We had a wonderful Christmas

A couple nights before Christmas we

went to see the Christmas lights

in Rancho Cucamonga

 It was fun for all of us, except
not enough fun to keep Lukey
awake!

 Christmas Eve: we awoke to a
5:45am phone call telling us that
my sis-in-law was having her
baby.  This baby decided to come
5 weeks early! I guess she didn't
want to miss out on Christmas.

It was so cute to see my brother
just stare at his new baby girl
in adoration!!

 Baby Halle Noelle O'Brien
5 lbs 12 oz  19 in

 My lil bro's family

 Taylor is a big sis!

 First time holding Halle

 That night we had dinner at
our house

 And Santa came when we all
went to sleep

 The boys were happy to wake
up to some new presents!!

 Luke's favorite gift: a
new scooter!

 This might have been a mistake-
he put this stuff on and started
punching everyone!

 Later that day, Tommy and I
went to spend some time with
Keith and Jessica and baby
Halle at the hospital

 She is so precious!

 We had a wonderful Christmas
and always enjoy the time with
our loved ones!

Cousins: (next year Halle will
be right in the mix!)

 Grandma with some of her
boys :)

 Another year has come and
gone. . .lots of memories have
been made. . .

Christmas is HERE!

Have a wonderful and blessed
Christmas.

 We are thanking JESUS for
being our Savior and Lord!

Merry Christmas 2012

 Sending our love this
Christmas. . .

 We pray you are blessed and
are able to spend Christmas with
your family and loved ones

 There is no greater love on this
earth than the love that God the
Father has for His children.

God sent Jesus, born as a baby,
so that he would save the world
from their sins.  Eternal life
comes through Jesus Christ
and Him alone.  I pray you know
Jesus personally- when all else
fades, He will be there holding
us firm.

Love, The Amico Family

Family Time: Work/Play

Tommy and I both had to work

at a Las Vegas Coaches Clinic a

couple weeks ago so we took the

boys and made a family trip out of

it. We stayed an extra day at the

Golden Nugget where the boys

and Tommy swam, went down the

water slide and saw the fish all

around them as they did!

 The water was heated but not very
much :)

That didn't stop the boys from
swimming and enjoying the
water

Huge fish!

Going down the slide

Here you can see Jake in the
tube of the slide

Luke never went down the slide-
he was afraid he forgot how
to swim.  He went up to
the top of the hotel to enjoy
the view anyway.

The boys enjoyed staying in a
hotel and of course they brought
along their games. . .

We had a good trip all around!

Maybe we'll go back again
sometime when it is warm
outside, and then Luke and
I can experience the water
slide too. . .

Heartache, hurting. . .HOPE

There has been such a heaviness lately-
what started out as grieving for the
families in Newtown, Ct last Friday
and the horror they went through
turned to sadness and sorrow for
the news of the death of Frank
Pastore on Monday.  I was so sad
to get the news that he was gone-
sad for his wife, Gina, for his kids
and his grandson.  I am jealous that
Frank is in the presence of Jesus
Christ right now and I look forward
to being in heaven with him one day.
I know that if I was the one to pass
away, I am the lucky one.  It's the
loved ones left behind that have to
live with the pain and grief.

Around this same time came the
news that Daisy Love Merrick has
2 new tumors and the prognosis is
bleak.  She has fought this cancer
and it keeps coming back with a
vengeance.  This family loves the
Lord, her dad is a gifted pastor,
and she is just a little girl.  The
sadness overwhelms again.

Finally I found out of the death
of another friend yesterday- I
can think back to taking our
parenting classes together through
our church and taking Jake when
he was 1 yr old to his house to see
Santa.  Time passes and things
happen and people die too early.
I pray for his two young daughters
who will be hurting this Christmas.

