another side of me…
Posted on October 16th, 2010
I noticed some sparse, brittle sprigs of hair in the tub after my bath yesterday morning.
Accordingly, a decision was made.
My husband tells me that I am brave.
I tell him that I am free.
And that I am grateful for my numbered hairs and for my Father who watches their surrender to the grave.
Quiet Peace for my journey… settled rest for my soul.
Categories: cancer
You are still beautiful, My Sista, I love those big blue eyes!!
Your husband is right. Your face still shines so beautiful!! And one day soon, that hair is going to come back so nice you'll forget you went without!!
Elaine, you are beautiful! Inside and out! I'm just now on a real computer and am looking forward to reading the story of your journey as you walk this road with the Lord. Much love to you, in the precious Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ~
Jennifer
Love your sweet smile right after the new "do" was complete. Also love that there is a picture right behind you that says "Strength". So true. And so thankful that your stength is in the Lord. Blessings, beautiful one!
Oh, Hon…you are so beautiful!
Oh Elaine…love ya friend…you are absolutely beautiful.
Hugs,
Joy
All I can say is I just wish you (and so many others) were not dealing with cancer. I HATE CANCER. I hate that my boy had it and he's not with me any longer. And I'm just so sorry that families deal with this stuff.
Beautiful!! Love the purple and love you! Praying for you, my friend.
Leah
You look gorgeous! And you are brave. But we all knew that already.
You continue to amaze me and you are so beautiful…inside and out!!! Love to you!
Brave? Absolutely! Beautiful? Absolutely more so!
This is a stunning coup de grace to fear; and a resounding endorsement of life. You rock, girl!!!
You're one courageous lady. Everyone is right–you're gorgeous without the hair. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your story. God be with you
Free!
Beautiful!
Blessings, love and prayers!
I am deeply touched. I went through this twice with my mother. My prayers are with you.
Elaine – BEAUTIFUL, BRAVE, SURRENDERED!
You my friend have captured the essence of grace at its core!
Praying for you and thanking God He knows every hair and our names!
Jill
Elaine dear, you have true beauty….with hair or not. A brave and noble friend you are. Thank you for letting us tag along with you in this journey you are on.
Love you!
Marilyn…in Mississippi
beautiful head you got there
One never knows what's under all that hair. You're just a beautiful without as you are 'withal' . Your smile amazing me – What a beautiful God we serve – who numbers the hair on our heads… yep, He's your # 1 coach. And thank God for your Billy and your kids. What strength they give you in the midst of this.
love and prayers, and butterflies too
patrina
princess warrior
Love the pictures. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!
Hang in there, friend. Your strength amazes me and blesses me in a special way.
Please pray for a special friend who also happens to be married to my hubby's cousin. She just found out she has breast cancer this past week.
Sweet friend,
Thank you for sharing, in pictures and words, your journey with us. You are always in my prayers.
Love you,
Heather
Your beauty is not confined to your hair. Your beauty shines out from your eyes – and from your smile. blessings, marlene
NOTHING can ever take away your beauty, Elaine!!
Love,
R&B
AMEN! You still look great! Your eyes are bolder. I see that you are embracing this journey and not letting it control you. You go girl!!
Believing Him~Pamela
You look beautiful, your head and your heart!
you humble me beyond words…I can't wait till you are on the other side of this, but I know you are not missing a single thing to learn along the way. I'm grateful that you are sharing with us Elaine. The peace of the Lord be with you ALWAYS!
You honestly look quite beautiful. Your blue eyes say so much. Your husband is right, you are brave. Hugs and blessings to you, Debbie
You're my hero.
Dear Elaine, I have been so involved in life difficulties of my own that I have neglected reading other blogs of late, and so I am completely surprised by your own difficult season. Praying for you!
Elaine, when I came to your blog this afternoon I found myself confused. Busyness has kept me from visiting all of my blogging friends and I did not know that you were on this journey battling cancer. My dear, your beauty shines through! You are beautiful inside and out! And now…I shall lift you up in prayer. Blessings, my friend.
Elaine, I LOVE how YOU are writing your story with this cancer. Every brave step you take is one step closer to being healthy again. You rock the new look and you are beautiful inside and out!
Keep on keeping on my friend! Blessings!!!! Love you!!
Hair or no hair, you are beautiful!
Oh you are beautiful, inside out! I am sure you know it…but often the enemy loves to tell us lies! So let your husband, your friends (that includes cyber friends – us!), your loved ones, and especially your Heavenly Father…tell you again, your beauty shines through.
Yes, indeed you are brave, and you are free.
And you are loved!
Keeping you close,
Lidj
You have such a beautifully shaped head! (I have an idea that mine is quite flat in back–but how would one actually know?) Enjoy your freedom! You've earned it.
You are so beautiful with or without hair!!! Your eyes just radiate love and I wish we could all just give you big hugs and stand by your side but Jesus is doing it for us.
wifeforthejourney:
How I have loved these last few days with you, particularly because you are finally feeling better after your first chemo treatment. It has been so hard to watch you hurt, sick, uncomfortable and exhausted.
