Adventure can be more about relationships than scenery. Experiencing a little of both took us recently to the Northwest corner of Arkansas. Two rural towns – Harrison and Green Forrest. Now why, you ask, would we choose these places? Ah, a little backdrop information…
I met my friend Karla a short time after our first son was born. She delivered food to our home with a sense of warmth and love I admired. Celebrating our son’s first birthday, she came very pregnant with her first child. Just another favorite memory. Our kids grew up together… our son was one when her first son was born, we had another child– she had another child. We shared recipes – babysitting – moving – basically LIFE for years. We laughed, cried, prayed, grew together in so many ways. Years into our friendship –her life changed with an unexpected cancer diagnosis — soon her husband and our lifelong friend was gone. His illness, his leaving, was such a difficult loss. Lifetime friends are hard to say goodbye to. Soon after his death, she moved to Harrison, Arkansas — close to her mother and brothers. The place she grew up, the place that beckoned a visit.. just to see her and check on her, love her and reconnect.
The ‘cousins from Mississippi’ I first met at our wedding. The youngest was a mere baby, the other two were little girls — these cousins of my husband. A sweet set of siblings who are warm, inviting and now grown up with young families of their own. Watching these ‘girls’ grow into women, choose their mates then begin to have their own families was fun. Always admiring their sister bond, their interest in others, their faith. 
One of these ‘chosen mates’ was from Green Forrest, Arkansas. The last of the three sisters is in process of moving to this area. These ‘cousins from Mississippi’ now reside in or near Green Forrest, Arkansas. Who knew that one day these precious grown up girl cousins would live a short distance from my lifelong friend?
We chose Memorial Day weekend to make the trek.. flying Southwest to St. Louis, MO then renting an Enterprise Economy Car for the 4 hour drive across Missouri. Stopping for brunch in Eureka at Chick n Elly’s where you get ‘more cluck for your buck.’ We enjoyed a nice omelet breakfast, with hot coffee and friendly service. Arriving in rural Arkansas following our GPS, my husband noticed what looked like a Tennessee flag up ahead. It was! Our friend and her son standing at the end of their driveway.. holding our home state of Tennessee’s flag .. where all our memories had been made.
The re-connection happened immediately after the driveway greeting. The truth of what Micheal W. Smith sang about in his song Friends. 
That evening we rode thru rural Arkansas, had dinner out, all the while reconnecting, giggling, sharing stories — playing catch up. After a great night sleep, we ate breakfast (yet another treat). With history of having meals together for years, this time just magnified our years of friendship. Mid-morning Saturday we headed to Green Forrest for a visit with family..the relocated cousins from Mississippi.
In the midst of teenagers and young children, homeschooling, god children visiting, a brother-in-law staying while the house back home sells.. our arrival didn’t seem to phase this precious family! What’s two more!? Youth is a beautiful thing — and being way past our mid 30s — it was refreshing to see the juggle of life go so well. Conversation among the lunch prep, the laundry folding, the skeet shooting…snuggles with little girls, grown up conversations with teenage girls.. laughter, food, fun times catching up, being in their home
a
nd the beautiful mountains surrounding northwest Arkansas. It was a lovely day of just being together.
Sunday was our day of discovery in Harrison and the surrounding mountains of Jasper. As we rode, visiting and hearing her stories, Karla and her son drove us thru some amazing beauty. Seeing The Buffalo River and discovering a small fawn were just a few special treats. Rural would be an understatement. Gravel roads, areas that looked similar to Appalachia, yet held a beauty. We shared lunch at the Cliff House and did a little souvenir shopping.
Trying to capture this weekend adventure has been different. Normally we are all about being on a trail and exploring new areas. This adventure had a heart of friendship, relationships, and family. Not a lot of dust on the hiking shoes, but some great heart moments. Reconnect adventure..I bet you have some special folks in your life too.
Why not plan a visit soon? 
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