Christmas Update Embrees

James and Ella Embree

Moving Ministry

Lots of changes

James & Ella (celebrating 20 years of marriage), Hannah 17 (Senior), Bronwyn 13, Max 16

We did sell our home in Palmer and moved to Anchorage about 45 miles away.  Huge praise was we showed our Palmer house one day and had an offer.  The selling was easy.  There were some delays on the purchase of our new Anchorage home that tried our patience as we spent several weeks in James’ parents’ basement between homes.  But, we are moved in now and getting settled in our new neighborhood.  We arrived to a harvest of raspberries and rhubarb in our backyard!   We have met already four neighbors including Makenna with a super cool english bulldog, Remington.  Willow (our great dane) has adjusted to the home quickly.  Now it is the long process of unpacking the remaining boxes and finding a place for everything.

Hannah has just 1/2 of a year left as a senior at West High before heading to Taylor University in Upland, Indiana in fall of 2018 (yes she has already been accepted and knows her roommate).  She is preparing for her dream role as Morticia from the Addams Family Musical.  Max is a sophomore in a complicated mix of schools; he is continuing his study  of Japanese language/Chemistry at Dimond High and enjoyed cross country running  at West High, while homeschooling part-time.  Bronwyn has taken a full load of dance (ballet & jazz) and will continue to be homeschooled this year through Family Partnership while taking Advanced choir at Romig.  She landed a part as Helen in Young Jane Eyre at Anchorage Community Theater.


Summer 2017 Ella started out leading community hikes each Wednesday for free for Thrive Outside and Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers.  In May, she began her Tour Guide with Alaska Adventure Unlimited.  She has loved her clients and showing off Alaska, but misses her family as it is 6 very intense and long days.  

The children all served the Lord at North Star Bible Camp.  

New Address

1350 West 70th Avenue

Anchorage, AK 99518

James 907-315-3803

Ella 907-795-6604

Hannah 907-521-9443

Max 907-707-3505

Bronwyn 907-414-2998

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE EMBREES?

Random Christmas Questions (Try to guess who answered)

Favorite book you read this year?

a. The Pearl or Animal Farm

b. The Secret Life of Bees

c. Vox Day Novels

d. The Selection Series

e. Lilac Girls

Can't wait to...

b. Preform as Morticia in the Addams Family Musical March 1,2,3

c. Compete in the TriFlake Winter Triathlon

a. Celebrate Christmas and show my family Chicken man

e. explore Hawaii for our 20th Wedding Anniversary

d.  Play Helen in Young Jane Eyre January 19-February 11

Favorite Website
c. Nfl.com
b. Pintress
a. DHMO.org
e. anylist
d.  instagram

If I had $100,000 I would
d.  move to New York City
e. looking for ways to invest/encourage the Kingdom of God
b. give it to Dressember
c. make a down payment on my children's education (three in college soon)
a. pay for Hannah's Choir trip.

Who is Jesus Christ to you?
e.  Abba Father-Daddy-Friend
a. Literally perfect
d. My Superstar
c. God
b.  My Dad

Complaining or Rejoicing

Okay, as I have mentioned before, I love having a plan.  It was getting to the end of the year, and I finished my daily reading plan.  I don't know where I skipped a week, but I couldn't find anything I hadn't read.  So, the past week or so, I have been rereading sections, but I wanted to do something to prepare my heart for Christmas.


One day, I was struck by the hunger and the waiting that we need to have for the second coming as much as the old testament saints had for the first coming of Jesus. 

However, today I found The Songs Of Christmas Reading Plan through YouVersion.  I skipped ahead because it is a 15 day plan, and it is like three days until Christmas.  I loved it.  It had scripture and a short devotional.  It started out how reluctant kids are when assigning chores (I could easily and quickly relate).  Then, it dove into how as adults we don't change.  When getting a new assignment, we don't rejoice, but often bicker or complain.  How different it was for Mary.  She rejoiced in the honor of being chosen and humbly acknowledge her Lord God.  WOW!  

Today, I want to accept the things God has given me that might be hard or that I am not ready for but instead of complaining.  I will rejoice in my Savior!

