I grew up number 2 of 4 in a rural town. I had a happy childhood. My mom stayed home with us kids and my dad was around more than most fathers. We were very content with our quiet street that many days only the mailman came down. We rode bikes til we wore them out. The pool in the backyard afforded us many, many, many hours of summertime fun. I remember other kids envying us.
I liked having 3 siblings. If I wasn't getting along with one, I'd go play with a different one. We also had several pets. We had a pony for many years and I still bear the scars on my elbow to prove it. We also had a couple of great dogs, a cat, chickens for a while.
I grew up in church. My dad was a pastor. I was saved when I was 4 and baptized when I was six. I was in church at least 3 times a week, but never ever resented it. It was always fun, and a place to hang with my friends. I was a 'good' girl. I never smoked or drank in high school and was 4th in my class.
When I was a teenager, my parents' marriage began to unravel. It was drawn-out and painful. In my late teens I escaped. I got my own apartment and put myself through college by waitressing about 40-50 hours a week.
His turn:
Colombo was the oldest of 3 boys and the lucky recipient of a stay-at-home mom AND dad. They were financially comfortable and he reaped the benefits of that by going on dream vacations, expensive ski trips, wearing name-brand clothes, and receiving a brand new car on his 16th birthday. They had live-in au pairs to do the carpooling, laundry, etc.
He grew up Catholic, but was also exposed to the Gospel at business conferences that his parents would have. One summer, he went away to a teen leadership camp and committed to changing his life. He stopped drinking and hanging around with bad influences. When he was 17, he surrendered his life to Christ and was saved. He got into his father's business and finished high school...barely.
Boy meets girl:
My best friend at the time was involved with a business and introduced it to me. Colombo, her mentor in the business, came down to meet me at a mall and give me some more information. We sat down together in a Chinese restaurant and talked about EVERYTHING except business. We talked about life ambitions, family history, how many kids we wanted. I walked away thinking, that's the kind of man I want to marry. He went home that night, broke up with his girlfriend, and told his dad he had met the girl he was going to marry. Five months later we were married.
The beginning:
We struggled the first 2 years of marriage. Honestly, I'm not even sure why we stuck it out. We were young (19) and we both had growing up to do. AND we had to get to know each other. In addition, things in my family were horrible and our finances were in shambles. But, we were both committed. The romance, the flowers, the champagne sometimes disappears, but commitment will see you through.
When I got pregnant with C4, things really turned around for us and it's just gotten sweeter every year.
Now what?
So here we are 14 years and 5 kids later. It keeps getting better. Colombo works out of the house running his communications business that he started from nothing. I am a homeschool mom...but not in the truest sense of the word. I don't wear jumpers and I only have five children.
We are so blessed with a GREAT family. God has restored my side. My parents and his parents are extraordinary grandparents. We've had nothing but support from them. They are always willing to help with babysitting. All of our siblings are close to us. They're our first phone call to hang out or go to dinner or catch a movie. Even extended family like my aunt and uncle in New York and his family in Maine have shown us so much love and support through our lives.
We are happy serving in our church. God has richly blessed us with wonderful friends and many outlets to serve in. We feel unusually blessed. Life is just so sweet and we try to be constantly grateful for God's goodness in our lives.
We are grateful for this season in our life. We are enjoying this precious time with the kids. They still like to be with us...for now.
Random facts you'd never need to know about us:
- I wish I could ballroom dance.
- We sleep on a water bed...so 80's.
- Neither of us snore.
- We both drive silver vehicles.
- I'm two months older.
- Colombo never cooks except for pancakes on Saturday mornings.
- Colombo never does laundry except for his nasty hockey stuff.
- Our family eats 3 meals together most days...so cool!
- I have no qualms about taking something from the side of the road on trash night.
UPDATE, July 2024
Our sixth baby, Renna, was born in 2012.
Bauer the dog joined us in 2016.
Phoebe the dog joined us in 2018, but passed in 2024.
Our oldest, C4 married Kelly 9/24/21. They now have a puppy, Oakley.
Maddy married Mason 10/1/22 and on 11/12/23 they welcomed their first baby and our first grandchild, Ezra Mae.
Colombo works as the marketing manager for a wealth management firm. Kelly serves at Shady Glen. Mason serves as the youth pastor at Bethany Assembly and Maddy teaches dance and is full-time mom to Ezra. Nathanael will graduate from UConn in 2025 and works at Hale Financial as a financial planner. Trevor graduated from high school and is headed to Word of Life in the fall. Rocco is a sophomore at East Catholic. Renna is extremely athletic and has played club soccer and hockey but plans to really focus on hockey for the next few years.
It is a joy and honor to see my kids growing and thriving and serving. They all serve at church and love the Lord and that is my life's greatest joy.
UPDATE, March 2026
Nathanael married Tina on 6/20/25.
C4 and Kelly welcomed their first baby, Colombo DiSalvatore V. He and Ezra share the same birthday, two years apart.
The Rambarose's moved to Jordan to study Arabic.
We gave up the waterbed after nearly 25 years!