I call you brave the way my mother has always defined "brave." Being brave is not being unafraid, being brave is being afraid, but knowing what you've got to do and doing it even though it's hard.
Dear readers I need you to understand that my wife has never been the kind to take the easy way out of anything. For as long as I've known her, she has always sought after what is right over what is convenient. Early in our courtship I told her she was "durable" – she came to understand that what I meant was a most sincere complement.
I'm so glad you have all decided to come along with Elaine as she walks this path. Elaine is real, Elaine is a joy to be around, and Elaine wants me to wrap it up and not go on and on about how wonderful she is
!
Love to all, (more later)
Billy
You are such a beautiful woman in body, mind, and spirit! Love you girl!
Elaine, you are very brave and very beautiful! With all my heart and soul I speak the truth. You glow with beauty!
I'm praising God for His faithfulness that breathes through your life!
Love you,
Andrea
I have tears streaming down my face and I can tell you that you have the most beautiful head I've ever seen! You shine
Praying for you my friend!
note to Billy: you are one in a million, it is obvious, a true gift from God to Elaine.
You are gorgeous, girl! You have such a pretty, round noggin….I've felt mine under my hair, and it has knots and dents and flat spots…I think my mother must've dropped me several times on my head!
That purple looks awesome on you…the scarf is so pretty. You've got it goin' on!
Your beauty glows, inside and out. I agree with Billy…you ARE real and you ARE a joy to be around. I can hardly wait to see you again…can't come soon enough for me.
Love you…
You are … GORGEOUS!
I couldn't help but notice the word "strength" behind you in those photos. Perfect.
Yes, you are brave. And yes, I see in those beautiful eyes: You are free. Very, very free.
My love to you.
YOu are Beautiful…
Elaine, prayers and love to you, my sister. You are very brave.
You are amazingly beautiful.
And I say You are BEAUTIFUL!!!
Love and hugs!!!
Oh Elaine, you are beautiful inside and out. Thankful that God has joined our hearts and lives together not only through cancer, and this blog world, but through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Shine girl….shine!
You are a trophy of His grace.
Much love in Christ,
Stacy
Fantabulous… Elaine… I love it… I love you… God is mind blowing awesome.
Have mercy…yes, I have to agree you are brave! As your husband said…"Being brave is not being unafraid, being brave is being afraid, but knowing what you've got to do and doing it even though it's hard." You make me want to be more brave, friend! Your radiance shines every bit as brightly without your hair…you are stunning.
I am honored that you have allowed us a small glimpse into your looking glass. The reflection is beauty and grace beyond compare. You are EXQUISITE!
You wear it well, my friend – your loveliness and your courage!
Love and prayers,
Denise
You look gorgeous, Elaine! And purple is most definitely your color.
How beautiful you are!! And I so admire your strength! Great photos and an absolutely beautiful smile!!
~Beth
You are so beautiful my friend. Your face glows with the radiance of our precious Lord!
Love you SO much!
Elaine,
You are a brave and beautiful woman, and face shines with radiance. Way to tackle the problem head on.
Sending love and prayers to you!
Elaine…..YOU ARE SOOO BEAUTIFUL!!
Continuing to pray for you as you walk this journey!!
HE IS FAITHFUL!!
Love,
Jackie
Beloved Faith Elaine,
And so, we are changed. "Beholding the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Cor 3:18, ESV)
We are changed one year at a time, one week at a time and one small intake of breath at a time. You are finding your rhythm.
From a favoite devotional, a simple but oh-so-sweet truth penned by a Miss Ophelia G. Browning. "…The work began when first your prayer was uttered, And God will finish what He has begun, If you will keep the incense burning there, His glory you shall see…"
We all hold you as close as we can and priase God that He holds you perfectly.
xoxo
There is something that just thrills me to see Him so profoundly in this journey…please hear my heart but girl boy do you wear Him well…you represent like the best of His children! You are beautiful and your beauty shines from the inside out…and to get a resurrection first it must die…!
So beautiful! Hair doth not maketh thou lovely….tis the heart!
Elaine,
You are indeed beautiful with or without hair. That does not matter one bit. What matters is your heart and we all know your heart is so in the right place. God Bless you my friend!
Funny thing with your hair gone, is that your face shines with such beauty and your eyes just POP.
You are a very brave woman and you have my continued prayers and thoughts with you.
Your beauty is from time spent with the Lord and that beauty radiates hair or not…
Gorgeous. Inside and out. You truly let Jesus seep out from your heart Girlfriend!
Love,
Lelia
You are beautiful. Praying for you ~
You're gorgeous….more inside than out….altho' out is mighty lovely! Hair will grow back. It is that spirit with fire & determination & compassion & love that sustains. I pray daily for you, dear friend! Hugs ~ Merana