Everyone has a family, but I was blessed enough to have two of them. Technically, we don’t have the same blood pumping through our veins, but we are so close that we probably should. I’m sure if we dig back far enough into our family trees that we would find that we have a mutual 37^th cousin, but until then, we can continue fooling the general public that we are biological family. These beautiful humans are considered family to me because if I think long and hard about it, I can’t picture my life without them.

For James Andrew:

It’s weird to address you as James because to me you are Uncle Jimmy. I know I can count on you to protect me from anything that may harm me. Given your size and stature, I know that you will defend me in any situation, yet you’re always there to give the warmest, most genuine hugs. Thank you for being there for me whenever I make a sarcastic comment, and I’ll always catch when you make your jokes too. To infinity and beyond!

For Elana Beth:

My mom always taught me to only reserve family terms for people who are actually family. This is exactly why I call you Auntie. With that being said, I should call you my second mom. No matter what I do in life, I know that you will always be a member of my fan club, and I will always support you in whatever you do. You have raised two beautiful daughters that I get the pleasure of calling my best friends. You are a warm, loving, and caring woman and I aspire to embrace these qualities in my every day life. Also, thank you for reminding me to add a little pixie dust in everything I do.

For Madalyn Tillie:

You are a living example that age doesn’t matter in terms of friendship. You are the spunkiest little girl I’ve ever met, and when people ask me how many younger siblings I have, I add you to the mix. You never fail to crack me up, and I know that I can rely on you to know all of my obscure pop culture references. You are always there to sing along whenever I need a karaoke buddy, and you give killer advice. I can’t wait to see the woman you grow to be, and I am beyond excited to give the toast at your wedding that we’ve always dreamed of.

For Hallie Shana:

My mom may not have given birth to twins, but she might as well have when we first met. Our relationship has gone past best friends and I genuinely consider you my sister. You are my other half, and even if we don’t talk to each other for weeks, we can pick up right where we left off. People always claim to have found their partners in crime and I know that you are mine. We’ve lived a majority of our lives together and I can’t wait to see how we flourish from here. I can’t thank you enough for being with me through any ups and downs that life has thrown at me, and I can only hope I’ve been a rock for you through everything. I can’t wait for the day that my kids can call you Aunt Hallie and (if you trust me enough) have your kids call me Auntie too. Love you to the moon and back!

To my second family: I honestly don’t know where I would be without you. A holiday spent separately is not a holiday well spent. Anytime I hear one of our songs, I reminisce to all of the good times we have had together. I cannot wait to see all of your bright, shining faces every time I come home from break, and I am counting down the moments until we can all be reunited once more. Thank you for everything. Absolutely everything.