Birth

Since the wee hours of the morning, my sister, Jamie, has been bravely submitting to the strength of her own body and laboring to bring her child into the world. 2 midwives and a doula gently and confidently attend her. Her husband Scott takes tiny breaks to tell us how things are going, but has otherwise been at her side since her water broke last evening at supper time. Mom, Dad and I are all gathered here at the house where she is giving birth. All we can do is sit around, prepare, serve and consume food constantly, wish we could do more, and love my sister fiercely as we hear her groans from upstairs. I think we all (at least Scott and I, the novices) imagined the process would feel more like a celebration. It is more of a vigil, a sacred and solemn watch for something so amazing we can't even look forward to it properly.
Soon everything will be about our tiny new family member. Right now Jamie is both priestess and offering.