Happy Birthday Lee!

I've been sitting here, wondering what to get my friend Lee for her birthday, when it dawned on me… I'm going to start a new trend! I'm really bad with birthday gifts, as I never know what to get the person and have a terrible time making my mind up about anything these days. So I decided to give the one thing I feel confident in giving… a little blog about the birthday person! Today it's Lee-Anne Heil's turn, so here goes…

I met Lee for the first time when I went to her office to collect something for my boss. I work for an aluminium company and Lee's company (she and hubby Mike are the owners, but only after Lee worked her way up to the top!) are one of our suppliers. That first morning I mistakenly took her for the receptionist (ha-ha) since she was in the front office and was a bit peeved because our order wasn't ready for me to collect. To my surprise another lady walked in, who turned out to be the receptionist, and was shown on her mistake by dear Lee who had, with the swift efficiency I got to know from her, sorted me out. I felt rather stupid when I found out she was actually the BOSS… um… ja well… So I phoned her to apologize and we ended up chatting. The next time I went round there, we just connected. It was amazing… I spent 20 minutes in her office, talking as if we'd known each other forever. I have been working for Aluminium Build for 4 years now and that's about how long Lee and Mike have been in our lives. Her two boys are each just older than my two girls, so that works out well too… (this is me with a twinkle in my eye and plans in my head, wink-wink!).

So now let me tell you about the lady… She's one tough cookie, firmly standing her ground in a man's world and working very hard at a future for her and her family. And yet somehow, she still finds time to throw amazing birthday parties for her sons, invite friends over to dinner, care for everyone around her and always has time to give advice to mixed-up friends like me. I have found her to be a friend and confidant of exceptional nature. I only have 3 friends that I have had such an instant connection with – two of them are godparents to my daughters and if I had another one, you can be sure that Lee would get that one!

Though she tries not to show it, I know that she suffered a tremendous loss with the death of her brother a while back due to cancer (I had the privilege to meet him before he passed). She told me once that she was not a very spiritual person (I'm a firm believer), but I told her that she had more faith than she realized. I have seen how she has grown over the past two years and I have found her advice to be rooted in something bigger than herself. Lee is a person who loves to give to others, who frets over her two boys as any mother does, who believes in offering the customers of Alberg Aluminium (her company) the best at all times, who looks so "office like" one day and the next she transforms into a biker chick for the most amazing pics she has taken as a gift to her hubby.

I am taking a page out of her book this year and will be doing more daring and wonderful things, things that will make me enjoy life the way she does. I truly believe that this woman was sent over my path when I really needed her and I am blessed to have her in my life. So from me and my family – Happy birthday Lee! We love you…