RIP Rosalyn

Today was a day that should have never been. A day that makes me question why God works the way He does. Today I attended the funeral of a beautiful young lady and great friend, Rosalyn Berrett Hassall.

Rosalyn and I first knew each other from piano lessons at an early age, and always had our recitals together. Even from a young age, Ros was so happy and friendly to everyone that she came across. One of my funniest memories of Ros happened at one of our piano recitals during elementary school. She was walking to the front for her turn to perform, when her pantyhose started to roll down - all the way to her ankles. It was quite a sight, and even during her embarrassment, she laughed it off. She always had a smile on her face.

Once we reached Junior High, we attended the same school. She was still the Ros I always remembered, and turned into a great friend of mine. I have many memories of us together in High School; memories that have now turned into treasures of mine.

Rosalyn was there my first day of Junior High. She was there when I had my first boyfriend. She was there for me when I had my first major break up. She was there next to me at our High School graduation. She was one of the first people I told about my engagement to husband Mike. She was there at our wedding. She went out to dinner with Mike and myself, and played games at our home. I talked to her at least every week online. I regrettably had to miss her wedding; something that I will always regret. She was a great friend.

Yet today, I stood in the church where she lay - here in body, but not in soul. Lifeless. Surrounded by all that loved her on this earth. Her husband, broken hearted. The last time he was in a position at the front of the church, it had been on 10/10/10 waiting for his beautiful bride to walk down the aisle at their wedding. What a twist of fate that today, 12/29/10, he would also be waiting for his bride at the front of the church. Her sister. Her parents. Her nieces and nephews. Her classmates. Her students. Her colleagues. Her friends. All with tears in their eyes, wondering the same thing. WHY God, WHY??

I know today that Rosalyn is resting in God's hands, and my sadness and grief is selfish for wanting her to remain in such a painful world. But she was my friend. And I miss her.

Obituary

All About Jackson

All About Birdy

Diagnosis

As I'm sitting here getting ready for someone from AEA to come to the house and meet with us regarding Maddie and hopefully getting her into integration preschool, I'm finally reading through the giant stack of doctor letters and notes that I've prepared to give them today.

I guess I've just been thinking of everything as "Sensory Processing Disorder" - but just read through what the official diagnosis is that the psychologist has given her.

Adjustment Disorder with disturbance of emotions and conduct

She also said that she is in the process of ruling out:

ADHD combined type, and
Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified

So what does that mean to me? Not a lot right now.

Heartland AEA

We finally got a call back from Heartland AEA today to set up a time for an assessment for Maddie, to hopefully get her enrolled in Integration Preschool through the school system. Maddie needs this so bad, please pray that she will be accepted, get what she needs, and be able to start as soon as possible! They are coming to the house next week.

Yezelalem Minch - Help For Ethiopia

For those of you that don't know us already, our names are Mike and Jill Wald. We started our adoption process a couple years ago with all of the paperwork with Ethiopia. In May 2010, we brought home our 2 year old daughter Birtukan Milka from Mussie Orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia through Bethany Christian Services. While we were in Ethiopia, we stayed at Morning Coffee Guest House, owned and operated by the most amazing woman we have ever met in our lives - Birtukan Sinshaw. While not everyone is called to adopt Internationally, there are many things that YOU can do to help these orphans and widows. For $30/month, you can change the life of a child.


The History Of Yezelalem Minch
When Birtukan was a child, she was a sponsored child through World Vision Ethiopia. While she had all of her educational and nutritional needs met, she believed all sponsors were rich. She graduated from High School and joined the staff of World Vision, where she had the opportunity to read many letters written by sponsors. One letter changed her worldview completely. It said "I am a crippled man, and I do not have much money. However, I have a strong love for you and that is why I intend to help you. This is my pleasure." In Ethiopian society, a crippled individual is considered the poorest of the poor. Birtukan asked herself, "I have hands, I have feet, what can I do to help these in need?" Ten years later after leaving World Vision, she noticed many children with no parents living in the streets near her home. She started to help two orphans taking them into her home as a single woman. Fortunately after her marriage, her husband Nesibu agreed to her vision that these little ones should not be left behind - Yezelalem Minch. He now manages the programs of YM. In 2002, YM became a legal non-profit organization. Birtukan spends her time making beautiful jewlery, running the Morning Coffee Guest House, and works at YM as an advisor for administration and all of her orphans.


What Does Yezelalem Minch Do?
Yezelalem Minch is an organization in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that provides an outreach to children whose parents have died of AIDS, while providing support and meeting needs of families that have taken in orphaned children.

YM helps meet basic physical needs (food, clothing, shelter, medical care), educational opportunities (schools, uniforms, school fees, tutoring and after school programs, and hands on science education), and a home-based family setting with care from a Christian house mother for those children without extended family to live with.

What Can You Do?
Sponsoring a child is $30/month. With your financial help, YM will be able to meet the needs of the children currently enrolled through YM. You will be assigned a specific child, and your sponsorship money will be used to help this child receive the food, education, and medical care that they so desperately need. You will be sent a photo of your child, along with regular correspondence.

How Do I Become A Sponsor?
YM currently has partnerships with Bethany Christian Services and Helps International Ministries. You can contact BCS or HIM for more information on sponsorship. The easiest way would be to go to HIM's link, print off the sponsorship form, and mail it to HIM's address. You can choose to send a check in each month, or automatic withdrawal. You can also contact YM directly at yezelalemminch@yahoo.com for immediate information on your sponsored child.


How Do I Contact My Sponsored Child?
You can send your letters and care packages to YM's address in Ethiopia, and can also email your sponsored child at yezelalemminch@yahoo.com. I am also in frequent contact with adoptive families that visit Ethiopia and YM often, and would be able to help you coordinate them carrying a care package to Ethiopia for you. Email me at jillwald@mchsi.com if you are interested in coordinating that.


My Blog About Our Visit To YM

My Video About YM Sponsorship

Order Your YM T-Shirt For $20 (100% of profits go directly to YM!!)
Contact Kara at kkvassar@yahoo.com to order your shirt today!

Get A ~FREE~ DVD About YM
Contact Kara at kkvassar@yahoo.com to request a DVD.

50 sponsors in 50 days for 50 children at Yezelalem Minch

Pet Cemetary

When Mike was mowing the lawn the other day, he found two dead baby bunnies in the yard. I decided that I couldn't throw them in the garbage, so we're going to bury them in the back yard. We named them Peanut Butter and Jelly. The conversation about the burial went something like this:

Jackson: Umm mom, what's in that bag?
Mommy: Peanut Butter and Jelly - the dead bunnies that daddy found.
Jackson: You're not going to bury them, are you??
Mommy: Yes, I'm going to bury them in the back yard.
Jackson: Like a pet cemetery??
Mommy: I guess so.
Jackson: And THAT is why I'm afraid of the dark!! Pet cemetery = dead animals that turn into zombies that come in the middle of the night to eat my brains!!

Jackson scripted a little prayer for the funeral; his biggest concern was that they were going to come back as bunny zombies and eat his brain.