Fall family photos

My sweet friend, Erin, took fall photos of our family. You can see them here. Be sure to "like" their Facebook page. They are very talented!

Noah's baptism

Noah was baptized this past Sunday. Here are both his baptism testimony video as well as the video of his daddy baptizing him.

And Can It Be?

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

I can't stop singing this song. 

Our first child was born in the last few hours of December 2003. He was born again on September 21, 2011. That's right- God saved our Noah last Wednesday night!

I want to start by saying that David and I are THE reluctant "my-kid-got-saved" parents. I wouldn't say that we are critical of a young child's decision to follow Christ, but we are cautious- very cautious. In regard to salvation and my children, I have often prayed: "God- let it be clear. Let there be no question."

And God was faithful!

Wednesday evening, after he had been in his bed for quite some time, Noah came out of his room and told both David and I a story from earlier that day in chapel at their school. He said (and this is not verbatim):

"Today in chapel, I saw a chandelier. It was a beautiful chandelier. The top was big and it was gold. This gold was God. And beneath the gold there were many lights that came down and around the gold. Those were the angels worshiping God. And in the middle of the lights, there was more gold. That gold was coming down in the middle of the lights. That gold was Jesus and he was coming down to save people from their sin."

Jaws dropped, and feeling like we had walked into an old testament prophecy, David and I muttered a "WOW" and sent our little prophet back to bed. 

Noah grabbed a Bible and laid back down. About 30 minutes later, I was folding some laundry in the hallway outside his bedroom. Noah casually walked out of his room, looked in my eyes, and said: "I just became a Christian, Mom."

As I have said many times in the past, I replied: "That's wonderful, Noah. How do you know that you became a Christian?" It was then that our great God placed himself on display in our upstairs hallway as my broken son spilled out the Gospel- justification, sanctification, and all- like it was the simplest concept one could know. He professed:

"Jesus is cool." Basic, but true.

"I had a heart that was black. Now it is white as snow. God doesn't see my sin anymore. When He looks at me, he see Jesus." Did my son really just get substitutionary atonement?

"I feel like the Holy Spirit is in me now. I feel sick, but happy." I felt the same way, Noah. That is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit!

I have continually prayed for my children to have a boring testimony. A boring testimony is a powerful testimony! Why do we believe that the Christian that God snatches back from addiction, abuse, unrepentant sin, atheism, etc. has a more powerful testimony than the gentle child that was rescued from his sin as a young boy?

We are praising God for saving our Noah and we are praising Him that Noah responded in obedience. We are seeing the fruits of repentance in our sweet boy on a daily basis. Does he still have the same sin struggles? Of course. Our job as parents, however, just got more complicated. Now we not only teach, train, correct, and discipline our son, but we also have the responsibility and privilege of bearing the burdens of and speaking truth into the life of our now brother in Christ. 

Thank you, God, for hearing the cries of two needy parents and rescuing our son from sin and death. We pray the same for our other children as well. To God be the glory!

1000 gifts

I have been wanting to give Ann Voskamp's list of 1000 gifts a shot, but I kept making the excuse that I would do so after I read the book and, well, that still hasn't happened. I figure now is just as good a time as any.

1. the blessed hope, especially today.
2. these light and momentary afflications- believe it or not.
3. a patient husband
4. a faithful God's provision
5. that first feeling of hunger following a stomach virus- when you know you're on the mend
6. a cloudy day
7. Trinity Christian Academy- and God for His grace in allowing us to send our children there
8. stark realizations, like "you will never get THIS day again" and "they won't be little and want your constant attention much longer" and so forth...
9. lulls in the middle of the day
10. new cloth diapers from a friend
11. brakes that WORK
12. waking up in the morning to renewed strength, clarity, and hope- & being reminded that I am not the one who never slumbers nor sleeps...
13. LaDiEs NiGhT with authentic mexican food and a live mariachi band

For all of these gifts, Father, help me to see you as the Giver of them all.

My gift of a husband

I had the absolute gift of almost a week in Colorado with my husband this past week. We had such a wonderful time. He is truly a gift. He continually exhorts me, encourages me, challenges me, and pursues me. I love him 1,000 times more than the day I married him.

