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…

I'm back!

Hi all!

It's official... tomorrow is back to work and back to school and back to reality day! So, here's wishing you a wonderful 2010, full of blessings - both financially and spiritually. I'm back on my weekly (hopefully more!) blogging post as of today, so watch this space!

Be blessed! C

I knew it!

Reindeer's Story at Christmas

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December.

Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.

We should have known...

ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost!!!

Hahahaha! Be blessed! C.

You Gave Me A Mountain

This is really a great story – enjoy!

Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking a breather during this, her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens.

"Great", she thought. "Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry." She looked and looked, hoping that somehow it had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there. She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm, and she prayed that she may find her contact lens.

When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains. She thought of the bible verse "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me."

Later, when they had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?" Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying it!

The story doesn't end there. Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You." I think it would do all of us some good to say, "God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will."

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Yes, I do love GOD. He is my source of existence and my Savior. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him... I can do all things through GOD who strengthens me.

Be blessed! C.

Why Women are So Special..

This crossed my inbox recently and it was so spot-on that I just have to share it with you! Enjoy!

Why Women Are So Special.
Mum and Dad were watching TV when Mum said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed." She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.

She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer.

She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry. She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the excursion and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her bag.

Mum then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night Solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails. Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed." "I'm on my way," she said.

She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and radios, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.

In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed." And he did...without another thought.

Anything extraordinary here? Wonder why women live longer...? 'CAUSE THEY ARE MADE FOR THE LONG HAUL......... (and they can't die sooner, they still have things to do!!!!)

BE BLESSED! C.

My princess is growing up...

Have you ever had one of those dreams where, somewhere during the dream, you have to go to the toilet but nothing comes out no matter how hard you try? Then you wake up and you realise that your bladder is so full it wants to pop, but you didn’t WET THE BED!! And you go the toilet to do the necessary, smiling at the fact that our bodies are amazing in that it knew how to wake us up to get us to go to the loo… I get those a couple of times a year…

I’ve been struggeling to get my 5 year old daughter Chené off her night nappy. I know, I know… FIVE?? Somehow she won the powerstruggle and I just gave up, hoping that someday things would change. Recently she went to go sleep over at a friend’s house, where Auntie Debbie told her she was a big girl now and she mustn’t wear nappies anymore!! She came home, promptly informed us that Auntie Debbie said this and Auntie Debbie said that, so she’s going to stop wearing the nappies. My jaw dropped to the floor… How long had I been telling her this SAME thing? How long? So, I asked daddy to take the 10H30 pm toilet run, which he has been doing for more than a week. So far it’s going VERY well… I’m so proud of my little princess. I see Debbie at the daycare every day, so she gets a running commentary of how Chené’s doing. I laugh at this because Debbie knows my struggles with the nappy thing and she obviously saw a gap of how she could help. I cannot thank her enough! This is such a big thing in our household, you have no idea!

Last night I went to the information evening for Chené’s Gr R class next year. I sat there listening to all they did and the rules and regulations – and I felt like crying. Mostly because I know how much my child hates rules and structure. She’s like a butterfly, spreading love wherever she goes. Her imagination is amazing and she’s so good with her little sister. I really don’t like having to send her to school. To make things worse, they start at 7H45 – are they crazy? That’s the time we’re still running around like chickens without heads, trying to get the kids packed up, grab our things and get in the car! So daddy got a stern talking to last night about how he CANNOT sleep late anymore. Once he finally gets up, he’s ready in 5 mins, but the girls take a bit longer - which usually makes us late. In winter I fight with them EVERY day to get them to get up… I get up at 6h15.

So, I’ve decided to not think about it any more and to rather concentrate on our holiday coming up and on decorating the new school bags Chené got for use next year (they encourage this). I was thinking of something with a princess or a balarina theme… any ideas guys? I’m a VERY creative person, but a bad decision maker! HELP PLEASE!! Anyway, hope you all have a wonderful weekend. The sun is shining in Cape Town! Be blessed!

Blue Tuesday!

I know I’m supposed to update this blog regularly, but honestly! I JUST CAN’T FIND THE TIME! When did I become so busy? And at the end of the day, I look around me and ask – so what did you actually DO today? I’m busy with a little bit of everything it seems, with nothing coming to conclusion. I feel a bit frustrated with myself, because I fiddle and fiddle and nothing is in place! So why am I tired at the end of the day? It doesn’t help if your day started out like mine did…

First I was upset with hubby for wearing one of only TWO decent shorts he has left to work. He’s a foreman at an aluminium company, so obviously everything gets dirty and torn… I sit more nights with mending to be done, than I get to do my blog! So you’ll excuse me if I get a bit hot under the collar when he wears the NEW shorts… And what’s his reaction? He just shrugs… SHRUGS!!! I tell you… Then I drop the kids at the day mother where 18 month old Mia promptly decides to start crying so that I won’t leave her. She doesn’t really do this kind of thing, so now I’m a typical mother and I’m starting to worry. She had a runny tummy yesterday which cleared up after some meds and no fever to speak of since, but what if…? Oh stop it Corne!

Then I drive to work and I sneeze so much in the car that my eyes start to water and I can’t do my make-up. Sigh… So I get to work all ghost-faced, to walk into an office that is buzzing with activity as my boss tries to get everyone out to sites on time. Of COURSE there will be something that I missed yesterday (that I was supposed to inform him of), so I feel bad about that and try to sort it out. Then, as soon as he leaves for a site meeting, it starts… One after the other THEY come pest me! The guys who work in the warehouse, that is. It seems they wait until I’m settling in, getting a nice rhythm to my work – and then they strike! They need this, I must do that for them, they want to use the phone, and of course… the loans. It frustrates the heck out of me that my petty cash (i.e. the money we keep for office use / emergencies) is used for loans for the guys. By Wednesday each week, I’ve got nothing left. So I’m a bit miffed at this day so far… Hopefully it will get better. Picking up the girls for ballet at about 2 and helping at my mom’s school concert tonight and tomorrow night. Looking forward to it, actually. This will be her last concert as she is (finally!) retiring. Now we just have to find her something to keep her occupied in her retirement, because she’s got more go left in her than I do! Any ideas, anyone?

In-between all of this I’m desperately trying to get the virtual assistant business off the ground… but it’s a SLOW process and some days I just feel like dropping the whole thing. The trouble is… I really think this is perfect for me! Please hold thumbs for me… and tell all your friends! Have a lovely week and be blessed!