Diario de melissatwa, 18 oct. 22

Some fall colors from my yard today! This message is long and skip worthy if you don't know me!

So, friends, this summer I have been so totally overwhelmed by life that somehow focusing on my "diet" seemed like the last thing on my mind. I have been trying to at least keep stable. In 11 days, my husband and I are heading off on an adventure! I can at least work to keep on track with my calories as I prepare. I am going to try! The adventure? My husband and I are headed to Barcelona! We decided to flee home for what will be a total of 12 days. Of course, we will "lose" days to travel and jet lag, but we are going to enjoy a little time away to spend time together...a break!

This summer we took in two teen girls who needed a home. For three months, until we were able to help them get student housing, we were their total support and family. I began working more and with more responsibility at my job. My daughter got married! All through summer we had between 7 and 10 humans living under our roof... or not, since we also had a tent set up outside! "Normal" is 6, and we are back to six most of the time now. It is so quiet! Although... it is 7 tonight with one of our girls back for a visit! We are still a big family!

Throughout this last year we have been hoping and planning for a vacation. Our hopes are always cast toward Europe, but with all that has been happening, we simply didn't have time to think about it or plan. Ticket prices went up and up. With the gas prices and cost of accommodations so high, everywhere I wanted to drive to or stay in the States was also crazy costly. Then I got notified that the price on a flight I had been watching for about 6 months dropped a ton. An hour later we had tickets and a plan! Well, part of a plan. :) The exchange rate is beautiful for us right now, we can travel very light with a small backpack each, and we have a place to stay! It is such a beautiful opportunity we have before us. I am getting excited now!

We leave on the 29th, so between now and then I really want to be watching my intake. I won't lose really, but I can feel in control and better. I do have one quite big complication. Over a week ago I injured my big toe at work. I pulled a hand truck with 300 pounds of seed backward into my foot. The nail is undoubtedly going to fall off eventually, but it is secure for now; I am babying it and protecting it. I am desperately disappointed that I will be limited in how well and long I can walk on our trip. I am hopeful that with care it will stabilize and I am pretty hopeful I won't be hurting every step. I know what it is like to travel with a painful foot, for about five years ago I spent 3 weeks walking in Europe with a broken toe. This is not nearly as much trouble, but I am still annoyed and frustrated.

So, this is me... I am still around and trying to keep my health strong!