We were advised by concerned Christian friends that a former friend of Wendy's was using our response to Wife Swap to make disparaging remarks towards her and concerning our family's beliefs.

We have taken down the post on blogger in an effort stop the enemy's workings in this relationship.

Wendy does not visit this person's blog and had no idea she had applied for a reality show or that she would read the post. We have not solicited any contact from her in almost 2 years. She never entered our minds when we got the request, so we do not know how she ties this incident in with her life or felt the need to make negative comments towards us or to direct her reader's to our blog after reading those negative comments.

We also have no idea why anyone would take offense to what we answered Wife Swap. It was posted so we would not have to cut and paste it over and over to the friends who were interested in seeing what was in the letter.

Particularly, the last line of our letter angered her and she pointed people here to read it: "You probably should also know our beliefs would prevent us from placing ourselves in the situations called for to do a show like Wife Swap."

Our positions on why we can't participate in Wife Swap are due to our beliefs of the sanctity of the home, sanctity of marriage, role of the husband and wife in marriage and the God entrusted authority over our children. They are our beliefs and we have not tried forcing them on anyone else. Our recent involvement with media people has shown us they can be very insistent (rude and pushy), so we added that to further discourage that kind of behavior. We share the same beliefs as posted more eloqently in Doug's Blog on Vision Forum. We stand where the Lord has led us without regret.

We are very, very sorry this negative situation has had to enter a blog we try very hard to keep positive, uplifting and encouraging, but felt we had to explain why the post disappeared after so many of our friends had requested seeing those items and we told them to look there for it.

Beyond this explanation, we will not discuss the situation further here as we feel it will benefit no one. We simply do not believe in airing private disagreements in a public forum.

To our sister in Christ who wrote the remarks: We offer an apology for any offense we caused. We did nothing with you in mind or with the desire to upset or anger you. May God heal your heart so you can move on in your life. To avoid any potential problems, please do not mention any of our family or web sites in any form in any place on the internet. The negative comments only hurt the Kingdom of God and need to stop. If you have a problem with this, you or your husband can speak to me, Clint, directly.

Sincerely,
Clint and Wendy

***********************

Dear Mrs. Asbell Family/ Contentment Acres,

I'm a casting producer for ABC TV's Wife Swap.

I just discovered your blog. I am currently doing research on homemakers and
Stay At Home Moms. I was hoping to have the chance to speak to you about
being considered for our show.

I genuinely enjoyed reading your blog. The values that you mention are
something that we are currently hoping to feature on our show. They are not
highlighted in the mainstream and we are hoping to feature a family such as
yours on our show this season.

I'd love the chance to speak with you for a mini interview. Please contact
me if this sounds interesting!

Sincerely,

Rachelle Mendez
Casting Associate Producer
ABC Television's "Wife Swap"/RDF Media
(contact information removed)

Dear Mrs. Mendez,

Thank you for visiting our blog and for writing with a request to be interviewed as a possible candidate for "Wife Swap." Our entire family truly appreciates your offer. However, we respectfully decline.

You know that saying "Happiness is where the heart is?" Well, my heart and happiness is right here on this humble farm in an old house with five beautiful children that keep me very busy and a dear husband that loves me unconditionally. To leave, for even a week, would be like ripping this girl's heart out. I would wither like a flower who had not been watered. With complete respect for you and your courteous request, I would honestly prefer to go through both Hurricane Isabel and the wildfire all over again...at the same time, than to give up the privilege and great honor of being with my loving husband and children. The feeling is mutual. Not one of them will trade me with another woman "for one second of one day, much less a week!!!"

Thank you again for your request. It has reminded me once again that I am very truly blessed!

You probably should also know our beliefs would prevent us from placing ourselves in the situations called for to do a show like Wife Swap.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Clint C. Asbell
contented wife and homeschooling mother
http://www.contentmentacres.com/thereshope.htm

THANK YOU!

Our entire family would like to thank the many kind hearted people who wrote in to say they agreed with our decision to turn down Wife Swap. WOW! We did not expect such a big response! We do not feel it would be necessarily wrong to be on Wife Swap, but it clearly is not something we felt God leading us to do.

An interesting observation of ours has been that ALL (100%) of the people we admire and respect for their godly walks told us they would turn it down flat and were glad we did. Their strong opinions on the matter reaffirmed what God was putting on our hearts concerning it and made us feel we made a wise decision.

Friends who love our children told Wendy that she had better not leave them or they'd step in and make sure they were being treated right. Thank you, that makes us feel very special and we are blessed by your affection :-). Our family is blessed by your presence in our lives!

People are wondering what it would have paid. We were told it paid $20,000 to be on it. Then, there is the $50,000 each family gets at the end, but the swapped wives tell the other families how to spend it.

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