What is more important?

A few months ago, one of my favorite nieces lost her new born baby. He passed away after 3 days of being born. It was and still is a devastating loss for all of us. The Woolf/Walker family lost their Grandpa Woolf. Even though he was already old, it was also hard for all of us. A couple of days after that, one of my dearest friends in Monterrey lost her dad unexpectedly, too. He passed away from a heart attack. It was so sudden. She also told me that she might not be able to have kids and that she thinks her husband, who is also my friend, was cheating on her.
So many hard things. It really makes me think about what is important in life.
Happiness would be my first answer, but then the second question comes: WHAT BRINGS ME HAPPINESS?
I feel so blessed that I have my husband, my kids, a place to live, good friends, family, and last but not least, I'm so grateful that I have the presence of Heavenly Father in my life. I rarely cry, but today I had an especially tough afternoon. I just couldn't handle it anymore, and as soon as my husband was home, I hugged him and cried on his shoulder.
I do have faith. I have to confess that I didn't have it for a long time.
There are moments where my faith gets weak. However, I always ask the Lord to make it stronger, and He listens to my pleas. It's not always right away, but He listens and helps me.
I know life can be better. We are on this Earth for struggles, to progress, and be happy. I know that because I believe.
(This is for the records) Even though I was born in the Church, I didn't have a testimony until I turned 22 years old. Life made me go through very hard things. Some of them I haven't totally gotten over yet. However, I blamed the Lord for the hard trials that I went through in my short life, and asked Him over and over, "Why me?"
During one of my prayers, I stopped reproaching Him for what had happened to me and my family. I knelt and asked Him for help and told Him that I couldn't do it anymore. The next day I was talking to my good friend, Tono. I don't remember how this came out, but it surely changed my life. He told me, "LIFE IS HARD. HE SENT US HERE TO BE PROVEN, CLAUDIA. REMEMBER, AFTER ALL, HE WANTS TO SEE US HAPPY." Then it came to me like a flash of light, and I asked my self, "See us happy?" That night I knelt again and asked for help and I asked him if it was true that He wanted to see us happy? I asked Him for help to do so. After that day I tried so hard to do what was right. To not complain, to work harder than ever to see the sky as blue instead of cloudy. I felt so blessed to be born in a free country, and that I had a house and a family, a nice job, and that I was almost done with college studies. I kept praying day by day for His help and orientation. I kept asking for happiness. What I had wasn't bringing happiness to my life. I wanted something more, something different, so I asked for patience. After some months, I felt it. I knew the Church was true, so my life little by little made sense. I learned how to deal with things that I can't change, while at the same time being happy and achieving the best I can with what I have. Months later I met Glenn.
My life with him hasn't been perfect. We have had lots of trials, and I know we are going to have so many more. I have had doubts about if this is what I want. Then I go back to basics and realize and feel that he makes me happy. The doubts in me come from someone who does not like to see me happy and wants to me doubt. I see my kids and I know they aren't perfect and may be a little spoiled. However, they make me happy. Seeing their smile, their little arms hugging me. Or when I make something for them and they come to me to say, "Thank you, mommy." When they tell me, "MOMMY, I'M HUNGRY. CAN YOU GIVE ME FOOD?" it makes me so happy; not because they are hungry, but because I'm capable to feed them.
Today, like yesterday, I feel so grateful that my life is no longer empty. That I have them to make my days specials. My heart swells with gratitude because Glenn, Nicky, Ian, and Hanna are in my life. They are giving me so many great things to remember.
I know that none of it could be possible if I wouldn't have welcomed Him into my life. I'm so thankful that Heavenly Father loves me and wants to see me happy.
Now I know that He could not have changed what was happening around me because it's part of our free agency, but He never let go of my hand. Even now, He still holds my hand like a loving father does with every one of his children.
No matter how hard life is, He is always there. We might not see Him, or there might be times that we might not even feel Him close to us, BUT He is there, waiting for us to be humble enough to ask for His help. I'm so thankful for His love that my heart swells when I think about His plan and His help and His love.

The family is growing!

