It's that time! Excelsior School of Dance is having their end of year performance. Awaken (Act 1) on SAT, 8 June at The Woodlands High School on Research Forest. Shows at 2pm and 7pm. (I recommend the evening performance because two of Bug's dances will be in that show. Most of the elder girls' dances will be in both shows.)

If you would like me to get the tickets for you, let me know. You can also get them online with a convenience fee attached.

Destination Japan

From Kyrie

Dance is a huge part of my life. I use it for so many different things. It's a hobby, it's a sport, something I do for fun and to show others what I can do. I can express feelings and the written word with it. I use dance as a way of telling stories and to me, most importantly, I use it to glorify God and use the talent he has given me to praise Him. Excelsior School of Dance has taught me proper dance technique and strength and they have also planted in me a seed of expression and passion that is used to give all I am to God.

All the training and hard work I go through comes down to the one moment when I am on stage and just praying that God will use me and my dancing to move the audience. I think every dancer that is part of Excelsior’s missionary group shows an enormous amount of love for God. Their purpose for dancing on a stage in front of so many people is not so much for the audience to admire the beautiful choreography or the strength of the dancers, but to show Christ and Bible stories through them. I think that's fantastic: using something that you love to do so much, and finding that God is using that to reach out to others.

The Excelsior company are planning to travel to Japan this year. They will be traveling to many cities and areas of Japan, dancing the story of Praise of the Nations, an original piece created by Excelsior. There will be a dancing crew and a backstage crew, including costume, lighting, and sound system helpers. I have been asked to serve as part of the backstage crew this year. I will also be going to Japan to see what it is like to travel with a ballet company.

I am so excited that I have this amazing opportunity to travel with Excelsior and see what they do in the foreign countries that they travel to! However, this trip will be expensive; I am hoping to raise $1,700 to cover a portion of the cost. I would love for you to partner with me in this adventure, through your prayers as well as your financial support. If you are willing to pray for me and Ballet Excelsior, especially when we're in Japan ( June 23^rd through July 6^th ) please send me an e-mail at kyrie.collier@yahoo.co.uk. To make a donation, please send a check made out to Ballet Excelsior of Houston with a separate note indicating it is for me. If you send me an email, I will send you the address to mail it to. I want to be where God wants me to be. I am very nervous as well as excited to have the opportunity to go with Excelsior. I trust in God that He will do His will though this, and that He will provide what is needed. Thank you for your prayerful support.

-Kyrie Collier

2012 Christmas Letter - just a little late

Psalm 61:4

"I long to dwell in your tent forever

  and take refuge in the shelter of your wings."

This is the Christmas letter we've not looked forward to writing. 

Every year at midnight on January 1st, I always wonder what the next year will hold and 2012 was no different. I couldn't have known- and, of course, we never do, but it was the year that brought us the worst pain ever. Most of you know, and if you do not, I'm sorry for the shock. On January 2nd, our beloved daughter, Aimee, was struck by a car and went home to Jesus. She had just turned three. The first few months of the year were mostly a blur and everything has been shadowed by that event. There has been a lot of tears and a lot of talking to God. 

We are all healing and every day brings us closer to Home. Aimee is not behind us, but ahead. We are very thankful for all the prayers for us and for those who continue to pray for us.

There have been joyful happenings. Alex (now presenting himself to the world as Tartan) turned eighteen and graduated from our home school. He is attending HBU (Houston Baptist University) in the Honors College. So far it seems to be a terrific experience for him. He lives on campus (no car) and only makes the occasional trip home. We went out to see him in September for Family Weekend and he came home in early November in order to vote and he was home for Thanksgiving.

Kyrie, Abigail and Kayleigh all performed in Excelsior's production of Creation and Saviour. It was a beautiful production (they always are) and the girls all performed wonderfully. We even had family from out of town come to see it, so that was a terrific blessing. Kyrie has moved into level 7 and was also invited to join the Ballet Excelsior Trainee program (BET). Ballet Excelsior is the professional group attached to the school. She danced in an outdoor Christmas performance and will be participating in Project Dance Houston in March as well as Project Dance New York in April. She is taking classes in ballet, pointe, modern, tap and hip hop. Next summer she will be traveling with Ballet Excelsior on their mission trip to Japan. She does not have the experience level to dance but will be a backstage hand and gofer. She will be sending out a letter soon asking for prayers and, if anyone feels so moved, financial support. She is really looking forward to this trip and is looking ahead to a day when she'll hopefully be able to dance with Excelsior on another trip. 

Aidan became a first class scout this year. He has gone on many campouts, with and without his dad. He really enjoyed summer camp at El Rancho Cima, where among other things he earned a merit badge in Horsemanship. He continues to study Chinese, both on the computer and in a class. He also takes an online taekwondo class. I'm hoping to get him into an "in person" class sometime. Perhaps in the summer. He is not taking drama, but helped out the class by playing the part of Joseph for the Christmas play. 

