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