I am one hairy monster. I have used up every hairstyling option imaginable, the ponytails winning out most days...and one friend, who will remain unnamed (Rachel) is looking Amish, which is cool, I like Amish, I'm just saying...
So, Saturday, January 12th at 3:00 pm, my sister, Dana, and I and eight girlfriends will be donating our hair to Locks of Love in Noah's memory. We are doing it in memory of Noah, but in my heart, there are so many children, and grown ups, that I can think of who have lost hair due to cancer or other life-changing diseases. Many of you have emailed and let me know of your hair donation coming up on the 12th, as well. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Please, if you would like, send me an email with your before and after pictures so I can post them early next week. My dear friend's husband is shaving his head (he only has two inches of hair) to show his support! I am blown by the outpouring of love!
The salon owner will be donating the cost of our haircuts to a charity of our choice. Well, since Noah never smiled, it has been on my heart to donate to 'Operation Smile' in his name. Our dear friends recently adopted a son from China who needs a cleft palate repair. He and Noah would have been great pals. Though he does not qualify for 'Operation Smile' in this country, I also think of him in choosing this charity. Did you know it only costs $240 U.S. dollars to repair a cleft palate in another country? We would love to see how many 'smiles' Noah's haircut day can bring into this world...
This isn't just about a kid having a nice smile. Cleft palates make it very difficult to eat, drink and digest properly. It is a correctable physical abnormality and I am blown away that it can be done for such a small amount of money in American terms.
If you would like to join with us in Noah's memory to provide a child with a healthy new smile, here is the link to 'Operation Smile' http://www.operationsmile.org/ . Donations can be made in the name of Noah Steven Graves, or in the name of YOUR loved one. For me, this is about Noah, but for you, it may be about someone you love...either way, someone else benefits from a life well lived!
Even though life is short, it does not mean it has to be fatal. Because of Christ we have hope in eternal life, death is not permanent, the grave is not the end. Think about how you want your legacy to live on after you are gone...meanwhile, think and act how you want to live your life here and now because we literally have but one life to live. Live it with God at the center and it will be a life well lived!
I really admire what you are doing, and I'm sure that lots of children all around the world will smile because of it.
ReplyDeleteWill be praying for it to go well!
Do you have a link for "locks of love"? I'm sure I can find it, if there is one, but for your other readers... We love giving to operation smile.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see the before and after pictures.
Adrienne -- I just read about your donations on Amber's blog. I'd join you in a heartbeat, but I found out a couple of years ago they don't want dyed hair. I couldn't believe it! I'd always thought when I cut my hair it would go to them, so I was really disappointed to find that out. Now it just seems vain ....
ReplyDeleteI love that you're all doing this together, and I also really like the Operation Smile idea. I've always been a fan of theirs.
Anyway, I didn't realize you were still blogging over here. I'm glad to know you are :)
Margaret
Just FYI,
ReplyDeleteI donated my hair twice and I have three different "natural" highlights in my hair. They are o.k. w/ that as long as your hair is not damaged or unnatural looking. So for those of you who "dye" your hair, no worries if it meets the above criteria.
I wish my hair was long enough to partake in this. You have been on my mind and in my prayers as you approach this bitter sweet anniversary. Hope all is going well! Love you guys!
ReplyDeleteHi Ade,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful way to honor Noah on Saturday; giving to other children in need. I will be thinking of you and praying for all of you as I'm sure it will be an emotional experience on a very difficult day.
Your blog “Does He Move You” really hit home with me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and heart. It reminded me of this note written by a director of a passion play I saw last Easter. I thought it fit in well with what you were saying. It spoke so profoundly to me I just had to share.
Happy Birthday Dear Friend!
Love you,
Heather (MN)
Director’s Note...
“What does it mean to have a “passion” for something? If your “passion” is for money, sex, or sports you are an accepted member of civilized society. You will be encouraged and rewarded for whatever desperate measures you take in the pursuit of these. If however, your “passion” is for God, your exertions for Him, you are an embarrassment, a “fanatic” in the worst sense of the word.
I identify as one of those embarrassing people obsessed with God. Yet I confess that daily I fail in my love and passion for Him. On the perilous journey from sunrise to sunset and back again, I find I must constantly stop! stop! stop!...and ask myself; “for whom and what should my light shine brightest?” Do I proudly assert, “He is my LORD!” and then insist I have no time to meet with Him today? Do I pronounce Him my BELOVED, and then flush with shame when overheard singing to Him? Why is it that I desire to kneel to Him in prayer but will remain standing if someone is watching? Is my “passion” for Him only as real, as my “passion” for chocolate?
