Jam Packed.

Phew!

I feel like David and I have done so many things the past week and a half! With everything we've been doing......it feels great today to be a little lazy on a Sunday afternoon..

Remember how much we love Utah? Well....we went and visited my family last weekend! It was great....not to mention much cooler. Literally. As in....about a high of 88 degrees. Talk about bliss! And....in the evenings....it was down to the low 60's! Slight change from the furnace of Vegas...

After the long drive....we ended up in my hometown. For David....it's sort of like driving off the edge of the planet!

My favorite and toughest little red head!

Being the good example of an aunt that I am.....I taught them how to play the spitting game off the bridge!

We sure have missed these two!

Little Miss E!

Courtney's facial expressions kill me....though this was well deserved....note the dead deer!

Future Cheerleader. Just ask. 

Did I mention that the weather was amazing? Not to mention a bazillion stars. We had to sleep outside! So of course I talked my brothers and the kids into it as well..

We loved vising! We got to see my mom and brothers, my grandparents, aunt, uncles, my home ward....and a couple dear friends! We also got our own little guitar show from Uncle Howard. I am still surprised at how many people we saw in a three day period. However....our adventures didn't end there! On the way home....we got to stop and stay with our family in St. George!

We went and visited the ducks! 

I love this photo! (way to be for taking in David!) It reminds me of something out of a Jane Austen movie. Maybe it's the hat. 

Sadly, we didn't get to spend too much time in St. George. But lucky for us, we got a visit from Aimee and Eric! Yet another perk of being married....having more adorable nephews!

I think everyone was a fan of the pool!

Even though sometimes it seems like short visits are never long enough...I am still so happy we were able to make the trip! With no car problems might I add. Now that alone is a miracle in itself. 

Now....off to fully enjoy being lazy!

Answered Prayers and Car Graveyards....

Have I ever mentioned that Mr. Brown and I have really great luck with cars? (Insert sarcasm)..If we ever have a problem with cars...it never is simply a "minor" fix. It always ends up being a rather complicated adventure!

This week was no different...

As David was on his merry way to work....he blew a tire....on the freeway. No big deal right? Simply just go get a new tire...right? So we thought.....

The first place we went to said they could not put a new tire on because our rim was bent. (Sigh....of course that would be our luck!) So we were sent to find a rim at a place called Pic-a-Part. As it turns out.....Pic-a-part was actually a junkyard. A place where David and I were about the only people speaking much english...

Did I mention we also had to sign a waver upon walking in saying if we were somehow injured we wouldn't sue? Great first impressions.

In my opinion.....it was a car graveyard out of a scary movie. I half expected some of them to suddenly transform into giant fighting robots.... (Overactive imagination...remember?)

In the middle of our search, I said a prayer. I prayed that somehow.....we would find a way to fix the car....to get the right rim...and to be able to fix it without having to fork out a lot of money and our left kidney..

Soon after, we thought we had found a rim! Unfortunately......but actually fortunately....we ran into a man after heading to purchase our new-found rim. His first words to us were, "You guys look like members!" Yes, yes we are!! (Here is where I thought....'perfect....my prayer was already answered! This man is going to help us!')

I don't really have words for this one...

After a great little conversation with this man, he took a look at our car....only to tell us not to buy that rim. He left happily off, shouting to his wife that he had just met some members!

However for us, it was back to square one.....after more junkyard searching, we headed home holding together our dirt covered oily hands feeling a little bummed and slightly flustered.

How does this even happen?!

Don't worry, here comes the good part of the story! The next morning, we received some of the best advice to go to Discount Tire here in Henderson. Right after walking in, a man started helping us right away. He took a look at our rim and said, "What? You guys don't need a new rim at all!"

They set us up with a new tire, great service, and free water...and sent us happily on our way.

Braving the junkyard! Yet another reason I love sure love him.

Sometimes, as David helped to point out, as much as we want.....our prayers aren't answered in the way that we think they should be....only because there is an answer that is much better for us. We would have bought a rim that we didn't need one pinch. But because of a stranger that stopped us, and then we received perfect advice to head to a different shop.....our prayers were answered! And no money was spent on a rim!