Mom and Dad,

I want to take this time to thank each of you for everything you have done for me throughout my 19 years of life, especially during my high school years. I know I am not the easiest person to work with. I can be stubborn and my attitude can get the best of me. But throughout all of the disagreements and stupid decisions I have made, you guys have loved me unconditionally. I cannot thank you enough for that. Thank you both for traveling all over the country with me for speech tournaments, staying in hotels, and eating really bad food for three days. Thank you for paying for all of my dance classes, costumes, and helping me pursue my musical theatre passions. Thank you for making the decision to homeschool me. I have no idea what kind of person I would be right now if I wasn't homeschooled. Because of this, I believe I have become closer to God and to you guys throughout my life. Thank you for guiding in the ways of the Lord and continuing to help me in my decisions. You guys have no idea how much I appreciate you, and I could not have been blessed with better parents. I am beginning to realize that you guys have done all of this for me because you love me like Christ loves all His children. While I can't even comprehend the love you guys have for me and Jeremy, I know that you guys have raised us to be caring people,who love the Lord. Thank you for teaching me and raising me by God's standards. I have had shaky moments in my own relationship with Christ, but because of the way you guys have exemplified God's love, I have never lost my faith. Thank you for standing strong in your faith and showing me what a strong Christian looks like. I am so blessed for the opportunities God has given me, and I could not be happier that He gave me two amazing parents to share amazing experiences with. So, I am going to make this a little more personal for each of you.

Mommy,

I cannot put into words how much I love you and appreciate you, but I am going to try. Thank you so much for taking 11 years of your life to homeschool me. You have not only taught me the fundamentals of my education, but you have taught me so much more about life and how to live as a believer. Thank you for helping me to become the woman, excuse me, young adult I am today. Thank you for always being brutally honest with me and putting me in my place. Thank you for teaching me that everything I do should be for God's glory. I know that I can come to you for anything. Thank you for helping me discover who I am and who I aspire to be. When I was little, you dressed me in poofy dresses and frilly hats, and honestly that helped me learn an integral part of my life....that I hate frilly hats and poofy dresses. You have always been someone I can look up to and come to for advice. For example, your advice about always carrying pepper spray with you because there is always a possibility that I could get kidnapped in the crime ridden streets of Cary, North Carolina, where everyone says “Yes Ma'am” with true, sincere southern hospitality! Thank you for showing me how to live as a strong Christian. Because of your strong faith, it makes me want to grow as a believer in Christ and share His Word with others. Thank you for all of your protection, and thank you for being someone I can watch hallmark movies and laugh with! Thank you for being the best mom ever. When I was little, you always used to ask me, “Jamie, I'm your best friend, right?” I still don't understand why you constantly asked me that, but I always used to just try and avoid the question, since back then it was uncool to be best friends with your mom. But now that I am older, the slightly more mature, I am realizing you are my best friend because I know you will love me forever and nothing can come in between us. Everything that I have previously said describes what a true friend should be. So, thank you for being the best mom and the best friend a girl could ask for.

Daddy,

You may not know this, but my favorite memory with you was when I was little and you used to sing me worship songs with your guitar before I went to bed, and now you just give me a back massage. Yes, I know as I have gotten older, things have changed, but you will forever be my main man, and I am still that little girl you were singing to bed. I cannot express how much we are alike, in fact I am basically you... just in girl form. By the way, thank you for allowing me to climb into your bed after you sang me those songs to try and get me to sleep! Thank you so much for working so hard to provide for our family and caring about me so much. Thank you for comforting me and wiping away my tears when I'm sad. Thank you for being strict when you need to be strict. Thank you for exemplifying a Godly man, and guiding me in my relationship with Christ. And hey, I'm gonna work on giving you more hugs per day! Thank you for sharing your 72% cacao chocolate bars with me and watching the Princess Diaries with me whenever I want. Thank you for keeping up traditions with me, like watching The Santa Clause every christmas with hot chocolate and popcorn. We have 18 years and counting, can't stop now! Even though you and Jeremy used to use me as the football when, I can confidently say you have been the best dad! Thank you for raising our family on God's standards and unconditionally loving me. I am so blessed that God gave me such an amazing father like you. Thank you for being there whenever I need you. Thank you for bringing humor and liveliness into my life, I love you more than you know and more than words can describe.

So parents, while I have been on my own for a little while, I have had time to deeply contemplate life. While I am scared about the future, you guys have taught me to trust God, and I know nothing can go wrong with you guys by my side. Thank you to the both of you for loving me and continuing to support me. I hope I can influence others as positively as you have influenced me. I am sorry if I sometimes take you guys for granted, but I miss you, love you, and cannot even comprehend how you put up with me for almost twenty years! I cannot wait for the years to come as we continue to create memories and grow in our relationships with each other. I am truly blessed to be a part of this family, and I love you guys so much.