With the passing of Father’s Day, there’s another opportunity for me to appreciate the most important man in my life, my dad. The most selfless man, the one I know would always have my back. Although no words can match everything you’ve done for me, I figured it was worth a try. So here’s to you dad.

Here’s to the nights you stayed awake just to wait for me to get home safely.

Or should I say tried to stay awake…with the TV blaring and a snack still out on the table, I know you had nothing but the best intentions in mind when you just couldn’t stay up any longer.

Here’s to the times you knew I was wrong, but stood by me anyway.

I imagine raising a girl as a first child is far from an easy task. Somehow you still managed to survive. Thank you for letting me make my own mistakes and live my own life, but not without at least a little bit of guidance.

Here’s to the moments you didn’t give up, even when it was hard.

I don’t have to see it from the outside to know that sometimes I can be a handful. Somehow, your hand never seems to fill. Through the tough times and the easy, you were there every step of the way.

Here’s to the nights you weren’t home because you were working even harder for us.

You’re the first out the door in the morning, but the last one in each night. Without the hard work you’ve done, we wouldn’t be able to live the life we do. Somehow, no matter how hard you work, you still manage to make it to (almost) every game, every concert and every important event.

I know no words can express all of the things I wish I could say, but it was worth a try. So here’s to you dad, not just on Father’s Day…but every day.