I also love Ann Voskamp. Her most recent post, through weeping, made me consider the gift of my husband more than I ever have before.

A few photos:

Founders Ministries Blog: My thoughts on the death of Osama Bin Laden

Founders Ministries Blog: My thoughts on the death of Osama Bin Laden: "Osama Bin Laden is dead. He was killed by American Special Forces in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad yesterday. Justice has been served. R..."

monday musings

1. Easter is over and I thoroughly failed to cultivate tradition or a greater love for our Savior. I could fester up a million excuses but it wouldn't change the fact that I was responsible and I failed. It's been a very sobering Monday and I am having to repeatedly remind myself that God's grace is abundant and available to me in my failures.
2. On a lighter note, Whole Foods' one day Friday deal is organic strawberries for $1.99. Seeing that my family could eat one package per meal (as opposed to stretching them out over a week), I find this deal most delightful!
3. Our dishwasher is broken. I forgot what it felt like to plan your meals around how many dishes you will have to wash.
4. I have found myself longing for a future (say, 2013-ish) sixth child recently. Yep. Some of you might remember when I wrote this. At the time I was rather unconvinced that I would ever find myself eating my words. Perhaps nothing has changed. I just had to voice the "itch". Only time will tell.
5. My fabulous husband has completed  a little over 1/4 of his supervised counseling. I'm so proud of him.
6. I am speaking to a group of ladies this week on three of my favorite things: 1. Jesus. 2. Frugality. 3. Natural and organic living. Pumped? Yes. A wee bit nervous? Yes.
7. My kids continue to grow. I am just certain that any day now Noah's voice will change and Clara will go to kindergarten. I feel like I live life in a bittersweet state.
8. In just a little over three weeks, David and I will fly to Colorado (kid-free) to vacation for one (almost) whole week. We are very thankful for the change to have some time alone and away. 

One year ago

This time one year ago, I had just made my boys a back yard picnic lunch on what was a beautiful day- just like today.

Later that evening, contractions would begin and, 26 hours later, their sister would be born.

I am feeling very sentimental today as I would normally be pregnant- or almost pregnant- by this age.

I love being a mommy and I adore my daughter.

P.S. You will have to pause my music player at the bottom of my blog page to hear the video.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Funnies from Noah and Sammy's first sleepover

Noah and Sammy stayed, along with the other kiddos, with friends over the weekend while David and I whisked off to Cincinnati for one night. My friend, Amy, compiled a list of the cute and comical comments overheard while they were there. I am so thankful she did! Here we go (told from Amy's perspective):

1. "Mrs. Sargent, I was a blessing to Dillon this morning. I made him a train track even though he didn't ask for one." Smile beaming from ear to ear.
2. An internal struggle between trust and distrust emerged within hours of their parents leaving… The boys went on a walk to the park. One little boy said, "My heart is telling me that you might be taking us to a lab to kill us." But then immediately shrugged it off an kept running gleefully to the destination…
3. Overheard on the monitor at night: One little boy was scared to go to sleep being his first sleepover and Davis leaned over and said, "It will be OK- Just tell God how you are feeling and He will help you feel better. Just try it!"
4. Same wise man, Davis, then proceeded to make funny noises when all was quiet and then snicker and say," what was that noise?" After about the fourth time, the other little boy said- "Davis is that you?" Davis said "yes" with a big laugh. Same boy said, "Davis that sound scarred me." Davis said, "Oh, I'm sorry." Sweet boy said, "I forgive you."
5. Little Comedian- "One day when I was on a plane, I had to make an emergency landing on a cloud. About 20 police cars and ambulances came but I was OK. That happened in February. What is the date today?"
6. Me- "Would you boys like some milk with your pancakes?" Little Comedian- "Only if it is skim milk. I am allergic to all the other kinds of milk."
7. Me: "How about some PB&J sandwiches? Are you all hungry?" With a that does not sound so appetizing expression, one little boy replied, "No, I don't think I will be hungry for a long time Mrs. Sargent."
8. ‎I followed up with, "Ok, what kind of lunches do you usually eat. What is your favorite? " Little Comedian- "Ice Cream Sandwiches!"
9. ‎Two of the boys had a problem when someone was hit in the head with a ball. It was an accident with no real injuries so they were asked to go and try to work it out themselves first. They emerged with it resolved. When asked about it.. Davis replied, " I think (the little boy) learned a lesson." The other little boy- "Yes, I did. I won't throw a tennis ball at someone with my eyes closed again."
10. On day 2 of our adventure- Me: "Let's take your sweatshirt in case you get cold? "Little Comedian: "Ok but can you carry it because it is too heavy for me to carry, I just had arm surgery yesterday."

