Today is a big holiday in the US. It’s a day where we take time off to celebrate all the things we’re thankful for. We get together with family (in our case this year, immediate family); we over-eat a traditional Thanksgiving Day meal, and then we watch a football game which this year is between two teams that are horrible, but nevertheless, we watch them anyway and snack relentlessly until we pass out. It’s just about a perfect day.
I am so grateful for the many blessings in my life, and for the last couple of year I’ve written a post listing some of the many things I’m thankful for.
Last year I did a post called “The Top 200 Things I’m Thankful For This Thanksgiving Day” and this year I wanted to follow up with another 100 things. I know 2020 has been a pretty much been a dumpster fire wrapped in a hot mess, stuffed inside some roadkill, but I’m still so thankful and grateful for the many blessings this year still held, and yet holds, and today I’m thankful I get to share another 100 of them with you.
Here they are, (in no particular order):
I’m thankful….
- …for Ted Lasso (the most uplifting show of 2020, in a year where we really needed a show like this)
- …for Sola Golden Wheat low carb hamburger buns (they are way better than you’d think)
- …for having such a cool wife. She’s the coolest person I’ve ever met.
- …that Dairy Queen makes a really tiny kid’s size cup for their Blizzards and they never check to see if I actually have a really tiny kid in the car with me when I order one.
- …for The Mandolorian. I have spoken.
- … for all the fun Smart Home stuff my buddy Terry White has turned me on to (and has me hooked on).
- …for the 1Password app. However, if I ever forget my password to 1Password, my life as we know it is over.
- …my friend Tayloe shared this music video, which brings a tear of joy to my eye every time I watch it, for so many reasons.
- For my Apple watch, and how it makes my life easier and more fun
- for “Great Low Carb Bread’s” low carb spaghetti and pastas. They helped me have great meals while losing 22 lbs. this year.
- For all the cool AI stuff Adobe has added to Photoshop. Less time doing boring production stuff. More time to do creative stuff.
- That I wake up in a really good mood almost every day
- For Dr. Greg Savel, and that he got both of our kids through their childhood coughs, colds, and everything else they could get into. The Crown Price of pediatricians.
- For Locatelli Pecorino Romano grated cheese. It’s just so. darn. good! It activates your pasta in ways that are hard to imagine or describe.
- for comfortable fitting masks
- That Tom Brady and Gronk joined the Bucs. They made Buc’s football fun again (and it’s been a while). Plus, getting to tease my Patriots-loving friends has really been the icing on the cake.
- That 2020 is almost over.
- For my buddies turning me onto Call of Duty Warzone (we a play a few (or more) rounds every night).
- For the laughs I get from Maxx when we’re playing games online. He totally cracks me up.
- For my son moving back to Florida after College. Getting to see him numerous times during the week is such a treat.
- that my son met such a wonderful girl — they are so good for each other, and it’s just fun to watch young love in bloom.
- when my daughter literally comes moonwalking past me while I’m watching TV or playing COD. It just cracks me up every time, even though I’ve seen it dozens and dozens of time.
- for the beautiful, fascinating, and just so well done Apple TV screen savers, and I love that that constantly release new ones.
- …that my kids are such thoughtful gift givers, and know us so well.
- …when we’re watching TV on the couch, and my wife reaches over and holds my hand.
- anytime the good guys win.
- when I hear something great happens to one of our employees.
- when Rick Sammon sends me a music video to watch
- when my buddy Paul sends me a jazz song to listen to, and I get to send him back a classic rock song to listen to (there’s a way better chance I’ve heard the jazz song than he’s heard of the rock song. When it comes to rock, he has literally been hiding under one).
- for Laughing cow spicy pepperjack spreadable cheese. It’s magic.
- that I got to see a lot of my British friends last year. Even yet, I still miss them, except of course for Dave Clayton. He’s insufferable for a Royal.
- for having Dave Williams on my blog every Tuesday and Rob Sylvan on Wednesdays on LightroomKillerTips.com. Their posts are the highlights of both blogs
- that we were able to quickly transition to hosting online photography conferences, and for all the instructors who stepped up to make them so great.
- for all the people who prayed for me for any reason, even for little stuff. It always makes a difference.
- for anyone who asked me to pray for them.
- for everyone who bought one of my books this year. I couldn’t keep writing them without you.
- for everyone who calls or texts to check on me when a storm is anywhere near Florida.
- for Saturday night movie night at home with my brother Jeff and Dee. I look forward to it all week.
- for a father who was such a man of integrity, and a mother filled with love and laughter. I miss them both so.
- for the way my wife supports my crazy ideas.
- that I get to work with Larry Becker on a pretty regular basis. He’s so talented, helpful, hard working and his “dad jokes” are the best.
- that my family has been able to adjust so well to the “pandemic lifestyle.” Considering we’ve been stuck inside so long, we have really enjoyed the time together so much.
- for Bon Jovi.
- for when my buddy Kelly shares another one of his shots that got published. I just love seeing that!
- for all the times I didn’t change lanes at exactly the wrong time.
- that Chilis does curbside takeout
- for every morning when I see my wonderful wife at the kitchen counter with her big mug of coffee, and she gives me a big morning hug.
- for Maki the super dog. She is the ultimate family dog, and I truly believe a gift from God for my wife. Maki brings her so much happiness, love and joy. She made me into a dog person for life.
- that I’ve already found and ordered the perfect Christmas gift for Kalebra (it’s on its way. Shhhhhhh!)
