The ladies at GirlTalk are interviewing Sharon James this week about her book on Elizabeth Prentiss. Here’s one of the questions and answers:

QUESTION: Is there a part of Elizabeth’s life that particularly stood out to you or perhaps a journal entry of hers that you especially enjoyed?

ANSWER: I love this quotation: ‘God never places us in any position in which we can not grow. We may fancy that He does. We may fear we are so impeded by fretting, petty cares that we are gaining nothing; but when we are not sending any branches upward, we may be sending roots downward. Perhaps in the time of our humiliation, when everything seems a failure, we are making the best kind of progress.’

33 days ago the Lord led me to this website ! When I first arrived I was thinking that it was bogus and it wasn’t going to work! You see, for all of my life I’ve struggled with looking to food for pleasure. It’s been a long standing joke that we Horn girls just love to eat…we eat when we’re tired, we eat when we’re bored, we just like to eat! Well, I’ve tried every diet you’ve heard of…the cabbage soup diet, Weigh Down, First Place, Atkins, South Beach, no desserts, no bread, no whatever…you get the picture. I was always dealing the symptoms but never getting to the root of the problem.

Well, after arriving at the site the next thing I knew I’d joined The Lord’s Table course and gotten myself a mentor (it’s free!) It’s a 60 day course with incredible Bible study and questions. The next thing I noticed was that the ministry is partnered with Desiring God (John Piper’s ministry), which immediately let me know that it truly is a good thing! I immediately started the program with my first lesson. As I was meditating on the truths shared in this first lesson my face was so hot and I could just sense the Spirit at work in my heart. Since then I can’t say that I haven’t fallen, but the Lord is changing my heart. He’s teaching me that looking to food for satisfaction is idolatry. For as long as I can remember I’ve been trying to fill my soul with food that is never meant to feed my soul. There is so much in the Bible that clearly teaches that I am to be feeding on Jesus, the Bread of life, the Living water! If you struggle at all with this area of your life or any habitual sin that you can’t seem to get overcome you should check out this ministry! They have courses for other habitual sins too. Did I mention it’s FREE?!?!

This past weekend we had a special birthday celebration for Justin. He invited Joel, Jonathan E., Jonathan H., Daelen, and Nate. Daddy planned the party with me as his assistant. It was a Superhero Training School. Professor Mayhem’s School for Superheros. We started off with some Mr. Freeze tag, and practice with their webslinging skills (silly string fight). Then we moved into a strength test where they each had a turn at defeating a Spiderman pinata. Next we moved indoors where each of them got to test their strength by busting through a brick wall! I’ve got a great picture of Justin bursting through with great force!

Next everyone tested their heat vision by trying to melt a candle with their eyes. No one seemed to have this super power, so Professor Mayhem demonstrated what this power might look like should they develop it at some point in the future ( he melted a candle with my heat gun). The next activity involved revealing some toxic material (especially if you are from the planet Krypton). We had a round of Kryptonite Toss (hot potato) so they could get some practice at handling dangerous materials. Following this Professor Mayhem demonstratded that he doesn’t have the superpower of X-ray vision as Justin opened his presents.

Then, it was time for the superheroes to suit up. Everyone got dressed in their special suits and we had a special dinner celebration (cupcakes, spiderman cheese nips, ice cream and juice). Jeremy ended by talking to them about why we love superheroes. They always do what’s right, they are strong and they save people. Then, he explained that Jesus is our true hero. He never sinned, He’s strong enough to do anything and he’s the ONLY ONE who can truly SAVE! What a great birthday party. If you want to catch some video footage you can scoot on over to Jer’s blog.

It’s hard to believe that Lela is already 7 years old. She’s such a joy and she’s all girl. She loves cooking with me in the kitchen, baking, helping with dinner, cutting up the tomatoes and cucumbers for the salad, setting the table, going to the grocery store and anything else that I’m doing. She is really wanting to learn how to sew and keeps asking me if I’ve found anyone who can teach us how to sew. I got her a little sewing machine for Christmas but we haven’t had a chance to use it yet. She’s going to buy this little book with her birthday money:

For her birthday from Jeje she got an apron and cooking utensils from Vision Forum and a cookie scoop and decorator bottle set from Pampered Chef, so she was all ready to help make the cake for her special day. We had friends come over for cake and ice cream and a little play time midday and then we had another cake that evening after going to Pizza Hut for dinner (her choice). Her good friend Angelina has a birthday at the end of April and we started a mommy-daughter tradition last year where we take the girls out for a special time together. This year we’re going to Angelina’s grandma’s to have a little tea party. I’ll post some pictures later from these special times.

Just had a share a cute thing that C.J.’s doing now.  When we try to get him to count he’ll repeat after us “one, two, three” but when we get to four he refuses to say it..he says “three” instead.  So, when he prays  at night we have him repeat after us, “Jesus” (”Jesus”) “thank” (”thank”) “you” (”you”) “for” (”three”) with a smirk “dying”  (”dying”) “on” (”on”) “the” (”the”) “cross” (”cross”) “for” (”three”) “my” (”my”) “sin” (”sin”). “Amen” (”Amen”).  It’s so funny….and he absolutely knows he’s doing it!!