Love x 10 years.

Fall 2000- We meet. You ask me to play ultimate frisbee. I look at friends and say: "How cute. A freshman wants me to to play ultimate." Little did I know you were 2 years older and a senior?

February 2001- You pursue. I'm rude (at least according to you). I disagree. You IM me. We have a lot in common. I hear you tell your friends you could marry me because I like to shop at Goodwill. 

March 2001- First date. I don't even remember what we did. I don't remember fireworks. I remember a very awkward evening. You were cute- and I liked you.

March 20, 2001. We begin "dating".

Easter-ish 2001. I love you. Wow- that didn't take long.

October 7, 2001. Engaged! Unfortunately, you were too nervous to follow through with the original plan and propose in the parking lot of the dorm.

June 7, 2002- Married! Honeymoon for 2 beautiful weeks in the Poconos and NYC!

May 2003- Baby on the way? NO! Can it be? Little did we know, news like this would become the norm in our family.

December 2003- We graduate college. I can barely squeeze in my desk.

December 31, 2003- Noah is here. A boy! Whoduthunkit?

April 2004- Pregnant again?!?! Our Noah just started sleeping through the night. *Sigh*

December 4, 2004- Our Sammy is born! Here we go again! ;)

January 2006- Baby number 3 coming! Obviously abstinence isn't a good new years resolution for us??? Yep- I said it. 

September 12, 2006- Simon is here! We're getting pretty good at this parenting thing!

December 2006- Our biggest adventure yet! New Mexico. I love you more than ever and sometimes it feels like all we have is each other. Some of my sweetest memories!

May 2008- A new King is on the way. Could it be a girl???

November 2008- We move back to Kentucky. We'll miss you, New Mexico!

January 8, 2009- Nope. Not a girl. It's Kaedmon. What a blessing! 

July 2009- Ready or not, number 5! A girl? Perhaps? A daughter for Daddy? Could it be? I mean, could it? Could it?!?!?!

October 21, 2009- Yes- a girl!!! We are thrilled. Shocked. Blessed. Clara Noelle!

March 20, 2010- Clara is here! We are beyond blessed!

Today. February 14, 2011.

We've come a long way from who we were in 2001 to who we are today. Our love is perfectly imperfect and God is very good. Each year is another gift to share with you. I am entirely yours forever. I am so thankful that God has given me a husband beyond what I could have ever asked for or hoped for. He was exceedingly gracious when He gave me you.

I don't expect the coming years to be easy- at all. We'll be together, however, and that is enough.

I love you. 

A prayer for Monday (and every other day, for that matter)

God-

On my own, I am:

weak

inadequate

insufficient 

overwhelmed

lonely

unfulfilled

ill-prepared

angry

lazy

...and more.

By your grace:

strengthen me

equip me

be everything to me

calm me

surround me

fulfill me 

help me

remind me of your steadfastness with ME (the chief of sinners)

empower me

...and more.

You ALONE are holy.

You ALONE are good.

You ALONE satisfy.

Amen.

Who says you can't save money on organic/natural groceries?

Target

14 Happy Baby purees @ .99= $13.86

Used 2- Buy 6 Get 1 FREE manu. coupon

Used 1- Buy 6 Get 1 FREE Target store coupon

Total= $10.89 or .77 each!

Whole Foods

2 Happy Baby puffs on sale for $2.50 ea.= $5.00 (I had coupons but I used them at Kroger)

3 Good Belly probiotic drinks on sale for $2.50 ea.= $7.50

Used B1G1 coupon

Used $1/1 coupon

Total= $4.00 or $1.34 ea.

