NorthStar Baptist Christmas Eve Service 2008

We celebrated our 3rd annual community Christmas Service this year.  We had a really good turn out, around 70 guests.  Our music director, David, put the program together.  We had a classical guitar quartet, grand band and Christmas Carols.  Alexa sang with two other girls Hark the Harold Angels Sing, it was beautiful!  Mike ended the program with sharing the Christmas story with the kids and a candle lighting with Silent Night.  Praise God, He was there!  We had 4-5 salvations.  Please pray for these people, that they would seek Him and obey Him.  Thank all of you for your prayers over this Christmas and may God bless your families with a Happy New Year!

Claire & Alexa ( We are sad b/c they have to move, she

has an amazing voice and a deep love for Christ)

Classical Guitar Quartet

Alexa

Alexa, Lisa, & Claire

Christmas Story

(None of our kids were up there, Nathan was asleep and Thomas said he was too old!)

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Can you believe it?  It is snowing in Vegas!  We had flurries last year, but nothing like this.  It snowed all day, they even cancelled school for the next day!  People can't drive in the rain so I guess they knew they wouldn't be able to drive in snow at all!!!  The kids had so much fun.  We even made snow cream.  Even though we do not have a yard to play in they found plenty to do.  I think it may even have calmed the anticipation to go sledding on the mountain (it is sooo cold up there), for a few days anyway!  We Hope you all Have A Very Merry Christmas!

Alexa making a snow angel

Snow Angel

Snowboarding down the driveway

Alexa & KC

Palm in back yard

Thick snow in front yard!

Thomas & Nathan

Alexa & KC with one of many snowmen

Our House

"1st Date"

Mike promised his little girl a few years ago that he would take her on her 1st date when she turned 12.  He told her she could go anywhere and they would ride in a limo.

While getting older and smarter she decided it would be more fun to go in a convertible!

This is the car she picked out!  They had dinner and went to see The Blue Man Group.

After the show he took her to get a Huge Chocolate Strawberry (one of her favorites)!

They both had a great time and enjoyed spending time together as father and daughter!

This is most certainly a moment in life they will cherish always!

Mike and Alexa

Dad in a hurry!!!

Adorable

Father and Daughter

Can you believe she is already 12?

Thomas, Nathan, and Dad

They had to have a ride too!!!

(don't worry, they didn't go far like this)

Las vegas Air Show '08

We were able to go to the air show for the 1st time since we have lived in Vegas.

We have a few church members who are in the air force and offered to take us on family day

since they have no family here either.  Bethany & David are a new couple in our church.  God has blessed our family and church greatly through them!  Russel & Claire have been with us for a while and have been here for us though the good and the bad times!  Needless to say they are all Awesome and we love them very much!  Enjoy the pics we were able to get as we enjoyed this fun filled day with them.  God Bless and keep our soldiers safe and also their spouses at home.

Bethany, pilot of a predator, and family with Lisa.

The Thunderbirds

Thomas:  Ready, Aim, Fire

I am so Happy!

Nathan the co-pilot!

Alexa having fun inside a plane!

Still real little!

Thomas

Inverted Pass

Matt & Jesse are Married!

Feel The Passion

Matt, Mike, & Jesse (signing marriage license)

Matt and Jesse decided to get married on Alexa's 12th birthday.  She was so excited to spend the day with Jesse.  She got her 1st fake fingernails, that she only wore for a week because of violin!

Mike got to perform his first wedding ceremony.  It was so sweet!  The ceremony took place in a small grass area  with a gazebo.  Very small and informal!  Matt is adorable, he cried so much the night before the wedding.  Happy tears of course!  He just was in disbelief at how God placed such a precious Godly woman into his life.

Since we were already more than half way to Arkansas, we decided to head east and surprise Alexa with a 12th Birthday Party with her cousins : )  This is the one thing she really misses (the close relationships with them).  We did not tell the kids we were going there.  It was funny to watch them as we drove down the interstate.  Thomas said we are going the opposite way from the hurricane (there actually was a pacific "hurricane" coming on shore that concerned him because he is still terrified of storms even though we never have them in Vegas!  He definitely outsmarted us, he looked at the compass and figured it out!!!

We had a blast in AR, even though it was only a couple of days.  We were able to see family and that was a blessing because we will not be able to be with them for Christmas.

Jaclyn, Darla, Caleigh, & Alexa

Thanks for making the cakes Janie!

Big Thanks to everyone who made this one of my best

Birthday Parties Ever ;o)

NBC update 2

This past weekend we held a concert featuring an upcoming Christian Band, Altar'd.

We believe this was the best weekend we have had since we have been here.  The band consists of 4 guys and then Matt's fiance Jesi who traveled with them.  They all stayed at our home and we were able to visit with them 24/7.  It was awesome! They are living for Jesus and want to Glorify Him in every way.  From the time they walked into our home you could tell this and it also felt that we had known them forever.  They are and always will be a part of the Ellis family.  We all loved hanging out with them and miss them already.  Matt and Jesi will be getting married Oct. 11th in Dallas.  We will be traveling there that weekend because they asked Mike to do the marriage ceremony.  Yes, that is how close we all became.  We can't wait!!!  Please pray for them as they prepare for the lifelong journey of marriage.

Matt & Jesi

ALTAR'D

The Band

  Kyle-lead guitar, Matt-lead vocalist, Jon-bass guitar, and Blake-drummer.

Pics from concert

NBC update

Well, as on the last newsletter, this has been a very busy last 2 months.  God has done amazing things in our lives and in the church.  I will start with the month of Aug '08.  We had a team from Rogers, AR come for a few days and help us promote the church and a back to school block party we held.  We had several come to the party, which was held at the park next to the school where the church meets.  There were water slides, bouncers and free food.  We were able to share who we are and what NBC is all about.  The Sunday after this we had over 20 kids and overall around 70 in attendance.  Praise God!!