It's a "Dude that Sparkles" kind of day!

Okay, Okay...I know. I'm officially fourteen years old. But I am sooooooooo excited about "Breaking Dawn, Pt 1" coming out tonight (at midnight).
In fact... I'm so excited, Clif is going to walmart at 12 to buy it! :) I don't know what it is that I love SO much about these movies (actually, I loved the books WAY more).


YAY!

change.

Something that I have come to realize I don't take to well. :) I think that I'm getting better than I used to be... but still.
There are a lot of changes taking place in our lives these next months, and along with the change comes a lot of uncertainty. Something else I'm not awesome at handling.

*sigh*

I know and believe with all of my heart that God will provide, and take care of us in each situation that we face - it's just so hard to trust sometimes.
I feel like I've already blogged about these feelings... and if I have, please overlook me :) These days, I don't remember most of what I am doing/ have done.
As of now, I'm still not 100% comfortable with putting all of the changes out here for all the world to read (if we're close friends you probably already know what's going on, and if not...all you have to do is drop and email and I would be happy to explain further about what's going on...and get a few more specific prayers going up!).
I will say that it includes Clif's current career/job, future career/job, and me going back to work. Let me just say, I'm not looking forward going back to work... but then again, I am.
I guess what I mean is: I don't want to leave my kids. Plain and simple. I have been home with them for *almost* six months now. They will be seven months old on the 15th of this month. BUT... I do look forward to getting back into the swing of things, re-entering the "real world". I have known since I was pregnant that we would not be able to afford for me to stay at home, not with the way we live (not that it's extravagant in any sense of the word...), the things that we have, and with the THREE babies we have. :) It takes more than one person working when you have three mouths to feed, and three butts to diaper. ;)
Please pray for me...that God may calm my nerves and my heart.
For the last three days or so, I have had some pretty hefty anxiety attacks. Like the ones I had between pregnancies. At first, I chalked it up to me being on yet another bc (had it changed last week due to some issues with the last one)... and thought that maybe it was messing with my body. Big surprise. But then, it occurred to me... there is a LOT going on with us right now...and though I don't feel "worried"... I guess my anxiousness about everything going on is taking a toll on my body? Who knows... we all know that I'm not exactly "normal"!
Also, if you think of it...please pray for Clif and I as a couple, that we may have wisdom and discernment in the decisions that we may face in the coming days.

*almost* seven months :) :(

I cannot believe our precious little babies are almost SEVEN months old!! Enjoy photos from our seven month photo shoot, a few days early!

in His hands...in His time.

Ugh! Sometimes letting go of your own life is one of the hardest things to do. But Who better to hold your life in the palm of their hand than Him?
I haven't been stressed for a while. And I do mean a while. You're probably checking the header of this page to make sure that you logged on to Desiree Smith's blog. :) Don't worry...you're in the right place.
If you know me...really, even if you don't know me but have read a good bit of my blog posts...you know that I have a worrying problem. Seriously. In the past I have worried about e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. No lie.
Oddly enough, since our babies were born back in July... my stress level has gone WAY down. Weird, I know...but that's me for ya...weird!
Anyway...on the reason for this post. I have never been good at dealing with uncertainty. Ever. And while Clif is better than I am... he doesn't do the greatest with uncertainty either.
As it stands, a lot of things in our lives are changing. For the good...at least, I think it's for the good. We are trusting that it's for the good. 
Stepping out on faith is something that you always hear about someone else doing. Not yourself. Clif and I have done a ton (literally) of praying, thinking, talking through things... and it looks like there may be a LEAP for us. And soon.
Please pray with us that we may make the right decision concerning these things. And also, that we may put our full trust in the Lord, and not look back.

prayer, jobs & teeth!

Another jumbled blog post...please hang in there! :)

 First off, please pray for a little boy that is in our local NICU, born at 36 weeks, and has underdeveloped lungs. <3 Also, a friend went to visit this baby... and met another family that had a little baby born at 23 weeks. I cannot imagine. I do have to say that hospitals, doctors, and nurses AMAZE me. And how far the medical world has come...
Did anyone read the article about the 9 ounce ( I think that is right ) baby that was born last summer and just went home a week or so ago? Simply amazing...

