I’m a little late with this one… as usual… but knowing Valerie, I’m sure she’ll forgive me!
You’ll remember in my friend Lee’s blog I told you that I had 3 very special ladies as friends, two of whom are godmothers to my daughters. This one is for my youngest Mia’s godmother Valerie on her (now passed) birthday…
To tell this story right, I have to tell you how we met. About 3 years ago I was still doing nails from home as a second income, when I got a call from a lady who made an appointment. She was very adamant that she was from Johannesburg and she KNEW how good acrylic nails should look and that I should not take any offence if she only comes once, because she won’t come back if she’s not happy. Now look, I’m a redhead… and very stubborn! So I told her I can guarantee her she’ll come back… Hahahaha! So she came, we chatted, we connected – and 3 years later we are still best of friends! Though she has moved on to someone else for her nails (due to Mia’s health I had to stop for a while) Val has been a welcome addition to my life, someone who really cares about me. She’s forever giving me things – like their old TV when mine passed away, a beautiful TV cabinet when she got a new one, a grand plate set (I’ve never owned something like that before!), beautiful jewellery for my birthday (and even once just because she felt like it!), etc etc. I’ve never been in the position to return the favour, so I gave her the one thing I had… godparent-ship to my daughter. During my pregnancy, she was there every step of the way. She only has one daughter and really wanted another child at that stage. Unfortunately it was her (wonderful) husband
’s second marriage and he already had two other daughters, so he was “fixed”. My heart broke for her when she talked about longing for another child, and here I was pregnant. The more I got to know her and Alwyn (her hubby), I knew that I could never ask for better people to stand in as spiritual guiders for my baby girl. So Herman and I decided to ask them to become a part of our family, which they eagerly embraced.
They were there for her since her birth and every time we needed a babysitter for Mia – and she would come back thoroughly spoilt! She gave Mia her first haircut too (pictured here) 
as she used to be a hairdresser before Alwyn’s business took off and she became an allrounder – mom, wife, personal assistant, bookkeeper. Val is like me, we just cannot help ourselves when we see something really cute for Mia. Mia also took her first steps in their living-room (which made it really special!), to a loud applause from both sets of parents! When we go to church to meet them there, Mia always lands up on Alwyn’s lap, very content. She knows she’s loved with them, always.
Poor Val has had her ups and downs with family, I think perhaps in some cases more than most of us have. Yet I find that after she’s had a good cry about everything, she goes back to our Father, asking for guidance, before she lifts her head and looks the worlds squarely in the face again. She carries her troubles with grace, while making a success of her life. Valerie is a wonderful, warm, caring, creative, understanding, encouraging, faithful friend. She always dresses very smartly, looking so gorgeous that I feel like a washed up rag nex
t to her – though that beauty definitely comes from within. We don’t get to see each other as much as we’d like to due to conflicting work schedules, but she always sends me an email or sms so see if I’m still around! I don’t even do that, bad Corné… As I’m writing this, I’m missing her terribly. She’s been someone I could talk to and spend quality time with since Elouize left and I hope that we’ll never loose our special bond.
So Val, I know I let you know your present would be late, but I didn’t plan on THIS LATE!! My darling friend, I love you. I hope that you will be in my life for a long, long time to come! Happy (belated) Birthday!!!
