Crazy van Renens part 3.

Part 3: Lets move.

I had every intention of writing part 3 and part 4 a month ago already...but then life threw me this amazing curve ball.

I will get back to that soon, but let me get back to the day we moved.

One of my dearest, bravest friends, Mandy, had the job to fetch the kids and I and take us to the airport. At 5 am. It was probably one of the top 5 most emotional moments of my life. Everything was slow motion: it was dark, misty...and I was walking towards the gate of our first house that we had ever bought...my dream home...for the very last time. I remember the gate opening and closing, I remember getting into the Jeep. I remember trying So hard not to cry. I remember telling myself over and over that this was what I, we, wanted. I remember walking up to the check in counter praying to God they would let us on the plane with 8 bags-those big plastic zip type, PEP bags- plus a pram and baby seat. I am convinced they gave us one look and just let it slide.

When we got to Cape Town International, I had a huge fight with security who wouldn’t help me get my stuff off the conveyor belt- but even worse, wouldn’t let me just give the kids to my in laws so I could use both my arms and hands to gather all our stuff. Right there I broke down. It was too much. I threw a scene- I imagine the type of scene Charlise Theron threw when she was discovered.

Once, safely in Melkbos, I got into bed and slept the rest of the day. We made it.

Things are a bit of a blur from then on. Loedi arrived sometime during that week, I met my team at work- learned that they were the A team in the country and that they didn’t accept second place. That already freaked me out- I was not used to that. I was moved around so many times in Johannesburg – and here these guys were together for like more than a decade, wanting to be crowned in September, making it official. My boss was absolutely amazing too. I learned from her very quickly.

Hunter had a school and Storm a day mother. I had a gym to go to in every town that I would work in. Also- we had a few churches to choose from and all my best friends stayed here. Perfect? No.

The sun came up at 7 30 am and set at 5 30 pm. I was completely thrown with this. My calls were about 45km from Melkbos into peak traffic. And suddenly- Storm would wake every two hours instead of the usual 4 hours.

I started leaving the house at 5am so that I could gym in either Kenilworth, Constantia or Steenberg before traffic. That lasted a week, because come 1pm- all I wanted to do was sleep. My diet went out the door ,because I became so down that I just comfort ate as I went along. Loedi started irritating me and I started irritating him, because he was trying to get a business off the ground and had band obligations, while I nagged that I needed him. Then my boss announced she was immigrating. Then I realised that even though my best friends were in Cape town- they could might as well been living in Durban because everyone was just too busy (me included), and as I mentioned the sun came up late, set early and Storm wasn't sleeping, so I would count the seconds until 7pm and then get into bed so I could sleep while Loedi watches/listens out for Storm until 11pm if he could even manage. And the big fat cherry on the top: the traffic. This traffic is unlike anything you've ever seen. It can literally cause you to break down and cry...its ruthless...heartless. You had to leave at 5:30am, or rather wait until 9am. Afternoons: 3pm or 7pm. Maybe.

Yes, we had the mountain, we had the sea ,we had the view- but Loedi and I didn’t have each other, we didn’t have peace, we couldn’t get up on Sundays to go to church, 25km away, and we didn’t have our own place.

But suddenly things were looking up when my boss told us that her parents were moving and that they had a town house in a secure estate, close to everything. We had a look that same day and the place spoke to us immediately. We somehow gathered a deposit and first month rent, and signed the papers.

Next I had to find a school for the kids. I had become so spoiled in Roodekrans, with Denise / Klapperhandjies being right across the road from us- and it not only being a school, but I believe, a friendship. I will never really be able to thank Denise and her staff for all they did.

But yes, we were here in Cape Town now and needed new schools.

I Googled, as I always do- and found a farm school called Clever Cats- and I just Knew that that was the place where Hunter had to go. After calling and making an appointment, it was also established that not only was there space for Hunter, but also for Storm at the baby school, apparently 7/8km away from Clever Cats.

I met the GM at this baby school and I was happy. She then said that I should follow her to Clever cats. I followed her, and as we drove I noticed that we were in the street of our future home. Suddenly we passed our home and then she stopped and turned right. In front of me I read : CLEVER CATS.

It couldn't be.

I jumped out of my car and shouted at her: “DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?” She was very confused as I explained to her that never in a million years I imagined that I would find Hunter a school, once again outside our doorstep. Ive come to know the lady as Michelle now, and even though she's no Denise, Hunter loves her and her 5 year old daughter, Misha. The one time Michelle dropped Hunter off at home and before we knew it, Hunter and Misha proceeded with carrying Leon, our Dashy around- one with the head and the other with the backside. It was the funniest thing we had ever seen.

Soon, we were all packed and ready to move. Finally our things were moved from storage to Durbanville and our lives could be build from scratch.

But as you know: Nothing is Ever uncomplicated when it comes to the van Renens.