Abigail is in level 5, after taking exams for both grade 3 and grade 4 in the spring. She has started to dance on pointe as well, though slowly and carefully since she's still quite young. She danced in Dessert with a Purpose, the dance benefit for Ballet Excelsior, for the first time this year. She takes classes in ballet, pointe, modern, hip hop, and drama. For the drama class Christmas production she played the role of Mary. The dance school just announced that the ballet levels can participate in Project Dance Houston in March and so she is busily selling duct tape hair bows and bookmarks to try and raise the $200 registration fee. Thus far, she has raised a $100.

Kayleigh has blossomed this year. Physically she has moved *up* to the 25% in height and 10% in weight. Those are actually big gains for her. Her reading ability starting from near the end of last school year to now has taken a big leap forward. She is on her final reader for the school year. I'll have to improvise in the spring. At the dance school, she has joined hip hop, started grade 1 ballet, and continued with tap, which is her favorite. She's already asking about joining drama next year. 

We did not get out a letter before Christmas, partly because it was a hard thing to do and partly because we went on a family California Adventure over Christmas break. We pulled the camper behind us and logged 4,500 miles to California and back again. We visited Austin (family!), San Diego (zoo!), Claremont (The Hobbit movie!) and then drove through Santa Barbara (Psych!), San Jose, San Francisco (Golden Gate bridge!) to Winters, California (family!), Las Vegas (the Strip at night!), stopped briefly at Hoover Dam, continuing on through Flagstaff, Albuquerque (no wrong turns!), Amarillo, Wichita Falls and onward to home.

May 2013 be a year that finds you closer to God, trusting in Him whatever your circumstances. 

Psalm 62:7-8

"My salvation and my honor depend on God;

  he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

 Trust in him at all times, O people;

  pour out your hearts to him,

  for God is our refuge."

Love,

The Colliers

Baptism

Last Sunday, Kayleigh, Abigail, Aidan and I were baptized along with a whole slew of brothers and sisters from our church, including my sister and her husband. The weather was not only cooperative, but perfect. It was a very special day for us.

Six months

It's been six months. Six months since Aimee banged on our door and told me to wake up because it was "morning time!". Six months since I pulled her up into my bed and she cuddled up next to me, giving her dad a cheeky grin that said, "I'm in your spot, Daddy!"

Six months since I pulled her up into my lap that afternoon and held her while we stared long into each other's eyes. I set her down and then let her go. 

Four things that will never change:

1. We miss Aimee. 

2. We will not see her again on this earth. 

3. She is with Jesus. 

4. We will see her again. 

The first two are the things that make me grieve and make some days harder than others. The last two are what give me hope and enable me to go on day after day with joy, and yes, even happiness.

Something else that never will change: God. He is the same God he has always been and always will be. He is holy, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all things are in His hands. He is just- which is why we need a Savior. He is also gracious, loving and compassionate, which is why He sent the Savior, Jesus. He is beyond our understanding, His ways are not our ways, and yet He reveals Himself in His Word. 

Not much else to say, except

I will trust in Him.

> Naomi for the Colliers

Our three girls will all be performing in the Saturday afternoon show. The eldest two perform in all three shows. Contact me if you want me to get tickets for you.

Finally- an update

There is a stump way in the back of our yard near the pond where I go and sit almost every day; sometimes twice in a day. It's where I go to think about Aimee and grieve. I hate that she's gone. There is healing in my heart, but I miss her so much. The children all seem to be doing well. They miss her, too, but they seem very resilient. Willing to give it to God and move on. I seem to have to hand it to God over and over again. There are so many reminders and then I also think of the things I'll never do with her or see her do. I think Tartan's experience is similar, but from a daddy perspective. 
 
I know this sounds very melancholy- but it doesn't take up most of my day anymore. We've settled into new routines and there are many things that keep me busy and happy most of the time. It's easy to think I'm perfectly fine, but I'm not fully there yet and I don't know when I will be. There are still a few things I don't do and a few that I don't do well. I'm starting to believe that I will be able to do them eventually though, whereas before I thought it would be impossible. I don't know if I'll ever be able to say I've accepted what happened, but hopefully that I can live with it until I get Home. I find that there is happiness and joy in our lives again. Amazing how God can do that. 
 
If you've been praying for us, please know God has heard those prayers and he's answering them, but there's no rushing Him. If you continue to pray, pray for comfort and reassurance. For me, pray that I can continue to trust God.
 
We have not spoken to Elizabeth's family in a while so I have to guess at how best to pray for her. Please pray for assurance of God's love and presence in her life. Pray for healing and comfort in her heart.


Trusting even when it's hard,
Naomi for the Colliers