in the company of beautiful women

A week ago, I sent my cousins back to their respective homes in Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas and Oregon.  It was a bittersweet parting after five glorious days together.  We did a little sight-seeing, hot-tubbing, playing cards and dominoes.  We shopped for groceries together and took walks in the intermittent sunny times.  We prepped food, reminisced, talked about our children and grandkids, and even watched a movie.  It was low-key and thoroughly relaxing.

These women have been a part of my life since birth.  (Well, the younger ones only since their births).  We’ve spent many summer days together on the shore of Lake Michigan, and since 2007 have made a point of rendezvousing at one of our homes during the winter or spring.  We were all together in March of 2020 as the world was shutting down, and together we tried to make sense of it all. 

We laugh at the inevitability that we bring extreme weather to whatever destination we choose…usually unseasonably cold and rainy weather.  This year started out like that, but the days improved and the temps were perfect.  Not that the weather matters all that much.  Our favorite activity is sitting in our pajamas until mid-morning, sipping coffee and tea and chatting.

I hope you know the company of beautiful women, for as scripture says, “true beauty comes from your inner personality, not a focus on the external.  For lasting beauty comes from a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.” (1 Peter 3:3-4). 

And if you share a history with such beautiful women, make it a priority to spend any available moment with them.  These beautiful women are balm for my heart and soul!

Love, Liz 

Photo taken by my grandson Campbell Barnes of me with my cousins, and my daughter Meredith and her dog, Gracie, also beautiful women.