I loved this trip. . .

And though I went with two other amazing mom's and our 10 children between us all. . .

that's not why I loved this trip.

And though I had never been to Muir Woods and loved every second we were there walking through the trails. . .

through these beautiful trees. . .

and realizing just how much my boys are fascinated by trees. . .

(as if I didn't know it already)

Is not the reason I loved this trip.

And even though we braved the beach even though it was super cold. . .

and these two thought they could tough it out and go in the freezing cold water. . .

And this little girl didn't care one bit that it was kinda chilly.

She loved the sand. Digging and digging and digging. . .

and even though my kids had like the best time ever at this cold, cold beach. . .

That's still not the reason I loved this trip.

And even though we had to take this entire bunch and brave our way through the city of San Francisco to find our hotel. . . then check this entire crew into two hotel rooms all the craziness was completely worth it knowing that across town Ghirardelli Square was waiting for us!

(it's good to know she feels the same way about eating caramel that I do)

But even this wasn't why I loved this trip!

Even seeing Karalyn this exhausted by the end of the day wasn't the reason I loved this trip!

Even getting up the next morning and heading to Pier 39 where we hung out, did some shopping, (maybe had a few meltdowns, when mom said we didn't need any souveniers), and ate the best lunch at Boudins wasn't the reason I loved this trip!

And even seeing all our crazy kids having the time of their lives while waiting for their moms to go "potty" was not the reason I loved this trip!

The reason I loved this trip so much was because right before leaving on this little adventure my kids and I were taught (ok reminded) of something. . .

Something that has been on mind since last conference when one of our prophets spoke about turning to the Lord.

You see this trip started with a flat tire.

Yep.

Right in our garage.

Although I didn't notice it until everything was packed in the back of the van and the children were being loaded in the van to head out!

And there it was. So flat I couldn't even drive on it.

So of course I put my "fix it cap" on and sent my boys around the court knocking on doors asking to borrow an air compressor.

Every inquiry came up empty.

Either no answer or no air compressor!

I knew our next door neighbors had one. . . but he works graveyards and I knew he would be sleeping. He's always sleeping at this particular time in the morning so I gave my children strict instructions to not knock on his door.

Kyle was in court. Couldn't get a hold of him.

I was kinda out of options.

I might have gotten a little frustrated and sat down on the back of the van and said to the kids

"I guess we're not going."

That's when Kale says,

"Mom, maybe we should say a prayer."

Um, yeah why did it take a 10 year old to remind me of something that seriously has been on my mind lately . . . turn to the Lord. . . why did I think I could fix it by myself.

So upon feeling a little unworthy for not thinking of that in the first place, I asked Kale to say the prayer.

And with the tender faith of a 10 year old he offered a prayer. Right there in our driveway. At that point I didn't care if we went on the trip or not. The spirit my kids were feeling at that moment was worth more than any little trip.

And the prayer that Kale offered was perfect. He didn't ask that our tire even be fixed or that we somehow find an air compressor (that's maybe what I would have asked for) he simply asked that everything would work out.

And even before he said Amen I heard movement from the front yard.

As we lifted our heads, there is our next door neighbor, not sleeping like I had thought, but out to bring his garbage cans in before going to sleep.

My boys immediately told him we had a flat tire to which he emerged from his garage with an air compressor and filled our tire.

Long story short. . . we drove down the street and had our tire replaced. . . it was that bad. . . and hit the road with our friends!

My favorite part about this little trip was a flat tire!

And more importantly the lesson that flat tire taught my children and me.

That Heavenly Father wants to help us. . . but we need to think of him and ask him for help.

Did my kids have fun on this trip?

Yep!

Do we still talk about it?

Yep!

But what we remember most about this trip is a flat tire and an answered prayer.