Dear Daddy,

Thank you for your patience. All throughout my upbringing you demonstrated this virtue. Whether you were reading me a story before bed and I wouldn't let you leave or teaching me how to drive, your patience prevailed, even during the lesson when I drove on the wrong side of the road and you calmly pointed out my mistake.

Thank you for caring about my protection (and the protection of my heart). Thank you for protecting me by doing everything from making sure I was strapped into my seatbelt to telling me to stay twenty-five feet away from all boys (and thank you for lowering it to twenty feet when I went to college.) Even though I know hope you were joking about the whole twenty five feet thing, I can be confident of the fact that you said it because you wanted to protect your little girl.

Thank you for teaching me. You are the best teacher/at home tutor I've ever had. From why y=mx+b to how to drive a stick shift, you covered it all, even if it meant countless hours studying or a few almost accidents in a bright red jeep.

Thank you for being my lifelong partner. Thank you for dancing with me to every song that comes on, be it good ole George Straight or One Direction. Thank you for running with me even though I know you slow down your pace just for me. Thank you for being my always willing froyo date, and my partner in crime when we take a few more samples than we probably should.

Thank you for being my biggest fan. Thank you for jumping and crying tears of joy with me when I finally made that team I had so desperately desired to be a part of. Once I was a member, I knew I could look out into the crowd at every event and see you peeking out from behind the camera you used to document my life.

Thank you for pointing me toward my other Father, AKA God. From the moment I was born, I never questioned my own worth or purpose, because you instilled it in me from the very beginning. You taught me about Jesus and since then, I've been able to grow with Him alongside you.

Thank you for providing for me. Though I wish you didn't have to work and we could just hang out together all day, I'm thankful that you are so dedicated to your job and your family that you wake up every morning at five to be able to put food on the table, clothes on our bodies, and a roof above our heads.

Thank you for being my jungle gym/teddy bear/whatever I need you to be. When we were little you let us kids climb all over you, using your limbs as our own personal modes of transportation. Now, you are an always welcome warm embrace. Thank you for always being willing and able to transform into whatever your kids need you to be, even after a long day of work when you probably don't want an extra 50 pounds on each leg.

Thank you for listening. You have always been the best listener. You are always there to hear me out when I just need to talk. You've sat through me rambling on about unimportant details of my day. You've celebrated with me when I can barely contain my excitement. You've heard me complain and whimper in frustration. And you never complained, never tell me to be quiet, you just listen (and give feedback when I ask for it.)

Thank you for laughing with me. Yes, your jokes are corny but I love them, and I know you secretly love mine too. Putting it simply, you're a goofball who never fails to put a smile on my face.

Finally, thank you for being my daddy and all that that entails. Even though you don't have superpowers (that I know of), you'll always be a hero to me. One that dedicates his life to the safety and well being of his own little city, our home, and everyone in it.

As life goes on more dance partners may come into my life, another man may begin to care about me, and my relationship with God will become my own journey. Despite the fact that the clock keeps ticking and I keep getting older, no matter how old I get, you’ll always be Daddy to me. Just like the old book you always read to me before bed said, "I'll love you forever. I'll love you for always. As long as I'm living, my [daddy] you'll be."