RedeemedPioneer
I’m Lulu van Aswegen—a wife, mother, grandmother, and writer from Bloemfontein. Life, faith, and family inspire the reflections and short stories I share here. I write in English as RedeemedPioneer and in Afrikaans as VrygekoopteBaanbreker.
Explore, enjoy, and feel free to share your thoughts—I’m delighted to have you here!
RedeemedPioneer
HER WOULD HAVE BEEN 30TH BIRTHDAY ON THE 30TH
This year, all the babies born in 1995 turn 30 years old. Most of them will consider this birthday to be a magnificent milestone of maturity, almost like a rite of passage into the prime stage of their lives.
THE WOUNDED HEART OF A WRESTLING SOUL
Today, on Human Rights Day, my heart aches for all the hidden violations of human rights…
PURE & SIMPLE FAITH
Thirty years ago a toddler at the top of a staircase spotted his daddy standing at the bottom of the stairs. He grinned from ear to ear, because down there was his daddy – the strongest, smartest, bestest best daddy in the whole wide world.
TOSS THE TOTE & DITCH THE DUMPING
One of my dear friends recently made a visual representation of his own life in a grid of 7×10 blocks, which depicts a rough rounding of the estimated life expectancy of 70 years in South Africa.
PARK YOUR BUTT, GRAB AN OAR AND ROW!
A thirty-second wedding anniversary celebration
NOVEMBER 26
This is one of my favourite pictures of 7-year-old Jessica performing the song I LOVE YOU, LORD on the dining room table to an audience of friends and family.
I AM MOANA… IN POCAHONTAS
This reflection is a letter addressed to my granddaughter, Emily Hay, who recently took part in POCAHONTAS2024 presented by Elna van der Walt School of Ballet.
REJECTION : THE GAME IS ON
WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT….
FINALLY VAN ASWEGEN : BECOMING MR & MRS VAN ASWEGEN
The seven-year-old slammed the car door so violently that he attracted the attention of even the unsuspecting pedestrian passers by in the road outside the gate. They gawked in alarmed, stunned silence.
LIFE FOUND A WAY
The cutest baby boy was born earlier tonight, weighing in at 2.99kg!
IN THE WILDERNESS
WALKING WITH PURPOSE OR WANDERING AIMLESSLY?
THE (IM)PERFECTION OF SIX
Two weeks ago I published DEAR DIARY, a reflection on the diary entries for 27 September going back 9 years, starting in 2015.
RAINBOW HERITAGE
Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Blue. Indigo. Violet. The colours of the rainbow. Today we celebrate Heritage Day in my beloved rainbow nation of sunny South Africa and I would like to share my reflection on this particular holiday.
A HIGH FIVE IN LIFE
On Sunday 25 August 2024 I had the privilege of sharing a message from my heart with a group of wonderful women in another neighbourhood on the outskirts of my hometown of Bloemfontein.
DEAR DIARY…
Excerpts from the bittersweet diary entries (on 27 September, spanning 9 years) of a mother, mother-in-love and grandmother