Early in January, some girlfriends and I attended a party together. We put on our cute dancing dresses and headed out as a group. Three cars worth of lovely ladies rolling up at the same time. It was a sight to behold.

About twenty minutes into the night, we were all in the coat room. There were a couple of different conversations going on. The room has a wall length mirror and I just stood in the center, facing that mirror. I watched, in the reflection, as my friends laughed and talked and hugged and just enjoyed time together.

We have lots of different jobs. Our lives go in a lot of different directions for about 15 hours a day. But being the overly dramatic and artsy girl that I am, I took this moment to really breathe in our time together. I am well loved by these girls. We care for each other deeply. It’s beautiful.

It flew by but also lasted for hours. You know what I mean? When you are living a moment while begging it not to end? That’s how I felt that night.

[And as I watched and laughed, I also realized that it was pretty weird to be watching myself and my friends in a mirror. Artsy or not, that’s kinda weird. So I moved on.]

A stranger walked into the coat room, and Marisa said, “Hey, will you take our picture?” because you can always rely on Marisa to be prepared for every photo op.

The laughing stopped. The conversations quieted. And we grouped together, arms entangled, and smiled.

A moment of bliss, captured forever. The snapshot of lives well lived.

I’m overseas in Scotland for a couple of weeks and I’m missing these arms around me, these smiles in my face, and these voices laughing in my ears. But even looking at this picture, I can hear their hearts. I can sense their prayers.

I can feel them pushing me to be brave.

And I am grateful.

By Annie Downs // AnnieBlogs

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