He gives beauty for ashes

Easter weekend began a new experience on my journey. On Sunday I heard the Easter story and I was reminded again how much He loves us, I'm so thankful for His amazing love.  As I heard this chorus, "Amazing Love" , I could feel it in my heart. Before church began that morning I had styled my hair like usual, well the next time I went to use my curling brush I noticed there was quite a bit of my hair left in it. Tuesday when I combed my hair I could feel that my hair was becoming detatched because it was shedding with little effort. I had already mentioned to my Granddaughter, Jamie that I may need to cut it short before it began falling out to minimize the impact. We were all just glad it didn't happen before Easter. Well, by Wednesday night I knew that I would need more than just a haircut. My choice was to allow my hair to fall out little by little, day by day or brace myself for a shave.... my decision was to take it all off. It wasn't an easy decision.  Paul and I showed up on Thursday at my son's house where Jamie has a make-shift hair station set up for family and was greeted by my Daughters and Granddaughters and a bouquet of flowers with a balloon and a card expressing their love and well wishes for one more step towards being cancer free. We all shed some tears and shared in hugs of support. Then it was the moment of truth. Jamie sat me in the chair and positioned the flowers over the mirror, just so, to block my view. We all took some deep breaths and I tried to put on a brave face and make light of the heavy situation. My Grandson Joe was on speaker phone and gave some pros to having a bald head, since he used to shave his head. I knew it wasn't easy for Jamie to do what needed to be done, so with some tears (shed by us all) she began. When it was all over she put my new hair on. It was itchy and didn't feel right, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. A warm, soft hat feels best, there's still a bit of stubble left on my head that makes it feel scratchy. I asked Paul to shave it down to make it softer and that helped a bit. I figure with time there won't be any stubble left. 
The next day Jamie called me and asked me to check out her blog. So I did. Needless to say this Grandma shed some more tears and I realized that the changes that I see, that my body has gone through, has only made my heart more thankful. I'm thankful to God for the gift of family, what a treasure we have. Like Jamie said, cancer may invade part of my body, but it can't change my Spirit.
I'm reminded that I am still Paul's wife, a mother to Stan, Pam, Lukie & Larry, Grandmother to Jamie, Jared, Joe, Emily, Mackenzie & Jessica and a Great Grandmother to Hunter, Logan, Grady, Naddile & Deegan.  I will always cherish my responsibility of being that person I am in Christ.

I'm getting used to the new me, in fact I've received quite a few compliments on my new hair. I have another appointment tomorrow to try on another wig, so next time you see me I may have yet another new do.
When I was describing the song I heard on Easter to Jamie, she began singing another song she thought I was talking about, I think it may be more than a coincidence the song she thought of was, "Beauty for Ashes"?