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.