I could have just bought 2 of the drinks and used the B1G1 and the $1/1 coupon on just the 2 drinks, but I chickened out (Whole Foods' coupon policy- or lack thereof- is so rigid). Turns out, they would have taken both coupons on two drinks.

2 Route 11 chips @ 2/$3

2 Green & Black organic chocolate bars on sale 2/$5.

Used 2 $1/1 coupons

Total= $3 or $1.50 ea.

2 Yo Toddler yogurts @ $2.69 ea.

Used 2 $1/1 Whole Foods coupons

Total= $3.38 or $1.69 ea.

Total= ~$19

Kroger

Nature's Pride Bread @ 2/$3

Happy Baby yogurt melts on sale for 2/$6

Used 2 $1/2 coupons

Total= $2.50 ea. (not much different than Gerber!)

2 organic mushrooms on manager's special for $1.49 ea.

6 Stonyfield greek yogurts @ $1.25 ea.= $7.50

Used $1.25/6 Kroger-issued coupon

Total= $6.25 or $1.04 ea.

Pirate's Booty 3/$5

Total= $3.34

2 Sabra hummus on sale for $3.50

Used 2 $1/1 coupons

Total= $2.50 ea.

2 Cascadian Farms granola bars on special for $2.29 ea.

Used 2 .75/1 manu. coupons

Total= $1.54 ea.

1 Burts Bee's lotion down from $7.99 to $3.00

Used $1/1 coupon

$2.00

New look. You like? PLUS: stomach big strikes the King home

My sweet friend, Sarah, redesigned my blog as I was totally incapable of doing it myself. I love it!

3 of the 7 Kings are down for the count with a stomach virus. First Clara, then myself, and now Kaedmon. Where's this when you need it?

Prayers that all other members of the family somehow avoid it. As I said on Facebook, I would rather give birth three times today than suffer through a stomach virus.

David's new interest is UFC. He had plans to go out with friends tonight to watch the fight, but now is staying home with me. He hasn't complained at all. He hasn't complained about anything today, really. He's changed Clara's virus-y diapers, dealt with Kaedmon's exorcist-ish moments, and done laundry and dishes.

He deserves an award.

In closing, the sick girl (trying very hard to be happy):

Is Facebook really personal?

I listened to this podcast this morning while I was at the gym. It is short and to the point. Facebook is area where balance has always been an issue for me. I enjoyed this short conversation because it looked at both the pros and the cons of this type of technology. I found it interested when one of the counselors stated that the same problems must have arisen when the telephone was invented. I had never thought about that before.

A great way to start your Monday

I recently came across this article by Paul Tripp. May I say it might benefit each of us, as parents, to read it every day? We are so quick, like most things, to forget!

An excerpt that very much challenged me- because I can absolutely relate:

"What’s going on is that a God of grace is taking a mundane moment of daily family life and using it to do something wonderful for my children and for me. He is making the condition of their hearts visible in order to produce concern in me that would hopefully result in awareness and a desire to change in them."

We recently ordered this parenting series when it was on sale and we are really looking forward to going through the series!

From a friend- love it!

Just as I thought...

Saying no to soy. The part about soy formula blew me away!

Thanks, Steph!

Thrifty Thursday

Today's shopping trip was, umm, different. Not only was Kaedmon is a funk, but I attempted to break out of my "If-I-don't-have-a-coupon-and-it's-not-on-sale, I'm-not-buying-it" frame of mind. Why, you ask? The Kings need to be healthier Kings, that's why.

For the longest time, I have had the mentality that says: "God knows I can't afford healthy food. I'll just pray that he protects me from the horrible stuff that's in it." To an extent, that's how I remain. We are very limited as a family when it comes to our grocery budget. We have seven mouths to feed and we feel the pressure of that every single week. A typical week goes like this: "I must stick to the budget. I must stick to the budget. I must stick to the budget." So I do and what happens? We are out of food by Monday (I grocery shop on Thursday). Something had to give. Our grocery budget had to increase. But how? In four words: Bye bye, DISH Network. Sad, but true.

