Maybe a Little Too Real.

Seven days between the two photos. 

So, we knew this was coming. Some things look one way on paper and another in your bathroom mirror.  The top photo is one week ago. The bottom one was today. E knew that when the time came she was going to shave it. Today was that day. 

We had a three-day hospital stay that resulted in more and more hair dropping off of her head until she couldn't take it any more. I was at a basketball game watching her siblings play an hour away and by the time we got home, she had almost half of her hair in her hands. 

It's the first time she's appeared to be sick at the house. I've seen her in pain at the hospital and in treatment and after surgeries, but the house has been insulated to some degree. Watching her hair fall out in chunks was more than we could collectively bear. We cried in the bathroom. We cried in the kitchen. We cried while we processed. We cried when it was done. 

This was in her lap out of her hairbrush. 

Because there was enough hair on her hairbrush to make Mellie a wig.
And we are freaking Johnsons. It's what we do.  

And to make Lillian a hairpiece. Stylin'. 

Then, because we are a total gangster, it was time to shave it. 

We literally let her hack at it with sheers. There is something empowering
about hacking your own hair off. In the middle Elaina said, "Oh now you
look like Britney Spears in the middle of her life crisis. Bonus!"  

Got that Mr. Clean thing going on.

Sinead O'Connor wishes she were as beautiful as E. 

 And anyone who says, "It's only hair," is a freaking moron. The Bible calls it a woman's crowning glory. It's feminine and sexy and fabulous. It's personality defining and part of the who you are. If it weren't, no one would dye it or shave it or style it at all. It's important. 

Getting it done.

She can always stand super close to Elaina and share hair. 

Little sad. (Lotta sad.) 

Because the selfie queen is still the queen of the selfie with or without hair. 

Yup. 

   

 And now it's real. 

My daughter has cancer.

And God is still on the throne.

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.