 Second, please pray with us concerning a possible lead on a job for Clif. I can't go into too much detail because...well, I'm sure you all understand, BUT...we put in his application and resume yesterday, and it just so happens that we know about five people that "know" someone within the organization...and they are all making calls or sending emails to the "Top Dog" for us. :) He actually put in two applications yesterday. We are praying praying praying that something will come from one of these, and quick! Two and a half months of night shift is nearing...

 Third...EASTON HAS TWO TEETH!! :) Well, kinda. They both have broken gum, but we still have a little ways to go. Eli has two that are completely through, one that  is partially, and one that is about to break gum and day now! :) Poor Little Princess has ZERO... but her gums have definitely thinned...and she's starting the teething process, just like both boys did.

 While it is exciting to have teeth coming in...and to have THREE babies...it's a little less exciting when they are all three teething. It's been a tiring few days around the Smith household. And it continues to be interesting with Clif currently working two weeks of nights >.< But...we are managing :)

hunt.

For a job that is. Not for me...for my hubby. Well, possibly. His schedule since starting at his current place of employment has been two weeks days (12 hour shifts), and two weeks nights (12 hour shifts).
A few months ago, the employees were told that they would be going to permanent days or permanent nights.
Last week they informed my husbands shift that starting in March,  they would be on 2 1/2 months of straight nights.
This doesn't work for us. At all. Especially if I were to go back to work this Spring... I would literally NOT see Clif for two months. Except for *some* of his weekends off.  Needless to say, in our eyes it would be really hard to maintain a marriage and family if he is never home at night.
So, with that being said...if any of my local readers are reading this... and know of a GOOD job, good benefits, and at LEAST $15hr (preferably 8-5,m-f) please let me know. You can email me at smithfam07@hotmail.com, or call if you have my number. I know that it seems like we are picky with what we are looking for... but we have to be. Why would he want to go somewhere where he is going to work crazy shifts for less money?? He could do that at his current place...for the same money.
Please pray with us concerning this situation...

Thanks!

a little bit of this...a lot a bit of that.