It is the annoyance of my life that I must constantly remind myself, of how much He means to me.
While I often quesion my own level of passion for Him, I never have had to question His level of passion for me. My God died for me. Love doesn’t get any more passionate. Or any more real.
“Set me like a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, my jealousy for you, as fierce as the grave.”
- Song of Solomon 8:6
I was thinking that I look more like the lady from Last of the Mohicans myself! I CANT WAIT! Im trying to convince my boys to go "Goodman" and shave their heads in solidarity since mine will be so radically different. Im so excited!
ReplyDeleteoh yeah- Happy Birthday friend! Rach
Personally, I feel like a big ball of static, but by 10am Saturday morning my hair will be chin length.
ReplyDeleteIt will be an honor to share Noah's story with the stylists.
Ade. I havn't read your post in quite some time but I just wanted to say that I am amazed at your persistance. You really are who you profess to be. Though you grieve you are not depressed and I am amazed at your courage and perspective. The Lord really is the center of your life and I admire you all the more for just being who you are. That said, Jason must be fulfilling his Christ inspired roll as our "bridegroom". Loving you as Christ loved the Church. It shows...in each of you individually and in your marriage. Love you both.
ReplyDeleteLocks of Love has a website with a demo video and guidelines for sending hair. locksoflove.org
ReplyDeleteI did a bit of homework before our 10 yr. old daughter donated her
15" ponytail. I discovered that making a wig or hairpiece takes alot of hair and healthy hair. The requirements regarding dying and bleaching are for a good reason.
This same daughter has had 2 cleft lip surgeries. She was fortunate to have been born with only a cleft lip, no palate involvement. She looks beautiful now...
We thank God a zillion times a day for her precious life and for His hand in corrective surgeries.
Can't wait to see all the pictures and hear all the stories, especially from those who are donating for the first time.
ReplyDeleteMy first donation was the one that GOD really moved in my heart with. I can't explain the feelings I felt.
Hope you had a great Birthday meeting the RISEN CHRIST.
Hi there, I found your site via a wordless wednesday post on a different site.
ReplyDeleteI have spent the last two hours falling in love with your little Noah, and felt the need to tell you that I am so sorry for your loss.
It is amazing the way that you have turned your life over to God. You truly are an inspiration.
We have been through some major trials with our son who is two. He was born with Down Syndrome....(NOT a trial) but he has had some medical issues that were trials.
We "lost" him for a bit last January, but they were able to bring him back. If it is one thing I have been able to realize it is that I have no control over my childrens lives. They are in His hands, and while they are here I will do what I can to make sure that they are safe and loved, and know that He is their creator.
I am sure that there will always be a place in your heart that aches for Noah, I pray that God be with you until you all meet again.
Many loves,
Pam and Rhett
I wish I would've known about Locks of Love years ago before I started highlighting my hair. Of course, now I can't donate it because of the highlights...but I think it is an AWESOME cause, and I am so excited that you and your friends are going to donate in Noah's name. That is really awesome. And the Operation Smile ministry is so incredible. I totally cry when I think about how many lives that has touched...
ReplyDeleteThinking of you guys and praying for you!
I SOOOO wish I had enough hair on my head t donate for this absolutely wonderful cause, however if I even cut any off I'm afraid I may be bald and then would be in need of some hair myself. I will be thinking about you on Saturday though!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog by accident, but your words have been inspirational to me. Your little Noah was precious. Our baby boy died at 13 hours old almost 13 years ago and your words brought me back to how I was feeling at that time. I just looked at the picture of Em holding Noah. She was so happy to be a big sister. That picture made me sad for her. Thirteen years ago our 3 children were excitedly waiting for their brother or sister to be born. I felt so sad for them because they were so sad. My 7-year-old was angry. The 5-year-old was sad and the 2-year-old was unbelievable insightful. He walked around the house singing "God is so good" and I wasn't so sure at that time if God was good. He and I would also have conversations about what God and Joseph (little brother) were doing up in heaven and what did God eat. It wasn't always easy to have these discussions, but it was almost like God was speaking thru my toddler. Thirteen years later I have realized what a great gift our family was given to have gone thru a horrible ordeal with our gracious and loving father holding us the whole time.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to do this--maybe next year (when I have the necessary 10 inches of hair!). Are you planning this for every year?
ReplyDeleteI'll be praying for you tomorrow.