WE ARE ALIVE!!!!

Okay, this is REALLY embarrassing, I never thought that it would be a year and a half in between posts... But here I am!!! Life gets interesting, and I always think that I really should update my blog, but then I wonder if anyone really cares about the trivial little things I could write about- but today this one is just an update on our lives, since I didn´t do a Christmas letter!
SO... THings that have happened since the last post--- we moved to Pucon, started a store with a friend, split up with the friend and kept the store, lived 3.5 kilometers from town without a car, 2.2 of which were uphill... ( did I mention I had NICE legs?) I got a job at a school teaching 6th through 12th grades, we worked in our branch and LOVED the branch, moved the store to a better location, enjoyed summer break, kids started school where I worked in Pucon, my in-laws moved to Pucon to live with us, my father in law got sick and they moved back to Santiago, we closed the store because it wasn´t self-supporting, I got let go of my job because the Education Department here decided not to renew my teaching license because there are too many Chilean English teachers without jobs so they have to take care of their own, we decided to move back to Santiago, the kids started school in Santiago, I found a job with an institute that teaches English to different businesses,(which is MUCH better than to high schoolers!), we rented a little house around the corner from my in-laws, Marcelo got called to be the ward mission leader, I got called to be the Gospel Doctrine teacher, kids finished school- Daniel with 6 A´s and 1 B, Alin with all S´s, Gabriel gets to go to pre-pre-kindergarten next year in a language school, since his speech is a little delayed (not unlike his Daddy who didn´t talk until he was 5), I am trying to start my own translation business because it pays lots better and the working conditions are better ( last month I was spending an average of 4 hours on the subway a day- talk about lost time!) we had Christmas here at our house, and now I am laying in bed typing this...
Overall, we are enormously blessed, we had some very rough patches in there wherein we wondered if things would ever get better, but as the Lord is faithful He only tests us as far as He knows we can take it... We are doing well, just working on finding good jobs and being good parents, and being good children! It has been two years and 5 days since I saw my mom last in person, and it has been interesting to see just how independant I can be, until things happen like the little heart attack my dad had last month, and I had a breakdown- really, we can´t take family for granted, they are the most important thing that we have, and the only thing that we can really take with us to the eternities! I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of eternal families, and of the gospel...
Marcelo and I are still SOOO in love, he is amazing, and makes me a better person every day. It is the biggest blessing to be married to my best friend, and makes life easier- reminds me of a country song that says *I never count the costs, it´s worth all that´s lost, just to see you smile* and that is how I feel- there is no reason to look at what could have been, I am so happy to be with the person that I love and that loves me... However, I am really wanting to take a little trip home to see my mother soon! I´m saving up, here´s hoping!
The kids are great, they are enjoying not being at school for the summer, and are getting so big- makes me want another baby, but am not sure that it is the right time for that- maybe when I get my translation thing going and don´t have to be out and about all day! So if you know of anyone that needs Spanish or English translations done, let me know!!!
Anyway, the munchkins are up making morning noises, so I guess I better go play mommy! I will try to be diligent and update more often... Life is GOOD!!!