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Home Uncategorized

A Head Shaving Party for Darcie

By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 9/15/15Updated: 8/16/23

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This post is a long time coming. I started on it this spring, but due to many turn of events I never finished it. Well, it’s high time I told you more about my friend Darcie’s story. Because, well, she’s a pretty amazing woman and a picture of God’s faithfulness through trials in our lives. And TODAY is a big day for her.

Country road sunset this …


 

As I drove along the winding black top road to Darcie’s house, the warm spring air and smell of purple phlox filled my car. The setting sun’s orange glow clothed every pasture, tree, and wild flower. Palomino ponies dotted a passing hillside. But, everything felt wrong.

There would be good wine, appetizers, and friends gathered at her white two-story country home, like many times over the years. But, the occasion? The occasion made no sense.

What beautiful 38-year-old woman with a head full of thick blonde hair worthy of envy asks her husband to shave her head? And then invites her children, closest friends and even a photographer to be there?

darcie
Caption: Darcie after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

As one who normally doesn’t overthink too many situations (or perhaps just avoids emotions), I hadn’t given this whole Head Shaving Celebration much thought until I slowly made my way down the snaky road. But my insecurities began to surface as I drew closer. My shallow me-centered worries came to light.

Darcie and friends
Caption: Darcie (far right) with me (center) and our friend, Kelley. Loving that crimped hair!

How will my breast-cancer-battling, chemo-fighting friend look? When stripped of her golden glory, would she appear the small, frail, exposed woman akin to a concentration camp prisoner I imagined? How will I react? Can I cover up my nervousness at such an out-of-place event in our 30-somethings lives?

I suddenly really didn’t want to go to this party.

But, as has often been the case over the years, God quickly reminded me that this story wasn’t about me and my insecurities. I swallowed hard and walked down her driveway toward her white wrap-around porch where I saw a small gathering of people.

As I drew closer, one glance at my bald smiling pal surrounded by her four laughing children exposed in Darcie the courage and grace and beauty that only comes from the hand of God.

darciefamily

Make no mistake, Darcie’s Head Shaving Party wasn’t about any of us. Her cancer story is His story. And she has made that clear all along. Her cancer, chemo, and bald head is about His goodness. His provision. His redemption. In a world that often seems all wrong. That’s been her anthem all along.

Now, back to the party. How did it go? Well, it was real. It was raw. And…

darciejosh

…it was surprisingly fun. Her friends and family rallied around her with laughs and hugs and fun food. A surprise conga line of all of us in bald caps produced a doubled-over-Darcie-laugh. #win

baldcaps

A wig fashion show, where we styled her new hairdos, was akin to playing dress-up with my friends in grade school.

And her son’s idea of topping her shaving-creamed head with a strawberry cracked us all up.

darciestrawberry

Darcie’s courage shined through her sweet smile and contagious laugh all evening long.

Just how does someone laugh at such an event? She wrote me later that night, “It’s sure hard NOT to think that beauty is wrapped up in external stuff.  But I feel good, content even, which is only from the hand of God.  So thankful…”

Screen Shot 2015-09-05 at 10.00.59 PM

Darcie is a picture of the redeeming work that Jesus does in the lives of those who trust him. My shorn friend is a picture of the truth every woman needs to hear: Charm is deceitful. Beauty is vain. But a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

darcie5

Darcie, thank you for being real. And letting so many of us enter into your pain and fear and fight of faith.

darcie4

Darcie, thank you for for reminding us about what really matters in this broken world. And giving us courage to trust our good and sovereign God who holds all things in the palm of his hand…even cancer.

takeheart

Darcie, thank you for being a light to me and the throng of others who love you throughout our community.

friends

Keep fighting the good fight, my friend! We know your story will end well because of what He has done.

Want to hear some good news? TODAY is Darcie’s last radiation treatment and the end of her year-long fight (including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation)! Her cancer is gone and her prognosis is good. Oh, and…her beautiful blonde hair is starting to come back. P.S. As of November 2021, Darcie is still cancer-free (“no evidence of disease”) and doing very well!

I created a special soup recipe just for Darcie called Cancer-Fighting Soup that you may want to make for yourself or share with someone who needs it. It’s delicious and comforting and full of healing foods!

Large pot of vegetable soup with three bowls of vegetable soup. Spoons and napkins and fresh herbs on the side.

ht: Thanks to Scott Patrick Myers Photography for images from the Head Shaving Party. 

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Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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  1. Juliette says

    Posted on 3/21/25 at 12:29 pm

    I love this. I’ve had surgery and in a few weeks I will start chemo. my faith and my family have been my biggest support. my husband and hair dresser suggested a head shaving party. I Love your party ideas and your faith.

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 3/23/25 at 11:35 am

      Hi Juliette. So glad you have a good support system for your journey. I prayed that God will keep you comfortable and continue to give wisdom to your treatment team. As someone who was also at Darcie’s head shaving party, I can say that as a friend in attendance, it was a beautiful time to come together and support our dear friend. May God bless you on this journey!

      Reply
  2. Rhonda Wineinger says

    Posted on 11/6/21 at 10:33 am

    I wept as I read this story of Faith and Courage. Her smiles, even as she progressed through treatments, made me hope and pray to be as trusting as Darcie in every situation in life, for whatever period of time God determines. To borrow a line from the movie Sabina- “Either we believe this, or we don’t.” Darcie obviously believes and lives her belief daily. Praise God for her healing and being cancer free; Praise God!! Whatever comes, hers, mine, all of our lives are HIS story. Whatever comes.

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 11/11/21 at 10:46 am

      Amen, Rhonda. I’m really glad that you stumbled upon Darcie’s story. May we all trust God with the race he gives us. He is good!

      Reply
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