Crazy van Renens part 2.

Yes, it did most certainly not happen quite as smoothly as we had set it out in our minds.
Nr 1- We still had like a house to sell
Nr2- I didnt have a transfer yet- even though I had been stalking HR for months and it was  January. Time was money.
We just prayed. I cried. And then we prayed some more.

Somehow it wasnt a reality to me I suppose. Like move to Cape town. Really?!
Ive dreamt of it ever since I figured out we would never move to Durban, because there was no film industry.  Or ...sorry...but no music industry either.

But anyway, on the day of my 30th birthday everyone was welcomed with a massive For Sale sign outside the house. I guess thats how we broke the news.

And then two weeks later, end February- we accepted an offer. It was a miracle- surely from here on forward it would be smooth sailing.

As Rafiki would say : "No, wronnnng again!"

I needed a transfer!

The call came middle March- just after UIF finally paid me after 4 months of endless phone calls, queues and tears. Yes I cried a lot. It was really horrible. I envisioned staying in a one bedroomed apartment with my sister, 2 kids and 2 (naughty Scotties), while Loedi goes to Cape town without us.
Yes, 13 days before 7 April I got the call.
If I want a position that has just opened up for me, I had to start in 13 days.

Of course I said Yes.

Did we have a moving company? No.
Did we have storage?No
Did we have a school for the kids? No.
Is this really happening? Yes.

Looking back- I guess thats why UIF took such  a long time- God knew better. The money came in as a lump sum, exactly enough to cover the whole move. And let me add- the move  and storage quote in itself had God written all over it.

At this stage youre probably thinking "poor people". And at the time we really did feel super sorry for ourselves. "God, why us? We are good people."
I never thought I'd stoop as low as to question God's motives.
Fact is- we were getting it easy, really.
Our parents came through for us, praying for us, blessing us. My in laws opened their home to us for as long as we needed to stay. They started looking for schools, day mothers, even ballet classes for Hunter. And they interviewed them. They gave away their tortoise so that our dogs could take over the yard. O gosh all we had to do was pack up and leave.

So.

I cancelled my holiday to Durban, and Loedi went to Splashy fen, without me, again.. I was left to pack half of the house by myself, leaving the other half to Loedi for when he returned (coincidently on the day the kids and I would leave).

Storm wasnt sleeping well, but I was on maternity leave so it didnt really bother me. She would wake at 11pm, 3am and 5 30 am which wasnt too bad.

The real thing I was struggling with was letting go of oumie and my sister. I sat crying with oumie until I freaked out Hunter. It really must have gotten to her, because months later she saw me get upset one day and suddenly she said : "Please dont cry like that day when you said goodbye to oumie?"

Of course I was going to miss my friends, but they werent old and helpless. Also- I would see them just about as much as I currently was...

So I just soldiered on, packing our lives into boxes and bags- future unknown.

The kids and I were booked on the 8am one way flight to Cape town on 5 April...

Crazy van Renens . Part 1.

I find it quite shocking that I havent posted anything in nearly 10 months. Truth be told, theres so much happening all the time, that I keep on postponing it- but at the end of the day the story just gets longer.

Last week the pastor at our church said something that made me want to write all the more. He said that we must share our testimonies. Ive always done that, so why stop now? Because of Time? That sounds rather lame.
When we just moved to Capetown I also listened to a sermon called: What are you doing with the Promise God gave you?
Uh....

So here goes- 10 months in a nutshell spread over 4 days.

It all started with Loedi switching jobs in October last year- fully believing that he made the right choice-but being retrenched 3 months later. Yes- during the month Storm was born and that meant that I was already on a 30% salary cut. It took a lot of strength to not resent his employer and stay away from living in regret.

It got intense- we cut down on every unnecessary expense possible- DSTV, garden services- you name it.  The only place we never compromised on was blessing those in need. I remember this one day, where a friend asked me for money to buy her baby formula- and the amount she needed was exactly what I had left in my account, and I still gave it to her.Looking back, I believe these type of gestures saved us during that time. Because God sees everything.
Is this embarrassing to share? Ofcourse, but if I could encourage one person or family going through a difficult time right now , it would be worth it.

Luke 6:38
"give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for with the measure you use it will be measured back to you"

And as more encouragement:
Matthew 6:31-32

"Do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'..."for your Father knows all these things"

As much as we prayed and sometimes just sat staring helplessly at each other, we put the house in the market. We would just move to Capetown and start over. Loedi will start his own company, his life long dream, i would get a transfer, we would stay with his parents temporarily and the kids would have an amazing future. We declared it over our lives. Crazy van Renen style.

Well.
It didnt go quite as smoothly.

(Tune in tomorrow for the crazy journey to cape town, our marriage test, sleep deprivation, living with the in laws, our support system and a whole lot more you thought you knew about us)

Be blessed,
Lee