- for having coffee each morning with the tree already lit (yes, we put it up before Thanksgiving this year), and Christmas music filling the air.
- for every time Maki the super dog sneaks into the laundry room, grabs a pair of my socks, and brings them to me to ‘trade’ it for a treat. It literally is the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen (even though I know I’m being conned).
- anytime I look at the score and Alabama is ahead by more than four touchdowns.
- for White Castle frozen cheeseburger sliders. Heat for 1 min in the microwave, then add yellow mustard and a couple of dill pickle chips, and man! I don’t know how they make the bread taste so fresh, because a minute ago it was totally frozen…but somehow, it doesn’t taste frozen. The calories, carbs and fat aren’t too bad either, if you eat just two. The problem is, you want four to six. The struggle is real.
- when my son tells me about his day.
- for every time my wife surprises me with sometimes super yummy for dinner (which is fairly often).
- for mornings when I sleep in
- for my wife discovering Kizik shoes (and that she got me a few pairs).
- anytime I find something I need in the house, but when I start searching I really have no idea where it is, but I know it’s “somewhere”
- that we have people that mow our lawn each week, because if it were left up to me, our yard would look like the Congo Basin.
- that my son can make some just incredible homemade cookies
- how beautiful Kalebra makes the house for the holidays
- when my son comes over on a Sunday and grills out hamburgers, hot dogs, and BBQ for the family.
- that my wife can spell any word correctly, which comes in really handy while I’m blogging late at night
- for having Kathy Porupski in our lives
- that my wife likes football now and will not only a watch a Bama game, but will even watch a Bucs game with me and enjoy it (well, if we win, anyway).
- for the mountain of help, advice, laughs, and insights my dear friend Terry gives me on a daily basis. I don’t know how people who aren’t friends with Terry get through their day.
- for everyone who voted, no matter who you voted for.
- for all the front line workers in hospitals and clinics who risk their lives to save people every day. These are very special people.
- for every time my phone rings and I see my wife’s face come up on my screen
- for the mute button on the TV
- for the incredible plug-ins people come up with that work with Logic Pro X. Those folks are geniuses.
- for my car insurance company, Pure — they are way better than they have to be, and they really helped me out this year when I totally trashed the front end of my car backing out of my own driveway. Probably not my finest moment.
- that I can fall asleep so quickly.
- for Maggie the Wonderdog, and all the times she runs around in really tight circles when she gets excited.
- for Amazon Prime 1-day shipping and for all the drivers who bust their butt getting us the stuff we needed this year.
- for all the folks who totally unsolicited say something nice about KelbyOne on social, or drop us an email of thanks. You don’t know how that makes my day.
- for every time one of my students has a big success. For a teacher, hearing their wins — that’s as good as it gets.
- that my daughter is able to go to school online this year.
- that our unofficially adopted son Maxx is graduating college next month. He has an amazing life ahead of him.
- that 30-something years ago when our band was out of work and needed a singer for a gig that weekend, that Wayne our guitar player said, “I know a great singer named Kalebra — her band just broke up. Let me give her a call and see if she’s available.” She joined our band, did the gig (and totally rocked it), but little did I know, that was the most important wonderful turning point in my entire life.
- that battery powered tire pump Terry turned me onto. That thing is a little miracle.
- that Juan always has my back on the set or on a shoot.
- to my friends for just being my friends.
- I can get advice for my Fantasy Football team from my son (except for the week I’m playing him)
- for everyone who invited me to be on their podcast or to do an interview.
- to everyone who donated to the Springs of Hope Orphanage this year, and helped us raise more money than last year through the Worldwide Photo Walk. You made a difference.
- for every hilarious meme my friends and family send me.
- for everyone I follow on social media who kept their personal politics out of their posts.
- to Jean A. for all her prayers and words of encouragement during the year.
- for the Apple News app, my new favorite (overtaking my beloved Google news).
- for all the times when my brother cuts up some apples, and some wonderful cheeses, and serves them up on a wooden cutting board. I don’t know what special thing he does, but it’s always incredibly delicious.
- for the many sacrifices of all the families who have a member serving in our military. I am so grateful for your, and their service.
- that Brad is a daddy now (and what a great dad he will be)!
- for the wonderful leaders in the KelbyOne online community who help members from all over the world, just because they are awesome people who want to help other people.
- that when my new iPhone 11 Pro hit the ground, it only shattered the glass on the back. It’s like I have a cool one-of-a kind custom pattern now.
- Green Mountain Breakfast Blend, first thing in the morning, with four coffee mates (yes, four. I’m thankful it’s not five).
- to Dave Gales for just being awesome
- for our doggie door. Best “been around forever” invention.
- I’m thankful that if it weren’t already 2:35 AM I could sit here and crank out hundreds more things I’m thankful for (I got started really late, but we won a game of Warzone Duos tonight, so we had to keep playing a for a while ’cause we were rockin’ it).
- for God, and His Son Jesus Christ, for leading me to the woman of my dreams, for blessing us with such amazing children, for allowing me to make a living doing something I truly love, for always being there when I need Him, for blessing me with a wonderful, fulfilling, and happy life, and such a warm, loving family to share it with.
Here’s wishing you a safe, happy, healthy Thanksgiving full of family, food, and gratitude for our many blessings. Also, I hope your team wins this weekend unless you’re an Auburn fan! #rolltide!
-Scott