Pray, Pray, Pray

Thank you so much for taking time to pray for National Conference 2010. We have been fortunate enough to have about 3,700 registrants, making it our biggest event ever! Please pray December 30-January 3rd for our college students who will be gathering in sunny Orlando, FL from all across the US to gather and be enriched in the faith. Please pray for FOCUS as we look to host students all across the nation as we help them to see they are Made for More. Check out www.focusconference.org to see conference highlights afterward!

Washed Clean as Snow

"O purify me, then I shall be clean; o wash me, I shall be whiter than snow."
Psalm 51:7

What better day for Joseph James to come into the Church, than a gorgeous snowy day! It was a beautiful ceremony, and Joseph was such a gem (hardly crying for once, thanks to Father letting me feed him first, and change him). We were blessed by the presence of many families that have become dear to us here in Denver, and enjoyed an intimate Baptism St. Joseph's Chapel in the Pastoral center at St. Mary's Parish. It was a joy to have about a dozen children present as they got to partake in the event, helping with the readings, the chrism oils, prayers, and the lighting of the candle. Something that I have never seen before, but brought a tear to my eye was at the end of the Baptism, where Father prayed over Joesph, and asked for the protection of our precious son. What a blessing it has been to be apart of the St. Mary's community!

Getting ready for my big day
Don't forget me...I need to give a cheese smile for Joe's big dayThis is what it looks like to have original sinPlacement of the first chrism oilsI baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy SpiritWashed clean as snow...being clothed as a new creationThe presentation to Mary by Father Alvaro
My two minutes of fame
Proud new Godparents...Brian Lager a good friend, and future Priest, and Anne Wolpert, a dear friend from FOCUS who lives close to us in DenverWelcome Joseph to our Christian FamilyProud parents...and big brother

Please pray for FOCUS National Conference

I am writing to ask for special prayers this week. Our registration for National Conference 2010 ends this Friday, Dec. 11th, at 11:59 MST! We are continuing to beg our Lord to bring thousands more to come and experience our Lord, and the young Catholic Church, in a way so totally different than ever before! Two years ago, we needed 750 people to register in the final week to help FOCUS avoid losing a significant chunk of change. In one week we had over a 1000 registrants! We are coming to see that this is just how college students work...last minute, but boy does it make us sweat! Please pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for a college student who may need to meet our Lord most! I truly believe that this conference could help a person meet our Lord Jesus Christ, and radically change our culture. We are offering all prayers for this conference, through Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the late great, Pope John Paul II.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!
Pope John Paul II, pray for us!

To see more, check out the NC 10 conference website here!

Just so you can see Joe change...

Just to make you laugh...Jeremy and I just about died when we saw that we caught this on camera!
We got our first smile this Saturday after bath time. He is becoming much more content with bath time...thank heavens!

Precious sleeping little one


Yeah Mom, we're buds...


Hi Mom
That's the truth...so far I don't know what is going to happen with his poo-pooh's, but it appears that he might be storing it up just like Simeon did, and then wamoooooooooo, big explosion!

Joe's First Thanksgiving

This year we got the chance to spend Thanksgiving with some close friends, Stephanie Demboski and her new husband Dave, her parents and sister (and even boyfriend from Ireland). :) Since we couldn't be with family, I would say this was second best. We were also joined by our long lost son, Chris Amaties who shows up in our lives life a college student: we don't hear from him for several months on end, and then all of sudden he's sleep in on our couch! The Parnow's and Demboski's took care of all the cooking (minus a couple of pies), and man was it quite a feast. Mrs. Parnow even bought black olives so that Simeon could put them on his fingers!

Simeon took care of entertaining just about anyone who would play with him. We were in the new Catholic Newman Center at CU in Boulder, and it was the perfect place for us to lounge. We got to watch some Bronco football, play darts, cards, toss the beach ball for Simeon, chase Simeon, and more, at our own leisure! If Jeremy could have it his way, he would hang out there every weekend if he could!

We have a lot to be thankful for this year with the arrival of Joseph James, and especially with economy being the way it is, and both of us working for the Church. We continue to ask for prayers for our family as we continue to shower love on Joseph James, and adapt to our growing family. Thank you for touching our lives, and know that even though we are far away, we think of you all often and miss you dearly!

I promise I ill bring him back
We can't feast anymore!
Ummmmmmmmmmmmm...olives!
What are these black things?
Mom, what are you doing to me?
Practicing...
What can I cook up in this kitchen?
You are so fun Dave...
Go get it Simeon!
Our long lost son with our second born.