Dear Dad:

As the years go by I realize you have not received as much praise as you deserve. For as long as I have been alive you have done everything in your power to provide for our family. You have worked so hard and have been such an amazing role model that you deserve some praise. So here are a few things I am most grateful for:

THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS COMING BACK:

In your position as a pilot you have had every opportunity to choose another hub and live in a different state. Yet, regardless of all the endless possibilities you always came home. Thank you for never leaving our family in the dust.

THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING YOUR DREAMS:

Dad, because you chased your dreams so fearlessly, you have taught all of us to do the same. Your perseverance and dedication to the things you love is truly inspiring. Even when things became really hard, you never gave up. Watching you push our family forward will always be something I am forever appreciative for.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A ROLE MODEL:

One of your sayings is ‘lead by example’ and you have always done just that. You taught the boys what it meant to be a true gentleman and us girls how a man should treat a woman. Your work ethic taught us not to feel entitled and that it is important to work hard for what you want. That being kind and generous is extremely awarding and that it is about quality rather than quantity. These were only learned because you displayed them first hand.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A DAD:

Whether it was coaching the sports teams or cheering us on at events, you always made the time. Thank you for using your days off to spend at all day dance competitions or baseball tournaments. For standing up for us when we were wronged and for being a constant pillar of love and support. Most of all, thank you for being there when we needed you.

LAST, THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING MOM A MILLION TIMES OVER:

I think out of all the things I thank you for, this is the most important. Thank you for never breaking moms heart or ours and for choosing her regardless of the circumstances. Again, in your profession it would be so easy for you to have someone on the side, but you never did that. You chose mom a million times over, which in turn, taught me that I deserve someone to choose me a million times over. Watching you love mom has solidified my expectations for when I get married. I watch you fight for her everyday and love her in a way that no one else could. Thank you for teaching us that marriage is sacred and worth fighting for, especially in an era where it's more convenient to end things than to work them out.

Dad, you truly are an amazing father and I wouldn’t trade you for the world! Thank you for being everything and more to our family.

Love,

Your favorite youngest child.