,

the aroma and taste of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups “seconds” we got from the Hershey factory nearby, (Subconsciously I think about it every time I bite into one - even today)

going on to Niagara Falls, and feeling the mist on my face as dad was telling me stories about the falls.

So..., we have the house sitters in place, and are off to explore upstate New York, Niagara Falls, Canada, then back to Illinois, to share our Wife Swap story at another church.

The blogs and pics will be as internet access and equipment function allows, but please check back often, will you?

Quiz Wizards
Today we spent a wonderful day in Branson Missouri
with day two of the JR. Bible Quizzing national finals. My daughter’s
team had their first quiz today, and they were
quickly left in the dust by an awesome team from
Tennessee.

I tell you the God's honest truth...this
quiz master said, "Quote the verse of study that
contains the word fif....." The word was not even out
of his mouth when a girl interrupted with the correct
verse "Fifteen cubits upward..." Incredible!

Was That You?
Instead of sticking around for the quizzes of the other teams,
we made a bee line for Silver Dollar City.
I thank God for the many opportunities I
received to further tell people about God's love. The
rest of our quiz team was getting tired of people
stopping me to ask, "Excuse me, but was that you...."

Winnings
We eyed the trophies today, knowing that in all
likely hood we will not bring one home. Oh well, the
competition is hot!

Something we will bring home is a special gift my
daughter received tonight in the evening crusade. My
little girl received the gift of the Holy Ghost, evidenced by
speaking in other tongues. It was the most beautiful
sight this proud mamma has ever seen.

Kristin




Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

A Collection
Kristin

From the Dust of the Ground: An Untold Tale from Wife Swap

By Steve and Kristin Hoover

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Today is the re-air date of Hoover/Meeks Wife Swap #314.

We have just re-posted the Tributes from the Hoover and Meeks families. For our regular readers - pardon these duplicates, please.

We are seeing a spike in hits on the Hoover House website which contains links to this blog and we want to share the tribute information with visitors.

While the Hoover and Meeks families were happy overall, much good could have been shared and was not, due to the nature and the brevity of the show.

Comments and questions are welcome at http://www.thehooverhouse.net or you may comment here if you wish.

Steve and Kristin Hoover


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Labels: ABC wife swap, hoover and meeks families, Wifeswap

Tribute to the Meeks Family

Our experience with ABC’s Wife Swap was a good one. We thank God for the Meeks family and their continued friendship with the Hoover family.

While our parenting styles differ, we see much in the Meeks family that is honorable and noteworthy. Basically, the Meeks children Benji and Hannah, are well mannered, taught to treat others with respect, and do share quality moments with their parents.

From their fundraising efforts in “Susan G. Komen for the Cure” to their ability to pursue a dream, the Meeks family is indeed extraordinary. Tish’s generosity and genuine love for children, and Tony’s willingness to reconnect to God are tokens of the greatness in their hearts. They “Rock”!

Both Tony and Tish possess leadership qualities to impact their world in a positive way, and we expect many lives will be affected in their realm of influence.The Hoover House will never quite be the same … with electric guitars and “Kristin’s Night Off”, “Everybody Loves Spring”!

Steve and Kristin Hoover




Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Labels: ABC wife swap, Family, Hoover, meeks, Rock and Roll, thehooverhouse.net

Tribute to the Hoover Family

ABC’s Wife Swap was a lot of fun. People ask us all the time “would you do it again” our answer is always “absolutely”. The Hoover family has made a big impact on our family. We believe that God sent them into our lives.

We learned a lot of things while doing the show. In Texas, Tony and Kristin were sitting up late and drinking coffee, talking about rock music, singing praise and worship songs and studying the Bible. In Missouri Tish, and Steve where drinking coffee, talking about life and hoping that Tony and Kristin were getting along as well as they were. Tish really bonded with Emily, Grace and Alivia and talks to them by phone often.

Would the Hoover family be our friends if not for Wife Swap? Probably not, because people tend to stay close to those just like themselves. That is why this experience was so powerful. So many people judge on outward appearances and miss meeting some of the greatest people in the world. The Hoovers are great people. They are an excellent representation of what it means to be Christians and if more Christians were like them, God would be seen by non-believers in a positive light.

Although 3 Kisses is doing great and music will always be a big part of the Meeks family, there have definitely been some positive changes in our home. Since the swap we are attending a Bible study and Tish has been making home made pies.

Tony & Tish Meeks





Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Labels: ABC wife swap, Christian, Hoover, Hoover/Meeks, tish meeks, tony meeks, wife swap #314