melissatwa's Journal, 26 Jan 22

My youngest turned 19 today. In one year I will have no more teenagers. Close to the time this photo was taken about six years ago, all five were teens... Well, for a few weeks anyway. Such a long time nurturing and caring for my gang! (Yes, the youngest looks so young. He had some setbacks and was slow to grow, but he is now strong and 5'10" which is amazing since we expected he might not reach much more than 5 feet tall).

When I have no more teens, I will also have turned 50 by this time next year. I want to be fit and strong and not be fearing the future. Choices I make today and tomorrow and next week will shape that future.

Today I walked, I stretched and worked my knee. I have hope for the first time in a while that I have found a way to help it become stable and strong again. Perhaps I won't ever run again, but if I can someday lift heavy with it again and reach high speeds doing my race walking, I will be so happy.

So... here are my late night ramblings and musings. I won't be weighing in tomorrow. There is no need for the scale to report what I already know. I had an indulgent day with the special meal I made for my lad. And, the cake and ice cream was sure good. I will have a couple light eating days and get back on track... again.

I thank God for my family... for all the challenges and stresses and joys and hurts... they are my people and I love them.