Feeling Blessed - 2019 Was a Good Year!

It's Dec. 31, 2019, at 5:37 a.m. as I begin this.  I've punched in "the numbers", and I can now reflect on 2019 and perhaps glimpse at 2020.  What a year 2019 turned out to be.

• Perhaps most importantly, my family is growing and healthy.  Three new grandchildren have been added, and I've learned to thoroughly enjoy being "Jay".  That brings the total to four, and I'm okay with adding some more!  Also, my brother is engaged and will be married in May, so that's also a development that has occurred and will occur in the upcoming year.
• Speaking of family, the home and family that Amber and continue to grow is amazing.  We aren't wealthy, but we are blessed.  We have a beautiful home, have enough income to enjoy life a little, and we still laugh a lot.  She's beautiful, all be it occasionally feisty and intense, but our relationship fits both of us really well.
• I'm healthier.  This morning I weighed in at 218 lbs., and last year this time I was around 260 lbs.  At 218, I'm still not at my target weight of 200 lbs., but I'm feeling a heck of a lot better, especially getting up and down the court to officiate.  Healthier has been a combination of intermittent fasting since February, a series of treatments on my knee at Frontline, consistent light yoga stretching, some strength training 1-3 times a week, and recently adding 10-minute abs workout 4-7 times a week.  The only hiccup in the health category for me was that weird event with transient global amnesia; I'm still learning more about that one.
• Speaking of officiating, I worked post-season in basketball and softball last season, and the post-season is a lot of fun.  In that category, I also went to a USA National with my son Cole, which was exhausting but going with Cole was a memorable experience, as that was his first national event.
• Cole, Carmen, and Chase are on positive paths.  Their have been changes in their lives, but their trajectories are all positive and healthy.  They are such wonderful people with good hearts; I hope I'm around a lot longer to see more of their life stories.
• Financially, at the end of 2018 I had virtually nothing in neither my checking account nor savings, and I had a VISA balance that was ridiculous.  At the end of 2019, I'm not rolling in money, but the financial status of checking and savings isn't so grim, and I've cut the ridiculous VISA balance in half, which is still ridiculous but not as much.  2019 did see record setting snowfall, which cut into my income of officiating basketball, so I would appreciate 2020 being not so snowy, so I can keep the positive income arriving.
• Professionally, consideration of retirement has crept into my thinking.  I'm mulling it over more and more, and early retirement does seem to be something of interest.  I believe I'd like to be more available for my parents, in-laws, children, and grand-children.  I know I'll still have to work somehow - either by substituting or perhaps teaching at a local community college or jumping the river and teaching in Iowa.  And I know I'll still keep officiating and umpiring at least a few more years.  But early retirement may add some flexibility to my life that would not only be refreshing, but could also be invigorating.  Maybe I could consider trying some college officiating and/or umpiring; maybe I could try another career?  Teaching at Rockridge is still something I enjoy; I don't have as much fun as I have had in recent years, but I think that goes along with getting nearer and nearer retirement.  The negotiation process that occurred last spring really had an impact on me, and I don't think that's something I'm going to get over, even though I have set it aside from my day-to-day efforts.  I'm still a member of our association this year, but I'm considering an end to that involvement.
• Amber and I flew out to Laughlin, Nevada this past summer with Amber's parents and friends.  That was a great experience, but our gambling efforts didn't exactly work out.  This past summer also featured my first trip to Washington, D.C., by helping Amber out with her 8th grade field trip.  This trip is TRULY exhausting and features more time on a charter bus in a week than any one person deserves.  Yes, I'll be going back this summer, my butt and knees are already feeling the pain.  In all seriousness, though, I really enjoyed all the sightseeing and tour of the capital.  I learned a lot, saw a lot, and am eager to return.
• Let it snow?  While I mentioned it previously, last school year we had something like 12 snow days!  I've never seen anything like it.  The winter just kept dropping snow.  Our school day was extended, which was absolutely stupid.  I didn't get in a research paper to the students, which didn't kill them, but I felt bad about it.  And despite all the disruptions and weather crap, RHS was still an exemplary school, even though I'm still not sure how.
• My faith journey wasn't as strong this year as I would have liked.  Perhaps even just mentioning that topic here is an indication.  I have tried to figure out an answer to that, but I'm going to keep that to myself for now.  My faith journey is still present in my life and important, but it's behind other things that cuts down on the time and personal energy to be involved and grow.  

And on to 2020....

Honestly, I could take another year like last year - removing all the snow and canceled basketball and softball games.  This isn't a negotiation year, so I'm not going to stress over that.  A couple more grand-children would be okay.  Some divine intervention with the early retirement question would be appreciated.  And if I could get that dang VISA balance cleared out of my life, I might just do a dance in the street!  Oh, and if I could avoid another TGA event, that would be appreciated to.  I still haven't received all the medical bills for that little event.