Update Time

Day 31 (March 6, 2019)

Hey Big Man,

            Sometimes I wonder if I am coming off as self-absorbed, or conceited, by attaching selfies to each one of my posts. I really hope not. They are truly meant to help me not hide behind my words. It can be so easy to hide behind the computer screen or printed word, but when a photo is there alongside my writing, I feel like I am being fully open (and vulnerable). You, or anyone else, reading my words will never have to imagine what my struggle looks like. The pictures lay my struggle bare, as my words work furiously to tell the story behind that struggle. The selfie today, Lord, tells a story of perseverance and patience. (Lots and LOTS of patience, Lord.) In it you can see just how many hairs are growing in, and man has it taken a ton of time to get to this amount of growth.

          I am now at the halfway point for my eyelashes (exactly four weeks and three days), and my eyelids are looking pretty patchy. There are sections of eyelashes growing in long and dark, and then there are spaces with newly sprouted blonde hairs that are nearly impossible to see unless I hold my compact mirror up close to my eyeball. I will admit it is tough being patient and waiting for those blonde hairs to grow and fill in those gaps between the darker, longer, hairs. Dane tells me I need to stop looking at my eyes because then the lashes will grow faster. (It’s totally that scenario of a watched pot never boils, Lord. I just can’t help trying to will the lashes to grow faster!) But you will be pleased, Lord, because during the last four weeks I have not pulled any of the newly sprouted hairs. I might have played with them—moving them around and such—but no pulling. Sadly, I cannot say that about my eyebrows, but no major damage has been inflicted on them, so that is a positive.

          It is so exciting to be in the sixth week of growth for my eyebrow hairs. (TWO MORE WEEKS TO GO!!!) Just need to keep my hands away from my eyebrow ridges, and all should be good. It is tough though because when I am stressed, I automatically go to rub or tug on my brows. But as you can see, Lord, the tugs have been few and far between. My right eyebrow is filling in nicely and—if you are looking at my eyebrow and focus on the section nearest my nose—my brow just needs the hairs to fill in the lower section where the ridge begins its curve. (Nothing to worry about there.) Plus, my left eyebrow, though growing in at a slightly slower pace than my right, is showing promise. The lower section—also where the ridge begins to curve, but on the left side—has a lot of dark hairs filling in that area nicely. The only troublesome area (which I am trying hard not to worry about) is the section nearest where a unibrow would be. It is not like there is no growth happening there, it is just that the growth is so blonde that it doesn’t appear like it is filling in enough. What I am hoping will happen is that, as the hairs grow, the bottom and middle sections of the hair will be darker and make the area look visibly fuller once everything is grown in. (Fingers crossed.)

          Might as well cross my toes while I am at it, Lord, because I have 16 more days until I am in North Carolina with my family. Lord, did you hear me?? SIXTEEN MORE DAYS!! Ahh!! My hairs need to be workin’ double time these next few weeks. (For reals, Lord, I am over here speakin’ to my hairs like, “This is not a drill.”) Ha, I think I need to take Dane’s advice and just let them do their thing. They will grow in. I just need to stop inspecting the hairs so often—and fretting about every little bit of progress—but, dang, that will be hard for this gal who loves to be in control of everything. So, how about I leave it in your capable hands, Lord, and should your hands want to work on some speedy magic, I wouldn’t be complaining. (Just sayin’.)

Always,

Your Daughter Kaitlan

P.S. Lord, it is easy to hide behind a computer, or phone, screen in this social media driven world. We can manipulate the struggle out of a photo pretty easily these days. So, Lord, can you please help people not hide their struggles as much? Help us all to be more open, and vulnerable, about our own struggles because then we might just get the opportunity to be a light in someone else’s similar struggle. Thank you!

Thank you for reading! If you are new, this is a chronological blog series. It is best read in order. CLICK HERE for the intro.