Dad,
Thank you for being the greatest man in my life. You've taught me so many life lessons that I can't even begin to say how grateful I am to know and have learned from you. Thanks for turning me into the strongest, most independent girl I can be. You've pushed me past limits I never thought I would take and helped morph me into the toughest girl around. You're pretty much the coolest guy I know, no matter how annoying you can be most of the time. Thanks for helping raise me into the person I am today, you rock dude!
Eighteen years of my life and I can honestly say you're the only man who has stuck with me the entire time, and not just because you're my father. Life has its ups and downs, but you just have to learn to ride it like a roller coaster and have fun along the way. Make the best out of any and all situations. You've always been the person I go to in a time of need when I need a shoulder to cry on or somebody to rant to. You're literally always there, and not just because we live in the same house.
You've always been a huge part of my support system for anything I've done. Whether is be sports or dance, or just life in general. You've always been, and hopefully always will be my biggest fan. You're a dance dad, have been for about seventeen years between Lynne and I. You raised two daughters, what would you expect? You were always the front row of the bleachers at all my softball games and would help me practice after hours in our yard. You were tough on me, but I knew it was because you wanted me to be the best I can be. I remember us in the yard, you sitting on a bucket filled with softballs and me standing 43 feet away and practicing pitching to you. I wanted to be the best pitcher I could be and I knew the only way that would happen was if I practiced. Thanks for being my favorite cheerleader in any and all athletics I ever did, I really appreciate it and you.
Mama tried to raise a lady, but daddy won. He raised a lady that doesn't take mess from anyone. Lord am I blessed that you did. I'm sweet, I'm sassy, and let's be real, I get it all from you. I look like you, I act like you, there's no denying that I'm your child that's for sure. You taught me how to be a lady, so I know when to when and what fork to use at a formal dinner. Since you didn't raise a fool, I also know what artery to stick it in so that you will bleed out in one minute. Okay let's be real for a second, that's an exaggeration. Well, I am a nursing student and already a certified nursing assistant, so I actually do know where that artery is. Don't test me. I spent a lot of time working outside on the farm, helping dad around the house to get chores done, hunting on the weekends, and helping become an awesome grill-master. You've taught me so much in eighteen short years that I will hold on to forever and use the rest of my life. Maybe even teach your grandchildren with the time comes ;).
You pushed me all through school to work hard and graduate. You got your GED and you wanted me to push through and get a diploma. You were a huge motivation for me; not only did I graduated in the top 20% of my class (which was a big deal because my class had 460+ people in it), but I also graduated with an advanced studies diploma, academic excellence, and honor societies. I remember after graduation I met up with y'all outside and I remember you leaning in and hugging me and kissing the top of my head like you would do when I was little and saying "Congratulations baby girl, I knew you would do it. Now you're on to bigger and better things and I couldn't be more proud of you. I love you". That was really big for me. My ultimate goal in life is to please you and mom and make y'all proud of me. At that moment, I felt accomplished. I did it. I knew I was on to bigger and better things in life. Going to college, getting my masters, and becoming a nurse practitioner. You would always say if you can dream it, you can do it.
Well, I'm on my journey to get my degree. Currently a freshman in college and working harder than ever before. I remember my move-in day, man that was fun. Radford blew your mind, you came in with the expectation that it was going to be one huge disaster and we were all very surprised when we got here and everything was completely organized and well thought-out. They had everything taken care of, got everything brought up to my room, all you had to do was help me unload everything once it was up there. Let's not forget that my building doesn't have air conditioning and the temperature felt like it was 100 degrees because of all the commotion going on. Your first priority was getting my fan built and running. Good job on that by the way because it still is working fine, you're such a handy man. After we took several hours to get me completely in, the time had come that it was time to say goodbye. That was honestly one of the hardest times I've ever had. Yes, I know I would see you again, but I knew it was going to be a while, so it was sad. We were all emotional and not wanting to say goodbye, but it had to be done. I remember you giving me a great big daddy bear hug like you always do and you looked me in the eyes and said, "You made it Leigh Leigh, your time has come to make your dream come true. Work hard and never give up. I love you". That really hit home, that's when I knew it was real, I was actually in college now and was going to be on my own. You started getting emotional and even tearing up a little, which you don't really do so I knew this was a big step for you. Of course, once I saw you start to get emotional, I broke down and was just one big mess. It was bad. I got this. I'm doing exactly what you told me to do, still trying to make you proud from 250 miles away.
My fingers may be small, but I can still wrap daddy around them. Some people don't believe in heroes, but they haven't met my dad. He's the best, and I know that may be a little cliche because I'm his daughter, but I think it's true. I love my dad more than anything in the world, well besides my mom and sister and the rest of my family of course, and I couldn't be more proud to call myself my daddy's little brown-eyed girl.