And then I turn my eyes to Jesus-
the author and perfecter of our
faith.  The One who came so that
death would not be the final ending-
in fact he conquered death and rose
from the dead so that we can have
eternal life in heaven with Him.
God sent Jesus to us- that is
the Christmast story- the baby
was born in Bethlehem and the
world was never the same.  He
came to give His life so that others
could have eternal life.  Death on
this earth is the beginning of eternity-
I am certain I will spend eternity
with God in heaven when I take
my last breath.  I know that those
children who lost their lives
tragically last week are dancing
in heaven right now.  But it is a
choice- and I choose Jesus because
He first chose me.  So as I'm
feeling sad, I have truth that brings
HOPE.  Hope in Jesus is what
keeps us going.  Hope that this
life does matter- it matters to
God. When the time is right,
God brings His children home. 
God's children are those who
put their trust in Jesus Christ-
the Bible clearly states that. 
I am thankful for the HOPE
that Christmas brings.  I pray
for these families and that God's
grace and comfort can cover
them during this time and I
pray they have found HOPE
in JESUS too.

Another Airplane Story. . .

I reallly could write a book on all
the airplane stories of conversations
and people I have met while flying
to and from my engagements.  I
laugh because I am never the one
to initiate the conversation and yet
there have been so many great
discussions I have had on airplanes.
Don't get me wrong, I love to talk
to people and  I will always smile
and say, "Hi", but I usually am shy
unless they start talking to me. 

Most people would be shocked to
hear me say I am shy, but it's only
in getting the coversation started.
After that, I am an  open book and
I love to share my life and my faith
when the opportunity arises.

This time was a little different. I
wasn't the one in the conversation.
But the discussion I heard in the
seats behind me gave me such
encouragement that I had to share
what happened. 

There was a girl who was about
early 20's and another woman
probably in her 30's sitting directly
behind me.  They were talking and
I have no music on my iphone so
I had no other option but to hear
what was being said.  After a couple
minutes, I was intrigued.  The girl
was very open talking about how
her mother had recently died and how
it was very messy.  She said that her
dad had cheated on her mom many
years earlier and left her and
that started a downward spiral
in her life.  She said she didn't see
her mom very often and that her
mom made some very bad choices.
She also said that her grandmother
was very cold when she walked in
one day and just flat out said, "I
went to your mom's house and found
her on the floor. She's dead."

The girl said she collapsed and hit
her arm when she fell, breaking a
bone.  She said the put a hole in the
wall and was out of control that day.
She said that her dad and grandma
advised her not to see her mom, but
that she HAD to do it!  She said that
she held her mom's hand and told her
she loved her.  She said she screamed
at her and then asked for her to forgive
her.  She said she told her mom that
she also forgives her mom for all that
she did.  There was so much hurt in this
girl's voice.  She was saying how she
hasn't eaten and has lost so much
weight and that she is so LOST.

I so badly wanted to turn around
and tell her about the hope we have
in Jesus when the world around us
is crashing down.  But I didn't have
to- God had his child sitting in that
seat that He had chosen.  With
gentleness and love, the lady sitting
next to her started sharing how she
had lost her brother recently and
how hard that had been.  Then she
went on to say that she believes
that God can redeem all this girl
has gone through.  She told her
she would pray for her and that
if she opens the Bible that there
are words that will encourage her.
She said she would like to get
her number (and the girl gave it
to her) so she could text her and
send her verses.  She also said
that she should ask God to show
Himself in all of this because God
will do that. 

I was praying while while these two
were talking.  I was praying for
this girl who is heart-broken and so
lost.  This girl said she has
no spirituality in her life and her
grandma is a complete atheist.
No wonder the words of her mom
dying were so cold!  This poor
grandmother couldn't
even console her granddaughter
because her heart is probably so
hard towards God and she
doesn't understand the healing
that God wants to bring in to her
life!  I will pray for that woman
as well. 

The best part came after I got
off the airplane.  I saw the lady
who shared with the girl and
said I thought it was awesome
and that I was praying for the
girl as well.  She told me that
she didn't know the words to
say but knew she needed to
share God's love with the girl.

She also told me that after they
got off the plane, the girl prayed
the sinner's prayer and asked
Jesus into her life!  Talk about
a God appointment on a plane!
I was a bystander and my faith
was increased!  God is so good
and wants to use His children,
as unworthy as we may feel,
to help people around us who
may have never even heard about
Jesus Christ and that He died
for us so we can have eternal
life with Him!  There is HOPE
in Jesus, and we ALL need
hope!  I pray that this encourages
you because it makes me want
to step out and start more
conversations. I never
know when I might meet a girl
just like that on the plane who
has a broken heart and needs
the love of Jesus to come in
and heal her in every way!

