it was a good day… first thing I gathered up the garbage and put it by the back door, emptied and refilled the dishwasher… work was mainly quiet, but I accomplished what I wanted… after work I took out garbage and recycling, after shoveling so I could get to the back lane…  I do love the look of snow, but it isn’t always great to have to deal with it…

then I went to Aquasize… been going for over two years with my friend Pat… we usually go on Tuesday nights but that didn’t work this week, so we decided on Thursday, with dinner out afterwards…

there were only 3 of us in the class – a drop-in that usually has from 12 to 20 people in it… weather wasn’t so great – lots of that beautiful, fluffy snow, so I guess people just didn’t want to go out…

as I was doing all the requested actions, it came to me that I am healthy and today I was able to do everything asked of me, and didn’t need to take any breaks during the class… sometimes I just paddle around because it is too much for me to participate…

I thought about all the months before my surgery that I couldn’t do much because my abdomen was so extended from the hernia it made some of the movements impossible and there was always the worry that I might twist or strain and cause a more serious problem…

then, for eight weeks following my surgery, I couldn’t go into the water and had to be sure not to lift anything over 5 pounds and not do any twisting… I was very happy when I got the approval to get back into the water and was able to lift things again…

it was September 15 that I finally made it back into the water at the lake with Pat (she took this pic)… we like to do water-type things together…

heading into the rather cool water…

I can remember how excited I was… even though it was quite chilly, I was going into that water…  it was wonderful and I enjoyed every minute of it…

most nights I go out to the hot tub in the garden for a while…  it is so peaceful in the dark and a very contemplative time…  as long as it isn’t snowing or raining or blowing big time, I don’t really care what the temperature is…

I love my hot tub and I will sit there thinking about the day, the kids, George and mostly, how lucky I am and what a blessed life I have…

I am healthy and am going out for a tub now…