Pass Me Your Shoes
What happens when a marriage is complicated by dishonesty, dwarfism, discord, and discrimination? Read how God took two people with numerous challenges and grew them into a faithful couple who honored Him. Their story speaks to the hearts of everyone, regardless of their differences, difficulties, or legal status.
Story of Pass Me Your Shoes
The story behind the book title, PASS ME YOUR SHOES
It happened on the Hawaiian leg of our honeymoon during a stopover on our flight from New Zealand to Florida. We stayed at a hotel on the beachfront of Waikiki and slept to the soft purr of the rolling surf. Romance was in the air after a luau where I was adorned with a leis made of fragrant yellow ilima flowers and we were serenaded with the Hawaiian Wedding Song. However, our ideas of how to continue the romance were quite different.
I thought it would be romantic to walk back to our hotel along the beach. Bobby preferred to walk on the sidewalk along the main road. As a Floridian, Bobby saw no special attraction in traversing sand and surf, but to please his bride, he agreed. I also wanted to walk barefoot and enjoy the warm water caressing our feet, while Bobby preferred to wear his shoes and socks. He was reluctant to go anywhere near the water because he didn’t want to get his shoes wet. Again, for the sake of his bride, he took off his shoes and socks and walked with me hand-in-hand as the water lapped our feet. He perked up when the skyline of Waikiki and Diamond Head presented a perfect backdrop for a photo of me in the sparkling water. But it was not long before romance and perfection took a dive.
With the roar of three waves piling one on top of the other, I let go of Bobby’s hand, lifted my dress, and braced for the crashing waves. Regrettably, Bobby anticipated nothing—his first indication of trouble was when he found himself flailing prostrate in the swirling waves and clawing in the sand to resist the undertow threatening to pull him out to sea. He wondered if I was looking for evidence of his demise when he heard me calling out, Pass me your shoes! PASS ME YOUR SHOES! It was nothing so sinister. My first thought was to salvage his shoes since he had been so adamant about not getting them wet.
I helped Bobby to his feet and noticed something far worse than wet shoes—salt water was streaming out of the camera case still hanging around his neck. His camera was ruined. I captured the moment on my cheap camera and titled the picture: Total Trauma. Somehow Bobby’s photo of me on Waikiki Beach survived the salt water. We call it the $200 picture because it represents the replacement cost of the camera, not the value of the subject matter.
Little did we know that this incident was a picture of the many flat-on-your-face moments followed by helping one another back to our feet we would experience during our marriage.
Praise for Pass Me Your Shoes
I’ve known Angela and Robert Van Etten for many years, so I was pleased that she opened the second volume of her autobiography with the story of their meeting, romance, courtship and marriage. She continues with the growth and development of their marriage, professional careers and faith in God. She writes with a delightful sense of humor and does not hesitate to reveal her deep faith in her Lord Jesus Christ.
Diane Callender, Retired Librarian,
Tropical Farms Baptist Church, Stuart, Florida
Pass Me Your Shoes is an honest and well-documented memoir that reveals the challenges and successes of the author as a little person. Suffused with loving and humorous anecdotes of family and friends, it is also a testament of faith. Readers will marvel at the grit and tenacity of this author to succeed in life and love. This book provides a thoughtful contribution to the literature of dwarfism.
Carol Wintercorn,
Retired Librarian
Pass Me Your Shoes does indeed allow the reader to walk along with the author on her odyssey through life. With great frankness, Angela relates the challenges and triumphs she has faced in marriage, family, health and career. Along the way, we learn profound lessons from her great humor, strong faith and abiding love.
Diane Tomasik,
Retired Journalist and
Communications Professional
What an honor it is to recommend Angela Van Etten’s book, Pass Me Your Shoes. I love reading biographies and autobiographies. Since I have the privilege of knowing Angela and Robert personally, it is a special treat to read this story of their relationship with each other and with God. It is pure joy to see how God matured them along life’s journey and maneuvered them through struggles both big and small.