Relax, I'm not expecting or anything like that. It's just that I just realize I have 3 wonderful kids :)

Nicky is being always a stubborn, but great girl. I don't have enough words to say how blessed I feel to have her as a daughter. She helps me and really tries to be good every day. Of course there are some times that she gives in to the temptation to not do what is right. However she always gets very scared when she realizes she is doing something naughty. If we dare to compare her not so good action to somebody like Lemuel and Laman from the Book of Mormon she feels terrible and tries to do better. I do really love her so much, and not just because she is my daughter, but also because she is a fun, compationate, and loving girl.
Now I don't like bragging, but since I do have a very handsome and cute boy, I have to do it! He is great. He learns fast and likes having friends. He keeps saying his girlfriend is Starla (a good friend from Temple). She is "a little" too old for him, but I let him dream about her. He can be my most fearless 2 years old, or he can also be a MAMA'S BOY if he gets really hurt. Glenn and I are his heroes during the night and he is my hero (and sometimes my nightmare) during the day.

Hanna is my vivacious little sweetheart. She is full of giggles and smiles for everybody. I can tell for now that she is the kind of person who likes to smile instead of cry (unless she is hungry or really hurt). If she hears something unsual she looks around to see what is it. Then after she sees a familiar face she smiles and "talks" a lot. She likes giving us her opinion. She is very easy to love. Not just because of her cute kissable cheeks or her well built leg rolls, :) but also because she really is a sweet baby. She doesn't cry unless she is hungry. Today she gave us a lot of her laughs out loud. It was Glenn's first time hearing her. I have heard her many times before.
Today I heard the three of my kids at the same time, and I realized that our family is really growing so fast, and I LOVE IT! Listening to Nicky's "request," Ian's stubbornes, and Hanna's laughs while Glenn was sharing some story, it made me remember how blessed I am.
I'm SO tired that I really need to go to sleep. However I wanted to finish this post that I started 5 days ago haha.

We have been fine. I really like our new area. The neighborhood is nice and secure. The ward gave us a very warm welcome. It is a very supportive and strong ward. I feel very happy being a part of it.
The kids are making friends so fast, too. Nicky has her new friend named Hanna (4 yrs old also) and Ian has his new friend Joey (2 years old and Hanna's little bro). Their mom Sadie is a great girl. We do all kinds of activities during the morning to entertain our children and ourselves. I also met a girl name Dee Dee. She is a fun girl that reminds me of a very good friend that I have. So far things are doing very well. Glenn starts in the hospital on the 1st. He is a little nervous. I guess is normal. We attended to his rescindecy group pool party last week. I had fun, and the kids loved the house where the party was. To be honest I liked it too haha. His co-workers are fun people.
He will be very busy this year and I'm getting busy myself by organizing my kids' schedules for activities. Also I need to have a time for myself so I can do something that I like. I'm going to start reading Twilight. After I'm done with it, I'll read Pretty Horses. A friend of mine says that it's a story that reminds her to me and my husband...I'll need to read to see if it reminds me of us too.
I do not know how to finish this blog so....bye

PAPA, Dad, Daddy, Babe, Pop, Papi...

...and so many more ways that my kids call him. He really is the best Dad in the whole wide world (like Nicky always tells him). Would you like to know why?

1. He loves his children SO much.
2. He always takes care of them.

3. He protects his children ALL the time.

4. If he could, he would wrap the whole world with bubble plastic wrap so when our un-coordinated kids would fall down they wouldn't have to get an owie.

5. Even if they are crying he knows what to do to make them smile.

6. He tells them jokes.

7. No matter how tired he is, he always has time to go and give them kisses and hugs.

8. He tucks them in bed, even if they are already asleep.

9. He reads stories for them.

10. He plays with them like another kid in the playground.

11. He teaches them about life and the love of our Savior.

I guess I could go on and on and on about all the wonderful things that PAPA, Dad, Daddy, Babe, Pop, Papi does for his children. BABE , like Nicky's gift says YOU ARE #1 DAD! We love you. Thank you SO much for all that you do without expecting anything else but a smile in their little faces.