And a weight is lifted.

So we've definitely seen the weight of the week on her tired, worried heart. Everything from getting dressed to eating dinner has been rough these last few days. But she mustered through what we knew was going to be tough. As I mentioned on Monday, she did wonderfully at her class party. She had a ball.

Ballet was Tuesday. Definitely a tougher day for her...but look! She's dancing! With a smile on her face. At least for a few moments, she let things go enough to enjoy bits and pieces of her dance class before curling back up next to me.
And today? Well, today, my friends, my little shepherd led her friends into the sanctuary for the Christmas pageant. She chose not to stand up and sing, but she got dressed up, and walked in with confidence, before sliding in next to me to watch her friends, some of whom, also ducked out throughout the performance. She sat happily with me. She was so proud that she wore her costume and walked in all by herself. And, she enjoyed watching her friends up there, feeling safe and no more worries.

At home tonight, she gave us a gift we've been anticipating with excitement for quite some time. You see, Hailey is very uncomfortable with secrets. In fact, if you tell her one, she'll probably cry a very worried cry. She will flat out tell us that she doesn't want to come along Christmas shopping, because she doesn't want to have to know what we buy for others. Too stressful.

That's fine with me. She can tell me everything all the time for her whole life, and that will be just perfect.

So anyway, in school, over the course of a couple of days, she made us a Christmas gift. The first day, she told me that it was going to be a surprise and I would find out at Christmas. The second day, she told me what it was...in a whisper, which was completely precious. We did manage to keep it a secret from Daddy, as I guess telling me settled her nerves. ANYWAY...she could NOT wait for us to open it today...

...And we both think it's the best gift we've EVER gotten. She painted this ceramic, posed for the photo (something that is also a huge deal for her, making this even more special), and put the whole thing together after a class mom who works with ceramics fired everything. Isn't it beautiful?

And another ornament she brought home today, which she is equally proud of, and insists on hanging on her tree. I totally love knowing that we'll have these special pieces of her at this age forever.

So now all this anticipation can rest. All the worry can stop. She can be a normal kid, counting down the days until Christmas, without the hustle and bustle of our busy lives for a bit, and without the thought of how to conquer the next day in her mind as she falls asleep. And the best news? She found a way to enjoy at least a little sliver of each of these past three days, so that she might see it's all okay...and more importantly, that she can do it. I know so intimately how hard these things were for her, and it makes me even more proud of all she's accomplished.

And, now that I can relax a bit as well, I promise lots of really cute posts about Christmas decorations, cookies, and play to come. We've had a lot of great family time lately, and the pictures are just sitting here patiently on my computer, waiting to be shared.