Darrell Pace,
Pastor of
Calvary Baptist Church,
Tuscumbia, Alabama
Everyone should read Pass Me Your Shoes. Angela and Robert Van Etten are two people who have genuinely taken lemons and made lemonade! I have sampled their beverage and it is deliciously bracing. They serve it up with grace and good humor. I know of no one who has faced greater barriers and overcome them with more success than these two. The range of their experiences and quality of accomplishments should be an inspiration to anyone. “I can’t” is not in their vocabulary. Not only did they face down their own unique challenges, but each became an effective advocate for others with similar barriers to full access to opportunities to excel. I pray that their story is widely circulated and anyone who is daunted by a tough circumstance will find inspiration to pursue their dream. Clearly God has blessed their dependence on Him and shown His power to bring them a life filled with rich experiences and deep friendships.
Lee Fielder, former Pastor of
Tropical Farms Baptist Church, Stuart, Florida
Featured Reviews
Loved reading about their reliance on God in each of their lives. Lovely book.
~ Kayo (December 18, 2021)
With humor, love and good dose of faith, Mrs. Muir Van Etten has written a delightful book about relationships and perseverance. Being different is never easy, but this story is full of courage and hope. This book makes you stop and think and is very relatable. Great read!
~ Nicole (December 12, 2021)
I have just bought both books by Angela Muir Van Etten which I never knew existed. It’s a refreshing change to find life stories regarding people with Dwarfism. I myself have dwarfism but throughout my life the people I have met didn’t know anything about the condition only that we are small people and I got the impression at times that we had small brains too.
~ Claire (October 24, 2021)
Book is a good read and teaches us, there ups and downs in life. We get through those times by our faith and blessings of GOD.
~ Eileen (March 6, 2021)
I absolutely loved this book. Angela and Robert are friends of ours from several years ago when we attended the same church. A lot of the struggles they went through as Little People, I had no idea of. The stories of their courtship and marriage provide so much insight into their lives and who they are. I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed the book, yet how much I learned. It is a must read!!!
~ Leslie (March 6, 2021)
Pass Me Your Shoes is an authentic and powerful account of a full life lived in the face of physical adversity. Angela Muir Van Etten wrote it in a way that everyone—those who live with physical disabilities and those who don’t—can relate to. Her life experiences are shared with humor, humility, and heartfelt transparency.
I may not share Van Etten’s physical challenges, however I can relate to many of the lessons she shared. Her humble wisdom resonated with me in such quotes as:
“The power and beauty of Niagara Falls gave perspective to our struggles” (page 99).
“Prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and trust God for the rest” (page 109).
Her insights into marriage, living with dwarfism, perseverance, faith, and joy will inspire readers from all walks of life. And her resiliency encourages us to face our own obstacles in the same way.
~ Ava (January 14, 2021)
I really enjoyed this inspirational book. Angela gives a very real insight into her marriage challenges and physical challenges she has overcome in her life. It also gives a great insight into God’s power and that He can help you navigate tough situations that will come up in life.
I also enjoyed seeing the perspective of growing up with dwarfism. She shows that although there are quite a few challenges that she and Robert have overcome, they are successful people who never gave up on each other.
I would recommend this book for anyone who needs some inspiration in their life (which is everyone).
~ Mark (November 9, 2020)
Mrs. Van Etten’s first book Dwarfs Don’t Live in Doll Houses was published in 1988. At that time, I was a freshman in college and did not want anything to do with the Dwarf community. I was young and felt I was an independent dwarf woman who really didn’t need to have another dwarf woman tell me about living. As the years passed, I didn’t realize how wrong I was. Needless to say, I read her first book about 20 years after its release; when I had a family of my own and had gone through many of the struggles and triumphs that is often written about in Mrs. Vann Etten’s books.
As I sat down to read the book Pass Me Your shoes, I thought that the title would give away the story. I assumed that the book was about a person who was struggling with being a little person, you know the old saying “walk a mile in my shoes”. I thought the title and that saying would be very similar, but that is not what this book is about.
Pass me Your Shoes is a very well written love story of two people from two very different continents. They could not have been farther apart both physically and socially, but they met somewhere in the middle and fell in love. Their trials and tribulations of life as a “little couple” will have you wanting to read more to see what happens next. The story was so well written and inviting it made you feel that you were part of the story itself. I loved every chapter and cannot wait for the next book of her life!
