Dear Dad,

I wanted to take the time to sit down and thank you for everything. In our society today, dads don't really get the credit that they should. You have given me so much, and I know I don't tell you thank you enough. You work your butt off everyday to provide for our family, and I know it's hard. You've been my best friend since the day I was born, and I can't imagine my life without you.

Thank you for telling me no.

This one was hard for me to look at as a good thing for a long time. You've been telling me no since day one. Looking back now I can't express enough gratitude for telling me no to things that you knew were not for the best. Even though I found it so unfair when you wouldn't let freshman Kenz go to prom with a senior boy, I get it now. Thank you for laying down the law.

Thank you for sharing your love for the Lord with me.

Your faith is inspiring to me. Thank you so much for introducing me to this amazing God you serve so well. You always told me to turn to the Lord in my time of need, and I can't thank you enough for that. My faith is growing everyday, and I know you can see it. Thank you for teaching me how to pray. You have shown me just how great life can be when you make God your foundation, and I'm so happy you raised me that way.

Thank you for dealing with my princess sass.

This one is almost completely your fault, but I'm going to thank you for it anyway. Thank you for dealing with this monster that you created when I was little. I know sometimes I wasn't the most pleasant to be around, but thank you for putting me in my place. Also thank you for giving me these giant hazel eyes that you had such a hard time saying no to :)

Thank you for telling me not to go back to him.

Relationships are hard for every dad to deal with. I know you take it hard when I announce I'm seeing someone. I also know you take it especially hard when I announce that someone broke my heart. Thank you for telling me I am strong enough to walk away. Thank you for trying your hardest to cheer me up when I'm at those low points. And thank you, thank you, thank you, for telling me he's not the one, and to stop wasting so much time.

Thank you for quoting "Spongebob" daily.

You are probably the only grown man in the world that will scream, "Barnacles!" when something bad happens. Thank you for watching countless hours of "Spongebob" with me when I was younger. Thank you even more for continuing to quote your favorite episodes everyday.

Thank you for letting me shine.

I know you didn't exactly love that I was involved in every single club in high school, but thank you for supporting me every step of the way. I can't express to you enough how great it felt to look up and see you sitting in those bleachers during volleyball games. Thank you for traveling all over the state to watch the countless parades I marched in. Your support never went unnoticed.

Thank you for letting me learn on my own.

Although you taught me so many things, there's somethings you just let me figure out. Thank you so much for doing this. I have grown so much as a person because you made me be independent. Thank you for making me handle my problems and find solutions to them.

Thank you for being my best friend.

There's been a lot of days growing up that I have felt very alone. Thank you for always being there for me no matter what the issue is. Thank you for never failing to put a smile on my face when I needed some light. You have helped me through more than I think you give yourself credit for. Thank you for always being a person I can't wait to spend time with.

We have had our ups and downs just like most father-daughter relationships, but thank you for never giving up on me. You are such an inspiration to me. You have always been my number one guy and hero. Thank you for helping me become who I am today.

P.S. Tag you're it.

Love,

Doc