Dear Precious Friends,
On this beautiful day I am rejoicing and thanking God for His most amazing gift Jesus and the incredible love He has for us.
I’m thanking Him for every blessing including the difficulties that have made me cling to Him more than I ever imagined.
As I start a New Year (today is my Birthday)
I’m sharing all the ways the Lord has been there for me and given me joy in the darkest of circumstances. As we all approach a New Year I’m asking the Lord to fill each of us with joy that only comes from knowing Jesus. It’s a joy that does not depend on circumstances but in our trust and hope in Him!
I thank you for all the sweet Birthday wishes and am so humbled and grateful for the love God shows me each day through you.
Many of you know the difficulties we are walking through with my husband Ricks cancer. On May 2nd our lives changed drastically... his biopsy which led to radical prostatectomy surgery on July 24th, came back stage 4 metasticized aggressive Prostate Cancer . We have been in total shock as this came out of nowhere.
Rick has been doing radiation (8 weeks worth and we are almost halfway through) and difficult treatments. Over the last month we’ve had hospitalization due to infection in bladder, ER for gout, drain put in at Mayo for infection, drain taken out 3 weeks later last week....lymphodema which has caused his foot and leg to be super swollen....
We have completely trusted in the Lord
And he has provided more than we can think or imagine.
His presence with us has given us such great joy and gladness.
Our family and friends have surrounded us with great love. During this time I was honored to officiate my nephew Zac’s wedding to his amazing wife Becca,
My precious gift from God great nephew who looks so much like my Dad with his crystal blue eyes and expressions.... had his 1st birthday and has brought our family together and closer than ever,
My sweet niece Kate Salamone asked me to officiate her wedding to the awesome Anthony Capperelli....
My son Branson graduated from College 2 weeks ago and at the last minute our Salamone family, sorority sisters and husbands helped us to give him a great celebration...
My ministry Walk on Water which is a Boutique dedicated to the Lord has been supported by our local community in ways I could never imagine. We’ve had incredible support and love and I am grateful beyond measure.
The Walk on Water team is my extended family and have shown incredible love and support and have stepped up in amazing ways.
Our Church Family has surrounded us with amazing love, prayer, support and encouragement!
Wow! The Lords love NEVER fails... I could say I’m walking through the toughest days of my life with my husband of 35 years and best friend walking through the toughest battle of his life which came out of nowhere...
Coming right after in 2018 losing my Mother in law and 2 weeks later my mom and best friend going to ER and 18 days later going to heaven .... March 12th... after 18 days intubated where we were by her side praying without ceasing for her to be healed, only to be followed in April by my sweet 4 year old dog Reese’s who we adopted and loved so much ... he was mauled by a bear in our garage protecting Rick from a mana bear and her Cubs (mama bear was very aggressive) and 2 weeks later he went to heaven after intense surgery and care to save his life, only to be followed by me getting horrible shingles, and then my Dad joining my mom in heaven....
I share this with you because through it all the Lord has been faithful and so present despite the hardest days of my life... I held both of my parents hands when they went to heaven.....
What a privilege!
So on my Birthday I want to say thank you for being a part of this Group, for your love, support and friendship.
Yes it’s a joyful day for me and sharing this with you helps me so much! You better believe I’m trusting the Lord for a new and blessed year filled with joy... and now you know why I can always say when people ask me how are you... I always say GRATEFUL!
Amen!!!