~ Mary (October 31, 2020)
This is a very well written book. The author is factual, entertaining and has a refreshing sense of humor as she writes her very interesting story. Looking forward to sharing this with family and friends.
~ Pat (October 30, 2020)
This book is absolutely amazing! Pass Me Your Shoes reveals how a couple with dwarfism live their life with everyday struggles you never think about. The struggles are real! When you’re only 40” tall how do you maneuver around in the kitchen when you can’t reach the cabinets? How about driving a car and reaching the pedals? How about applying for employment when your discriminated against because of your dwarfism?
The author tells it like it is. When you do wrong, there are consequences. Through the good times and bad, they learned to trust God. His plans are always better. Even when faced with a major heart surgery and the need to get insurance approval to go out-of-network Angela held close Ephesians 3:20 Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you . . .
Just love the grit and humor that is constantly displayed throughout and leaving you chuckling at times. Pass Me Your Shoes a must read (don’t plan on putting it down until you’re finished)! I highly recommend!
~ Brenda (October 19, 2020)
I loved this book.
It made me weep, it made me chuckle to myself and it made me laugh out loud.
It is extremely well written (and that is from me, an English teacher in a past life!)
I read it until 2.00 a.m. every night (well, morning) as I was hooked and couldn’t out it down.
It is both sad and funny all at once and I am in awe of the author’s courage, determination and resilience.
The author left her homeland New Zealand, her sought after job as a top female lawyer in her twenties to marry a man in the U.S. Unheard of in those days.
There was no internet or skype and the two of them faced many challenges including job insecurity and prejudice due to the fact that they were little people.
This is their story, told with humour and passion, starting in the early 1980’s and going through to the present day.
It is a gem. Don’t miss it!
~ Dianne (October 13, 2020)
This book is a MUST-READ!! It is the inspiring, true, love story of an amazing couple. It is full of fun, adventure, and the overcoming of many obstacles & adversity, including discrimination. Through determination, & the education of others plus a deep faith in God & His divine providence, Angela & Robert have built a beautiful life together. You’ll also chuckle at Angela’s humor that is woven throughout.
Because 2 incredible people fell in love, the world is a better place. Many with disabilities have benefited through the advocacy of Robert & Angela who have each achieved so much individually and as a couple. They live their lives to the fullest in their unlimited, God-given potential and fight for the same for others. The rest is still unfolding…
~ Jane (October 12, 2020)
“Pass Me Your Shoes” is a wonderful, true-to-life story of two imperfect people brought together by love and the commonality of both being little people (aka dwarfs). The author shares in an honest, authentic, and humorous way how she and her husband face life’s challenges head-on and with a strong faith in God.
The stories of their experiences, hospitality to others, and advocacy for those with disabilities show that they stand by their principles and values; and their strong Christian faith is a wonderful example to us all. Angela shares many examples of God’s hand and timing in their lives. Perhaps my favorite quote of Angela’s is, “We benefited from the reminder that despite the storms of life, God always shows us a way through.”
On the lighter side, I laughed out loud when I read accounts involving false teeth and a flaming dinner. I highly recommend you read “Pass Me Your Shoes” for the details of those amusing tales and many more, including the story behind the book cover and title. The read will be time well spent.
~ Little Mama of Faith (October 2, 2020)
Facing adversity is never easy but for those who do it with faith and courage, it can be transformative. Angela’s story is one of those. Full of relatable real-life stories, it reveals the capacity for a person with dwarfism to find a way forward, despite all odds in a fulfilling career, Marriage, and life mission. I loved how she and her husband, Robert met as Presidents of the Little People of America and New Zealand respectively, married, and shared a desire to achieve a better life for little people and others with disabilities. They took the challenges they faced and turned them into blessings for others. Ultimately, their talents were very complimentary to one another: one an excellent writer and lawyer working in advocacy and the other an engineer developing innovative living accommodations for those with physical challenges. At its heart, it is a story of resilience, hope, and transformation. I finished it in one sitting.
*I recommend this for ages 18+.
~Juliette (September 30, 2020)