Hey y'all,

I just want you all to know how much you are loved. Many of you have helped me through some of the toughest challenges in my life, and I could never say thank you enough. Y'all have become my home away from home and because of y'all, I have gained many brothers and sisters (and parents, y'all are awesome, too) in Christ. You all continually point me to the direction of God's love and grace when I feel useless. You love me regardless of my past and mistakes, and I cannot say that for many people. You are all very special and take up such a huge space in my heart, and I have no idea where I would be without y'all.

To the boys that get too competitive when we play games: You guys are ridiculous, but you make my life so much more enjoyable. You constantly give me something to laugh at. You all mean so much to me because you are all the brothers that I have always wanted, but I am glad I can give you back.

To my little ones: I have watched y'all grow up to be amazing young men and women, and I cannot wait to see what God has planned for y'all. I want you to know that you will always have someone cheering you on whether I am there or not. You guys are always able to put a smile on my face, and I appreciate that so much. You always encourage me to be the best version of myself so that I can set a good example for you. Stay cute! And stop growing up!

To my girls (and guys): Y'all have been some of the best friends I have ever had. When I moved to good-ole Gray, y'all took me in and loved me for who I was, and you have continued to do that to this day. You all are the ones that have constantly pursued me even when I pushed away. Thank you for being who you are and for being my friends.

To the youth parents (y'all are part of the group, too!): Thank you so much. Not only have you raised amazing young men and women, but you have helped raise me. When I was a church orphan, you allowed me to spend time with you and your family. You showed me just how powerful the love of God is just by being who you are. Thank you for being my other parents. (It takes a village, right?)

To my youth pastor: You have made the biggest impact on my life. When I strayed away from church, you texted me every day to let me know that I was missed and loved. You treat each and every one of us like your own, and we could never repay you for that. You plan some of the most amazing trips and design some of the most interesting T-shirts. I can not thank the Lord enough for who you are and for your kind heart. You spend many days away from your family and many nights without sleep to make sure that we have amazing experiences. You and your team constantly push us out of our comfort zone and push us to be better people and better reflections of Christ. Thank you.

Thank you all for being my family. You are loved more than you know.