Last Swim?

  This morning, 3 intrepid children leaped into our pool, which is currently 74 degrees. The outside air temperature was 72 at the time, with a brisk wind blowing.

 You wouldn't catch ME swimming in that stuff, and the kids didn't stay in long, but they wanted one last gasp of summer and of pool time.  The temperatures for the next week are supposed to be lows in the 50's, highs in the 70's, so it is time to let the pool get cold and then put it to bed for the winter.

  When we moved into this house, I was nervous about the pool given that we've always had little kids.  So far, we've never had a near miss with the children, though I pray periodically for God's grace and protection on the children.  Because, you know, accidents happen. But we have a really good fence and a really good gate and a really good lock and we try to be very careful to keep track of the littles.  None of the children, even the climbers, have made an attempt to climb the fence, which is very good.

     In many ways, I believe our pool is a huge blessing -- not just because it is fun -- but because we have a place for the children to learn to swim.  Next year, Sarah (currently age 4) will likely start learning to swim.

   For all that it is a blessing, it is a lot of work and, as I said, we have to be aware of where littles are. So in some ways, it is a relief when we close the pool and we don't have to deal with it for 7 months.