So now that I have a slightly larger grocery budget, I am attempting the slightly impossible: feed our family of seven on food that is minimally processed, chock full of whole grains, free of trans fats, hydrogenated (partially AND fully) oils, and high fructose corn syrup. I want to buy as organic as possible (but let's just be honest- that's hardly going to happen) and I want to avoid soy. 

Soy? Yeah- I'm not really sure why. I just have a bad feeling about soy. I have read up on it a bit and I worry for the females in my family mostly. I do NOT want Clara to have the same hormonal issues that I do and I believe soy has been linked to all sorts of junk like that.

First stop? Whole Foods. I hear they have a brand called 365 that is reasonably priced and I want to investigate. I want to start by saying that I remember why I don't shop at Whole Foods: it's depressing. Of course I want to buy everything in the store, but I can't. It's extremely expensive and we'd have to have a few of our utilities disconnected for me to spend as much as I desired. 

So I picked up a few things. And I feel good about it.

1. Carrots
2. Celery
3. Creamy and chunky peanut butter
4. Cereal
5. Fruit bars
6. Baby banana puffs (soy free!)
7. Sweet potato chips

The total was almost $17. I am okay with that. I wish I could have bought more (especially the Dogfish Head 90 minute- but I abstained). The only purchase that pained me a bit were the puffs- at $3.00! They are better than what I was feeding her at $1.59 a piece, however, and nearly twice the size. My heart rate has returned to normal and I am doing well. 

A thought that came to mind: I am planning on emailing some of the popular brands at Whole Foods (Earthbound, Happy Baby, Annie's, etc.) and tell them that I love their products and would appreciate coupons. I have heard this works almost 100% of the time!

And I have one happy baby enjoying her puffs:

I also hit Meijer this morning. I am finding the Meijer Naturals brand to be somewhat satisfying. They are GMO-free (is that right?) and contain no artificial dyes, flavors, or preservatives. I found some cookies and pita chips that I like. 

It was a bit more of a realistic shopping trip and not as coupon-crazy. My average Meijer trip would be in the ballpark of spend $50, save $40. Trying to make better choices, I spent $85 and saved $40.

I also had a great trip at Target this week. 

The floss and the Maalox were free. The cereals were .83 each. Not too bad! All-in-all, I spent $11 and saved $31! 

Some last thoughts:

1. I wonder: if you could recommend 5 of the most important changes that a person could make to become healthier (in regard to foods, drink, vitamins, supplements, etc.), what would they be? For example, I keep hearing about Agave nectar. What's with all the hype? Another example? I keep hearing we should make the switch to coconut oil. I would love to hear thoughts on this.
2. Does it concern anyone else that this is shelf-stable and, yet, called yogurt? Should that be a sign that I shouldn't feed it to my daughter?

Doula

I have officially begun my training to become a certified birth doula through DONA. I am both thrilled and apprehensive.

Childbirth- as well as the period after a woman gives birth- is a passion of mine. I have a tremendous desire to assist in empowering women and supporting them through this monumental rite of passage that- like it or not- will transform them. I heard once: "A woman will never forget how she was made to feel when she gave birth." The truth of this statement blew me away.

I just began The Doula Book and came across these words that I wanted to share:

"For women in labor much of the birth process is about permission: feeling total permission to be themselves and feeling free to let down emotional and physical barriers and to release expectations- those yardsticks or measures of performance that women carry with them into the institutional environment. Feeling completely safe with another human being creates a kind of freedom that enables a woman to begin to test the limits of her own capacities and to experience capacities possibly not recognized before- or perhaps recognized but not risked. This freedom to be one's true self produces feeling of empowerment, of creativity. As a new mother said to one doula, 'Your staying with me all the time and your total support, at the same time trusting me completely, gave me a sense of knowing that I was strong enough to handle anything in my life.'"

Little ones

I had the chance to spend the evening with Kaedmon and Clara while David and the big boys went to Noah's music program at school. I realized how I forget to stop and enjoy them when they are little. I also forgot how easy babies are compared to school-age children!

The hardest thing to do is open your Bible

This afternoon I came across an article from Molly Piper. I feel like she could have written it just for me. She says:

"It’s funny how we convince ourselves that the main thing we need for survival of our soul is not a daily necessity."

That's me. Is it you? If so, take a gander.