Update on Frank Pastore

Please KEEP praying to God. . .

He can do miracles!!!

(I snagged this picture from Frank's
daughter's facebook page)

Here is the latest update from
Frank's daughter:

7:33pm tonight marks exactly 2

weeks since my father was riding

his motorcycle home from work,

excited to watch Monday night

football (which he had his first

win in our family fantasy league

that night)...& was in a life

changing accident. We are

more than blessed with support

& prayers for my dad. I've got

to spend many hours with his

closest friends, heard amazing

& funny stories, and really got...

ten to enjoy the company of

people that really know and

love him. In his coma he's even

more heroic to me now than ever.

We are all really starting to "miss

him", even though I believe in

miracles, the truth is that most likely

my dad will be changed (we all will)

& it's very difficult to feel one way

or another. I am hopeful & grieving

at the same time. I've described that

it's like having dueling pianos in my

head.. Thank you for your love,

passion, and continued prayers for

my dad- I WISH I had an update

of any sort to give, but it's all on The

Lords time ♥ Psalm 112:7 A righteous

man will have no fear of bad news; his

heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

Thanksgiving 2012

I hope you had a wonderful

Thanksgiving with your family

and loved ones!

We were blessed this year to

spend the day with family

from both sides this year!

We spent the evening and ate

a wonderful Thanksgiving meal

at my sister's house in Ladera

Ranch, CA.  Tommy's brother

and his family were able to join us

this year.  That was extra special

to us since we don't get a lot

of time together.

 The kids all had fun playing together.

And playing on the iPad!

 Amy did a great job with many of

the main side dishes and my mom

once again was Master Chef and

made the turkey and gravy just

right!

 We are excited to have another
little blessing at the Thanksgiving
table next year. . .Jessica is due
in 7 more weeks!  We can't wait
to meet baby girl O'Brien.

 My dad also spent the day with
us this year.  It was a full house
with lots of fun.

 All the cousins on my side. . .

 The Amico Boys!!!

 What our family is really like
when we are not posing with
nice little smiles for the camera :)

It was another great holiday
giving thanks to God for ALL
the blessings He showers on
us.  I am so grateful and there
is so much love that He has
created through family!  God
Bless YOU!

Pray for Frank

This picture was taken a couple
years ago on the set of More Than
Conquerors, a show on TBN.
Frank Pastore, on the left,
was hit by a car on Monday
while riding his motorcycle and
found unconcious after being thrown
off.  He is in the hospital and has
sustained major head injuries.

I am so heavy-hearted about this
and have been praying for his
healing and for his wife, Gina,
and their kids.  Frank is a man
of God who is so energetic,
outgoing, and intelligent.  He is
a LA radio show host for KKLA
every weekday afternoon.  Please
lift him up in prayer and prayer that
God will restore him.  Ultimately we
pray for God's will to be done.

Happy Thanksgiving

We wish you a wonderful Thankgiving
                   2012

I reflect on the year and am so
humbled by how good God is.
He loves us and blesses us
and I don't deserve any of
it.  I am thankful for my family,
my friends, my health, my
home, our military and the
freedom they fight for, the
persecuted church, God's
children, and for all the little
things each day brings.

Here are some verses to
remind us that our thankfulness
is to be throughout the year
and directed to God:


Psalm 100

"Make a joyful noise unto the
LORD, all ye lands. Serve the
LORD with gladness: come
before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD he is
God: it is he that hath made us,
and not we ourselves; we are
his people, and the sheep of
his pasture. Enter into his gates
with thanksgiving, and into his
courts with praise: be thankful
unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his
mercy is everlasting; and his
truth endureth to all generations."
Psalm 107:1

"Give thanks to the LORD,
for he is good; his love
endures forever."

Psalm 145:7

"They will celebrate your
abundant goodness and
joyfully sing of your righteousness."

I spent the evening at my sister's
house with her family, my brother's
family, my mom, my dad, and
my husband's brother and his
family.  The food was great but
the time together with family is
what makes this day special.
I hope you had a wonderful
day with those you love most!

