the bald & the ... beautiful?

Well, when I shaved my head I vowed that would be the only bald picture I took, but I lied.

I took this picture and entered it in the People Magazine "Real Beauty" contest. Turns out they aren't fond of bald women because I wasn't chosen. But that's ok. I'm still learning to embrace the baldness and feeling a little more beautiful each day.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:14

there's a light!

Chemo #3 is in the books!

 Adorable hat courtesy of Peaches & Brown Sugar Designs .. I love all of her beautiful hats!

There's a light at the end of this tunnel
Shinin' bright at the end of this tunnel
For you, for you
So keep holdin' on

I first heard this song "Tunnel" by Third Day when I was diagnosed a few months ago. It makes me cry, without fail, EVERY time I hear it. It is such an incredible reminder that I'm not alone and that God's continuing to walk beside me and fight with me. But now it has even more meaning to me because I feel like I can finally, truly see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can't believe I am only 1 more treatment from being D-O-N-E!! He's got good things are right around the corner, I know it. 

I also have to post this beautiful magnet that my dear friend Teara of Magnet Maniac created for her shop! She is so talented and thoughtful to include a magnet just for me (& the breast cancer cause) in her charity auction right now; and she is donating the proceeds to my 2 favorite charities: Bright Pink & FORCE.

Here's a lil blurb about how amazing her cute business is:

Providing handmade magnets to accessorize your life. Perfect for work, home, school, lockers, or gifts. A variety of designs to choose from or make a personalized set. Also, if you have a business logo, I can make it a magnet!

 I'm going to enjoy having next week OFF with no doctors appointments -- hooray! My oncologist doesn't want/need to see me back until the week before my next (LAST) chemo. So here's to the next few weeks of feeling good, hitting the gym, and loving life! :)

out of the mouth of babes

I truly have not given enough credit to my precious daughter who has handled her bald mommy with SUCH grace. What an amazing little person she is for only being 2.5 years old. None of what we've endured has seemed to phase her and I am so grateful to God for her resiliency during this journey.

Just wanted to share some of the precious things she's said to me over the past few weeks since I lost my hair:

• "Mommy, I love your bald head"
  
• "Why are you wearing white hair?" -- when I was wearing a platinum blonde wig
• "Mommy, your hair is darker!" -- the next day, when I wore my normal-hair-color wig.
• Me: "Yep, it is darker! Remember this is like my old hair color".
• Her: "You're not sick anymore?!?!" 

•  "Dear God, thank you for Mommy's bald head" -- bedtime prayers
  

• "When I'm a big mommy like you one day, I'll be sick and lose my hair too" {cue sobbing from me}
  It was so bittersweet to hear her say that and connect mommies & being sick, yet to also want to be just like her mommy when she grows up. 
  

•  And just yesterday she brought my wig to me and asked to wear it while playing dress-up. It totally completed her outfit :)
  
  
  I love this sweet baby girl with every fiber of my being!
  

 "And said to him,  'Do you hear you what these say?' And Jesus said to them, 'Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and children you have perfected praise?"  

Matthew 21:16

sisterhood

 

They say that having breast cancer is like joining a sisterhood "club" that no one wants to be a part of, but yet it yields so many amazing blessings. Truer words have never been spoken.

4 days after I was diagnosed I was sweetly embraced by another young survivor, and she hasn't let go of me since. I firmly believe that God put her, and so many others, in my life to ensure that I don't walk through this journey alone. There are even strangers that I've yet to meet in real life who have become like sisters to me through emails, phone calls and texts. I could never adequately say thank you enough for their support; but I vow to pay it forward. Just to know that they've walked my walk and "get" what I'm going through is so humbling & comforting. I feel like this is the closest I could ever feel to being physically loved on by Jesus in real life.

Continue on this path with Me, enjoying My Presence even in adversity. I am always before you, as well as alongside you. See Me beckoning to you: Come! Follow Me. The One who goes ahead of you, opening up the way, is the same One who stays close and never lets go of your hand. I am not subject to limitations of time or space. I am everywhere at every time, ceaselessly working on your behalf. That is why your best efforts are trusting Me and living close to Me.

~Jesus Calling 

P.S. Had my 1-week chemo follow up today. Guess whose bloodwork was excellent again?! My oncologist's exact words were "You look too good to be at the cancer center, get outta here. See you in two weeks for round 3!" Thank you Lord for allowing my body to tolerate this chemo!!