One of my blessings...

Someone recently reminded me of the power of remembering, 

at the end of each day, five blessings.  As I've done this, some days it has been hard to keep it to five--and that's good!  Other days, it is hard to find five, and that's when I know I need to be more grateful.  

(It's probably been a day that, locally, is referred to as a "China Day"--when all the differences seem more overwhelming 

than usual.)

But one blessing that keeps coming up on my list is...

my daily swim.  I love to swim, and finally I am living in a place where it is convenient to swim whenever I want to! 

And only a 5 minute walk away.  Of course, I do have to cross 8 lanes of traffic, but that just boosts the adrenaline and adds to the work-out effect.

In Cedar Falls, I could swim during the summer at the outdoor pool, weather-permitting.  Or I could swim at 5 a.m. or 9 pm at the junior high (two days a week).  I'm not a morning person and would probably drown at 5 a.m. (and certainly couldn't roust myself out of bed on a consistent basis), and I'm in my home-cocoon at 9 p.m.  Who wants to go get wet at that hour? 

My favorite time to swim?  

Mid-afternoon, about 2:30--after I've tamed my to-do list but before the kids get home from school.

This pool is so inviting!  

The pool is heated--and when it's cold outside, little tendrils of fog waft upwards.  The water is very clear (none of that greenish tinge

the city pool would get and which made me 

wonder just how many chemicals they had to put in to

counteract the "left-behind" from lots of little kids). 

Often, I get to swim alone, and I love disturbing the mirror surface, watching the gentle ripples fan out as I begin my swim.

The pool's length is the same as the width of a

competition pool, so it's fine for doing laps.

 As I leave the dressing room (all granite and marble) and go up to the pool there is a foot bath to step into.  Rarely, the water has just been changed and is warm.  It's a pleasant surprise when it isn't icy cold.  But after the cold water, it's easy to look forward to

getting into the warm pool.

As I am swimming, I almost have to pinch myself.

Is this really me?  Idaho farm girl Rosemary,

swimming at a beautiful hotel in China?

Yup!  And I'm a happy camper.