Jaded Faith by Jarod Osborne

This is the book I'm reading right
now.  I met the author's mom when
I was speaking in Ohio and she told
me about a book her son had just
written.  They were so sweet to send
me a book and he even signed it for
me.

I thought it was an interesting topic.
Jarod talks about how when he grew
up in a Christian home, his faith was
very strong.  He knew a lot of Bible
verses, was very active in church,
was a leader in youth group and so
on.  But in college he had some
questions about some things in
the Bible that seemed to contradict
other things and he said his faith
started to get a little jaded.  He also
saw others go through similar
situations and he wanted to find
some answers.  I'm not done with
the book, but he is now a Pastor
at Indiana Wesleyan University.
He wrestled with the hard questions
and found that life with God is
a whole lot more meaningful than
following the broad path that many
go on that leads to destruction.

I would agree with Jarod!  It is a
narrow path when you follow God,
and you will have struggles and
challenges.  The Bible teaches that
we will have trials and it is through
perseverance that character is
built in our lives and that leads us
to the hope we have in Jesus!

I think too many people want the
easy way out.  They either want to
make their own rules or follow a
made-up God that allows them to
live how they want but who offers
them eternal life anyway.  When
things get hard, many people get
angry at God or question if God
cares, or if He's even there at
all.  I think this is why it is so
important that we check our
foundations of the faith we
claim as Christians.  If I know
the Word of God, and believe
the Word of God, and trust
the God of the Bible, then when
things get hard, I cling to the Rock
so my faith doesn't crumble. In
Matthew 7:24-29, Jesus talks
about building on sand vs. rock.
He is the ROCK.  When storms
come, and they WILL come,
I want to cling tightly to the
ROCK and want to be found
firmly planted after the storm
is over.  My conviction runs
deep, my passion for Jesus
spills out!  I want people to know
that if their lives as Christians
are boring, then they are not
living the Christian life! 

I look forward to reading the
rest of this book, but I know
that it is the plan of the enemy
for us to become "jaded"- I
will allow my God to protect
my heart from that with His
truth from the Bible.

*Thanks to Karen for having
her son send me this book :)

Here is what the book is
about:
 "Many young adults are disillusioned
with the faith they've inherited.
They see the churches of their
youth as superficial and irrelevant
to their deepest concerns.
Meanwhile, culture pushes and
pulls them in many directions,
none of its pathways leading
to true life. In Jaded Faith,
Jarod Osborne confronts
head-on the disorientation and
disappointment you may be
experiencing in your own journey
of faith. He helps you navigate--
spiritually and intellectually--the
most common side-trails that
cause young adults to wander
from the Christian faith. For those
who still want to believe despite
their disillusionment, Osborne
illuminates the pathway through
jaded to a stronger, intellectually
honest walk with Christ. You can
find hope and life after being jaded."

Election 2012

The election is over. . .

 The votes are in. . .

The country has decided that
they wanted Obama for 4 more
years.  I am thankful for the
opportunity to vote and make
our voices heard, even when
things don't turn out the way
I voted. 

I have seen a lot of social
media and have seen many
people talking about the mean
and racial comments that others
are making.  I guess I am
fortunate that those who are
my Facebook "friends" are
not making those same comments.
Yes, many people are worried
about how this election turned
out, and I am as well.  And many
people are upset about the
direction our country is headed
if things don't drastically change
from the way it's been the past
4 years.

I am hoping that our freedom
doesn't start slipping away
more and more in the near
future.  I am worried about
the debt in this country and
the weakening of our military.
I am sad that there is so much
support for abortion with this
leadership.  I am deeply
concerned about the fact that
this party is taking God out
of everything, including not
participating in the National
Day of Prayer and is turning
their backs on Israel. 

I also know that God is
still in control of ALL things.
I know that Jesus is coming
back and that we are to keep
our eyes on Him.  I pray that
people will seek God with
all their heart, mind, soul
and strength.  I believe as
people do that, God will
take care of their needs,
even if times get hard.  I
am still thankful to live in
the USA. I pray we can
hold onto the foundations
that our founders set in
place and that is something
I will be praying for often!

This photo says it all: