Westward Ho! Day 2 — Simple joys and amazing connections!

We meandered through some beautiful Alabama and Mississippi backroads this morning (so much lovely green!), past the historic Natchez Trace, and had that iconic moment of crossing the mighty Mississippi River! For lunch, we found a sweet little church parking lot with a playground and shady trees – perfect for stretching little legs and enjoying some fresh air and our packed goodies. Sometimes the unplanned stops are the best, aren't they?

But the highlight? Our first Harvest Host stay in Arkansas tonight! We were met by the kindest host in his antique Ford truck (so charming!) who escorted us to their breathtakingly beautiful farm – hundreds of acres of God's country. He immediately got out tractors for the kids to explore and then, get this, showed them his toy room filled with hundreds of John Deere collectibles! You can imagine their faces! 

These wonderful folks have been married 55 years, started RVing back in '76, and even have a motorhome in the RV Hall of Fame! They even shared stories of being friends with the founders of Teva (sandals) and still have an original prototype pair! Such fascinating, inspiring people, and a beautiful reminder of the incredible folks you meet when you open your heart on the road. We truly feel so blessed by their hospitality. It’s evenings like this, connecting with kindred spirits, that make all the packing chaos worthwhile!

Feeling so much gratitude tonight. This is what "Serving the Joy" feels like in motion – sharing smiles and stories with new friends.