Emory’s Christmas Program

After last year’s Christmas performance, I was dreading this year’s. Emory had been practicing during music each week and was actually really excited about it. I talked to her well in advance about there being tons of people there to watch her {it was the program for the whole school, grades 4K through 6th, so there were hundreds of people.} but kept reassuring me she was gonna be fine. I knew there was almost zero chance she would sing, but I was crossing my fingers that she would just keep from crying.

Boland, with his new haircut, came to cheer on his big sister.

As the kids filed into the gym, I was prepared for her to cry as soon as she saw us. But surprisingly she walked right past with a smile {a little, sorta worried one, but a smile nonetheless!} and proceeded to the front. {Her little legs aren’t quite chunky enough to hold up her knee socks, so they always slide down to a little puddle around her ankles. Oops!}

4K took the stage first and I think she was freaked out for just the first few seconds. But no tears! I was so proud of her.

And then the music started and she opened her mouth. And sang! Loud! She had already informed me that she could either ‘say da words’ or ‘dance wif her hands’ but not both because it was too hard to do them at the same time, so it didn’t surprise me that her little arms stayed by her sides. Until the very end when she held her arms up and did the last few motions…while singing!

She took a big bow and I think I would have wept with pride had we not rushed to get out of the gym so we weren’t forced into watching the next 7 grades perform.

Both Grandmama and Mimi were very proud too {especially since they’ve witnessed the paralyzed-by-fear episodes on multiple occasions!} and Emory was rewarded with a special dinner with Grandmama and Granddaddy afterwards.

While Mommy was snapping away on her camera, Daddy was able to catch it all on video.

{walking to the stage}

{singing We Three Kings}

{singing See the Stars}

Of course there are many standard milestones that make me so proud, but the little accomplishments, the ones that I know are a big deal for her, are the ones that really make my heart swell. It’s amazing that she’s already of the age where I can try and reason with her about things. And one of her big worries in the last year has been the fear of people laughing at her when she’s in the spotlight. We’ve talked about it a lot and I was so happy to see that she finally overcame her fear! Way to go Baby Girl!! We’re so very proud of you!