It changes with the seasons.
Even your coldest winter
Happens for the best of reasons.
And though it feels eternal,
Like all you'll ever do is freeze,
I promise spring is coming
And with it, brand new leaves
We had walked a lot that morning and with my swollen and sore feet pleading for reprieve, it was a welcome idea. She had recently discovered this little gem of a coffee shop not far from the cottage and she just knew Lory and I would love it.
Why? She knows me well. We may have been separated for 25 years, but it's as if no time has passed - it feels amazingly good to have a real big sister in my life.
I love good coffee and she knows that. Throw in a large kiddies play area with a treehouse and bunnies running around? What could be better? I read a few posts in the last few months about regular coffee hangouts that people frequent. It always left me feeling a bit sad as I've never had a coffee spot like that to call my own. I think she found mine for me!
Not only because I'll probably end up doing a lot of work from there while Lory has a blast playing with her new friends, but also because we had a really mind blowing experience here last week that left a lasting impression on both of us and will be marked in our lives for our remaining days.
We sat down at The Village Café and of course ordered two coffees - one decaf and one non. Ok I fess up - the decaf should have been for the very pregnant me, but it wasn't. We indulged in sugar, ordering a chocolate turkish delight brownie, ice cream and chocolate sauce.
I just felt instantly at home there. It was such beautiful weather and it had been a good day - a happy day.
Lory was gleefully playing with a handful of other kiddos and a lady who stays there that does arts and crafts with the children who arrive. Of course Lory was in her element and drew a round of applause from me when she proudly climbed up into the tree house and declared she was on top of the world.
We chatted about all sorts of things while keeping an eye out for the bunnies that run around here freely. Brown ones and black ones, big ones and baby ones. Lory even tried to befriend a teeny tiny one with an apple. She got really close to it too before it scampered off and she turned to us with a beaming grin on her face.
When our coffee delights arrived, my smile widened and my heart brightened seeing the beautiful face displayed in my coffee cup. She looked familiar. She felt familiar. She felt warm and loving. My mom came to say hi and let me know she was around.
You see, that night, 20 minutes after I fell asleep, I rolled over.
And my water broke...
1:32am I texted my person "My water just broke" and the reply "Oh fuck!" made me laugh. Then I went and told my sister upstairs.
I believe that our mom was there with us. I hadn't started contracting yet, so we had a cup of coffee together while we got things ready for the trip to the hospital. I wanted to labour at home as long as possible.
I was calm and in good spirits. Spoke to my love on the phone and we had a few laughs together practicing staying calm. It was a special moment.
Six hours later and it was all over. Born at 7:37am was a 3,63kg healthy baby boy. He is now with his new family and thriving. I was discharged the same day and am recovering.
Life's funny that way isn't it? How you can find deep connection, bonding, warmth and love with people in moments like these - defining moments of your life. My favourite people both living and beyond were surrounding me with love, warmth, support and care - shared through coffee, laughter and labour.
