Tributes

From Robs in London:

My Darling Nixi

In this tender moment of sadness and reflection, I wanted to send through just a few words to honour you and the life that you lived to the full.

Among the many hilarious moments we shared, fun friendship times we enjoyed, serious and silly conversations we engaged in, meals we enjoyed, journeys we took and holidays we had, I'm at absolutely no shortage of stories and memories.

But my favourite memory is this one . . .

When we were travelling in Israel and I had injured my leg and was doing that whole trip on crutches. The one morning we had a bus to catch to our next destination, and we were running late. We were trying to run to the bus stop, but I couldn't run with my heavy backpack and with those crutches. You came along and took my backpack and carried it to the station for me - your backpack on your back, and mine on your front! You looked top heavy and I was sure you would topple over. But you didn't. You ran, and kept the bus driver from driving off, till I hobbled my way there.

The reason that I feel that that story is significant, is that it is such a reflection of your character. Throughout your illness you remained a person who, despite having your own enormous burden to bear, was still able to remain focussed on other people. You endured your own pain with such strength and dignity.

I am so grateful that God orchestrated things such that I could be with you on your last weekend in this world. I will never forget you suggesting to the 4 girls who were around you that we should jump on your bed to "Dancing Queen".

And as I said to you on Sunday, I'm so proud of you, you are my hero, and I love you very much.

I will miss you Sweet Nix.

***********

From Penny in Port Elizabeth:

I wanted to share some things with you both and I thought I’d pop them down and email them off to you while they are fresh in my mind and before it gets too late.

On my last visit with Nix I remember a conversation I had with her. She said she had been reading this amazing book about Heaven and it had been such an encouragement to her as she knew she’d get to ride horses in heaven one day and how she no longer felt this desperate feeling.

This made me pickup a book I had been reading a while back and that I’d love to quote a piece from it that has brought me such comfort:

I’m standing at the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She’s an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come down to mingle with each other. And then I hear someone at my side saying, “There, she’s gone.”

Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says, “There, she’s gone,” there are other eyes watching her coming, and there are other voices ready to take up the glad shout, “ Here she comes!”

And I can just imagine Nix arriving in Heaven and saying these 3 words in absolute wonder and awe “Oh ... my... scone ! “

What a privilege to have been introduced to Nix all those years ago in England by Pastor Louis. I shall be eternally grateful to him as my life is so much richer and fuller and definitely more fun having known someone as beautiful as Nix.

There are not many people that can make you laugh for days, months or even years over a simple word like ‘ssssthhhucculent’ or 4 simple words ‘looks like a snake!’ .

Not many people have the guts to push a car across De Waal Drive in peak hr traffic and then be totally un-phased as she convinces a man in a Porsche to please tow us over Ou Kaapse Weg and home to Afton Grove! This is what I loved so much about Nix – she had no fear of man... she knew her God. She shared her faith in her Jesus with such unashamed ease and confidence. The very life and light of Him shone through her to others.

She had an ability to pour courage into people – A real gift. Always believing the best in others and showing them how much they are loved and accepted by God through her amazing attitude and capacity to love others.

Nix’s positive attitude and always seeing the brighter side of life is something so many of us remember. The saying ‘Take lemons and make lemonade’ literally applies to Nix as I remember visiting her and Evie in a small dismal little ‘copy paste’ (as she called them) terraced apartment in London some 16yrs ago. We were all saving like crazy for our travels and there weren’t many luxurys. As she opened the front door that day, she said with a big grin on her face! “Guys, I’ve made Lemonade !!” Nix had found a lemon tree somewhere in that little bleak garden (or possibly the neighbours) , and made a jug of the most delicious lemonade.!! That is just the essence of Nix isn’t it: - she seemed to always encourage us on to live life and live it in abundance regardless of our situations.

I’m sending you guys some pics I’ve found. Boy I have laughed and cried as I sat on my bed surrounded by these memories. Many of them don’t actually feature Nix in the picture. The reason I have worked out is she was generally the one behind the camera, choreographing the photo shoot and somehow convincing me .... “Yes Pen, just put your knickers on over your jeans and let’s see what that looks like...” or “put some curlers in your hair and I’ll take some pics of you in this car”, it always seemed like a great idea at the time. I think what Nix took more pleasure in was watching someone loose themselves in utter unrestrained abandonment than actually how daft they looked!

I will miss her.

**Should you have any special memories of our Nix that you would like to share with us at this time, please email them to me on eve@maxitec.co.za**