:) I know, I know... I'm getting pretty bad with this whole blogging thing. I have a million things rolling around in this head of mine that I would like to get pecked out on here... but to be honest, the majority of it probably won't make it.
My "spare time" (HA!) these days is devoted to: cleaning (aka, doing NOTHING other than baby laundry, baby dishes...and well, that takes up all my time), making baby food, feeding babies...changing babies...playing with babies...holding screaming babies! Speaking of screaming babies...there are currently three non-stop screamers that reside at my house. >.< Yep...you guessed it. Three teething babies. Poor Elliana has yet to bust one out, BUT... her gums are thin and swollen...she acts hungry, but doesn't want to eat...and yeah, she's teething. Eli has two bottom teeth completely through, one top that's half way there and the other top that should break gum any given moment. :) Easton's bottom right has finally broke gum... and whew boy! Let me tell ya... he hasn't been taking it well.
Okay, I am only two paragraphs into this post and already I am bouncing around. Let's see...
Tomorrow I will be 24 years old. Wow. Not a big number...but I'm here to tell ya I feel SOOOOO much older than that. Four, almost five years of marriage and four babies later...tends to wear a young body out.
Clif and I actually were able to celebrate my birthday this past weekend. We went out by ourselves for the first time in like five and a half months. :) We left the babies with our mom's and future sis in law. Definitely on the list of the harder things that I've had to do concerning the babies.
For my birthday, Clif got me a tattoo...some cute chunky bracelets to cover said tattoo (whenever I decide to enter the dreaded working world again >.<), some new clothes (more on that in a second), and dinner at Kabuki.  We celebrated over the weekend because Clif is on night shift... and working tomorrow night. :( More on that too...
Let's go with the good first! I am really shy about talking about this, because I don't like the attention that it draws... BUT...Since July 15th,2011 I have lost 73 pounds. And since starting weight watchers I have lost 37 pounds. Very personal information here... but, I guess I can't be too embarrassed seeings as I did have THREE humans living inside me for a while ;) I started out in July in a size 14 (and it was TIGHT). Seriously, the biggest I have ever been. I didn't take it well, but it was soooo worth it. On Saturday, I slipped on my first size 8 jeans...in about 3 1/2 years. :) :) :) I'm pretty excited about seeing results! I have about twenty two pounds left to lose before I hit my "goal" weight...which will be what I weighed when Clif and I got together.
And the bad...Clif received word last week that his shift is changing. Drastically. He will be working night shift for extended periods of time. And as I'm sure most of you can imagine...we are not happy about it. To put it lightly. Not only are we "not happy" about it, but it just is not going to work for our family. Well, let me put that a different way. We know that if this is God's will...and He wants Clif to remain where he is... that the Lord will provide...and make it work. However, in my head...I don't see it working. ;) Guess that's why I'm not in control of my own life, huh? Please pray with us concerning this change. We are leaving it in the Lord's hands...with our desire being that there may be an 8-5 position open for Clif, so that he may not only be able to be at home with us every night... but also that we would be able to be in church together as a family every weekend.
Time is ticking away, and I know that I will find myself in the "job hunt" status soon. It's been wonderful staying at home with my three little blessings, but said blessings don't come cheap! We have been incredibly blessed in so many aspects, one way being that we have been financially able for me to stay at home. And while it's been amazing... Clif and I both know that it cannot be permanent. So...it looks like sometime after RSV season passes, I will be looking for a job :( Please pray with us that something may open with the company that I worked at previously when the time comes.
Speaking of RSV, Praise the Lord that our children have remained relatively healthy this winter...with the exception of a few little colds here and there. :) Clif and I are SO looking forward for the "rsv season" to be over and done with so we can get outside with these kids and breathe in some FRESH air! :) Not to mention that we've been locked up inside our house for way too long. We take the 3 E's to the doctor on Wednesday for their February Synagis shot, and then only one more for March! YAY! Soooo excited for it to be over with!
Well... I know this was a weird, all over the place post... but...that's me now-a-days! :)

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word

A Cup Of Cake

In attempt to keep my sanity...I have started baking cupcakes :)

It all started when my mom moved back to her own house, and I was left to care for all three babies while Clif pulls 12 hour shifts. :) That was the plan all along, right?

Well... it has proven to be a little crazy at our house some days. It's a semi-rare thing to find three happy/content babies at one time. Though, I do have to say I think I have some of the easiest babies EVER! Actually, even our doctor said that our babies were very low maintenance.

Anyway, back to the cupcakes. When the babies were in the hospital, Clif and I stumbled upon a local cupcake shop. Gourmet cupcakes. Oh.my.goodness. SO good cupcakes. And a regular cupcake is seriously the size of two of your average-joe cupcakes put together. Mmm. Okay...anyway. So after eating these a few times (before the weight watcher days)... I got the urge to make some of my own yummy cupcakes.

I don't know if it will go anywhere... but I have ordered some business cards, and a car magnet... and I'm trying to sell some of these yummy cupcakes! I've had a few people place orders, but mainly... I'm just having fun. :)

Here is the link to my blog (for cupcakes) : http://acupocake.blogspot.com/

Below are some of the cupcakes I have created thus far:

Peanut butter cupcakes with chocolate icing, lemon with raspberry icing, chocolate with almond joy icing...peanut butter with whipped peanut butter icing.

Andes :) YUM! Chocolate cupcake with chocolate-mint filling, topped with a mint butter cream icing and andes candy!

Pumpkin cake, cream cheese filling, topped with a cinnamon butter cream and chopped pecans.

Chocolate on chocolate...and OOOOOH so yummy. :) I think I have seriously found the BEST chocolate cake recipe!!

Mmmmm...Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise. These were soooo yummy. Chocolate cake, peanut butter ball center, topped with cream cheese - peanut butter icing. The icing tastes like my mom's peanut butter pie! YUM!

Coconut cupcake, chocolate-almond filling, topped with cream cheese - coconut icing. Not as yummy as they look, but were not bad. Definitely looking for a new coconut cake recipe.