I would just like to start off by saying thank you. Thank you for being my "dad."

At the age of five, I had my heart broken for the first time. Who knew a year later someone would come into my life who would change it forever.

I remember when I first met you. I had no problem climbing up on your lap and laughing with you. In such a little amount of time, you became such a huge part of mine and my mom's life. I would have never thought that 12 years later, I would owe my success to you.

You took me in as your own, and I could never thank you enough for that. I'll never understand why my birth father didn't stick around, but God knew you were all I needed.

The first Christmas in our first house as a family is a day I'll never forget. That was the day I first called you daddy. You told me that could be my Christmas present to you, and ever since that day I have thought of you as my dad. We don't share the same blood or DNA, but we share the same love for each other. When people ask me about my father, I always tell them about you, not the man who walked out on me. I don't refer to you as my step-dad or any other term — just my dad.

I'm sorry for everything I put you and mom through. I know growing up I was a pain in the butt. I went through many different phases in my life, but I knew I always had you both there to help guide me down the right path. No matter what I was going through I knew I had you and mom there to always help to push me through it.

Thank you for loving my mom. My mom is an amazing woman. She deserves the entire world, and I want to thank you for showing her what love is, as well as me. Things weren't always easy, but thank you for never giving up on our family. Watching you two love each other and grow our family has been one of the most rewarding things I have seen. We may be very dysfunctional at times, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

As a little girl I couldn't wait to grow up, move out and be an adult, but now that I am, I would do anything to go back. You have given me so much advice, most I have probably ignored, and I never thought this day would come where I say you were always right.

I owe every ounce of my success to you and mom. If it wasn't for the both of you, I wouldn't be out chasing my dreams right now. You have shaped me into the person I am today, and if you ask me I think you did a great job!

Thank you for always being there, driving me to soccer practice and wiping my tears. But most importantly, thank you for stepping up to the plate, loving me like your own and being my dad.

I love you!