Once again, a great reminder of how God has opened doors through prayer!!  I sent this email out on November 18th, 2008, to a group of friends and family.....

Hello everyone,

 

We are now in California!  It is so beautiful here and the beach is 10 minutes away, yahoo! We are really missing our friends, but God has already shown us such purpose in our move.

 

Zach started school the end of October and seems to be adjusting well.  He is now attending a high school of approximately 3000 kids….WOW!  What a change from the school he was at in Phoenix.  Zach tried out for the basketball team last night and has already been playing with some of the kids during his basketball/PE class.  We should find out this week if he made the team and which one he is on.  Zach’s school work is very challenging, but he never complains.  He just moves forward with everything and continues to amaze us every day!! 

 

Noah and Alexis started school on Tuesday, November 4th.  Their second week of school was “ability” week and they had many different events to create awareness for people with disabilities (with a focus on their abilities). Through what can only be attributed to God’s intervention, all of the 6th graders watched the Discovery Health’s “Mystery Diagnosis” on Noah and Alexis.  I spoke with one of their teachers and she told me that there were several kids crying and tearing up (including some boys).  It is so amazing that God has already used their story…..after one week in their new school!!!  We have had many opportunities, already, to share their story and God has already shown us some amazing answers to prayer. 

 

Joe has had opportunities at work to share the story in front of hundreds of people.  This job has literally given him a platform to share information and hope and all that God has done in our lives.  We are completely blown away!  Joe’s job has been so rewarding!!  He has an opportunity to work with people who are completely driven to make a difference in this world.  His boss believes this company can change the world, he believes that one person can change the world.  It’s so inspiring and exciting to be a part of a team that is driven with amazing values, goals and a heart to serve and help others!  Okay, they are also going through a major acquisition of a larger company so it’s a lot of work, tooJ!

 

I prayed with an incredible group of moms yesterday for Zach’s high school, what a blessing!  They have a wonderful group for Moms in Touch (the prayer group I led in Phoenix) for the high school and Noah and Alexis’s elementary school.  I am so encouraged!  God has already linked me with some amazing women through church, our prayer groups and disability week.  I am in awe of the way He has worked, considering I knew no one when we first got here!

 

God is SO good!  He has answered so many prayers and He continues to guide us, every step of the way.  We are currently praying for His perfect timing in the sell of our homes in Arizona and for the purchasing of a home here.  We would really appreciate your prayers, if you think of us.  We are also praying for continued guidance for other opportunities to share information and reach out to others.  God continues to take us, one step at a time, and lead us down His path for our lives.  It’s only when we take our eyes off of Him that we get impatient, confused or fearful.  He continues to grow each one of us, every day!  Thank you so much for your continued prayers for our family!  We are so humbled by each one of you!

 

Much love to everyone!!

 

Retta (Joe, Zach, Noah and Alexis)