The song that spurred was "Breath of Heaven" by Amy Grant.  I quickly youtubed it and enjoyed the song.  

Our Christmas Letter Blog

When asked the kids to write a bit of the Christmas letter I got:"I hope you have a Merry Christmas."

Asking to add some more details I got the second time: "I have a good sledding here. How is your snow? "

So, I decided to interview them. You can guess the person  or look at the bottom of the page.

What I wish I could spend my time on?

a. Build and improve things on lego

b. Go to the animal shelter or go on playdates

c. Hanging out with friends

d. Mountain biking and rock climbing

e. skate skiing, knitting, reading, blogging

I can't believe that I... (not really unbelievable)

a.climb the Butte (little mountain) over and over this summer.

d. almost have a teenager

b. don't have any friends to play with on Saturday.

c.went to drama camp.

e. learned to knit this year.

Can't wait to...

a. go Mountain Biking again. It was a blast and a workout.

b. get Christmas gifts.

c. eat more chocolate.

d. go hiking next summer.

e. see my parents this summer (hope)

If I had a $100,000 dollars I would...

a. give it to Compassion International.

b. give it to the poor and be a missionary.

c. fly to Africa.

d. give most of it away, but get a better mini van.

e. give it personally to missionaries arounds the world.

Favorite book you read this year?

b. Turtle in paradise by Wendy Max

c. Hunger Games by Susanne Collins

d. Wierd by Craig Rochel

a. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

e. So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore

Favorite Website?

a. poptropica

d. nfl.com

e. saymmm.com or blogger.com

c. gmail.com

b. girlsgogames.com

Crazy thing?

a,b,c,d,e, Fire in our neighborhood

Who is Jesus Christ to you?

a. savior, someone who I really love, pretty much the ultimate scapegoat for everyone sins

b. rock and foundations, my comforter, and healer, we need him, and my shelter.

c. Father, and shepherd, foundation for my life, counselor

d. God, Savior, and Lord

e.  My Redeemer, my God, My everything

www.ellaembree.blogspot.com

720 w coville cir, Palmer AK 99645

907-631-8876 OR 907-315-3803

We Wish you all the best this year,

Ella for the family

a. Max  b. Bronwyn c. Hannah d. James. e. Ella

rotten calendar makes for Fun

"These are a lot more fun with candy," replied Hannah.

Well, the background of the story was that I found some amazing advent calendar earlier this year and stored them.  However, after the long expectant day (December 1st) came, but the chocolate on day one was rotten.

You see for the past 6 years I have followed the Jesse Tree Advent Calendar.  I have done a mixture from different websites.  Ann Voskamp has one a free one.  I also like this one from the Reform Church Jesse Tree.

*I hand made each one by stitching and adding little things (shells).

*I also made a set by using a color printer and laminating the icons.  I glued them to a foam backing.

This year, I was about to go through the readings.  But, James suggested that we could skip this year.  Disappointed, but knowing that we are finishing up the bible in a year.  I submitted.

Now, I need to replace a chocolate advent calendar, but we live in Palmer.  I couldn't find one.  So, I got clever.  I remembered my Jesse Tree advent calendar.  So, I let the girls pick the days ornament.  They need to tell the family the story and the significance to Jesus' Birthday.  Then they get to pick out their favorite chocolate out of the basket.

Hence, Hannah's appropriate comment. "These are a lot more fun with candy," replied Hannah.

I love that they are teaching me and the traditions still stands.  

Far away still

It is ironic, that I still feel far away.  As a missionary, you deal with being away from  your families while serving in a foreign country.  It is the bittersweet time of waiting for that skype call and coordinating  the dinner/parties so that you come home to receive or make the long distant call.  Well, now I am back home in Alaska with some relatives near (my parents are thousands of miles away).  It was special to enjoy the celebration at church and with them for a lovely simple dinner.  Nevertheless, I spent some of the day praying and missing my African family.  Now, I have the reverse to miss.  But, I did get to make the skype call to Africa and greet my dear friend Mary.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE