Mom and Dad, I try to thank you as much as possible, but I know that it’s not enough. I’ll never be able to express how thankful I am for everything you do for me. Maybe, just maybe, this letter will help show how much gratitude I have for the both of you.

Thank you for teaching me the importance of family.

You know that I’m a huge family girl and I owe that all to you. You taught me that regardless of the situation, family would always be around. You’ve made sure that family gatherings were top priority and that I was still included in Tuesday night family dinners when I left for college. Family traditions are something that you have instilled in me and I can’t wait to continue them with my own future family.

Thank you for dealing with a picky eater for 20+ years.

Mom, I can thank you for this one -- plain sandwiches all the way, am I right? I can’t thank you both enough for always having chicken nuggets and mac-n-cheese on hand as I was growing up (because we all know that's pretty much what I lived off of)! I know choosing a restaurant is one of our toughest decisions for our family, but thanks for always choosing places that you know I’ll like!

Thank you for always being my cheerleaders.

Whether it was academics or sports you were always by my side! The endless nights of homework normally consisted of your help and encouraging words. Let’s face it, I put an incredible amount of stress on myself when it comes to school, but I know for a fact I wouldn’t be where I am today without your kind words throughout the years. Not only were you my cheerleader when it came to academics, but you were always supportive in athletics as well. Whether it was my few years in basketball, cheer and dance, or twelve years in soccer, you rarely missed a game, team dinner or award ceremony and I can’t express how much that meant to me. I might be a tad biased, but I think that I had the best cheerleaders out there!

Thank you for showing me what a beautiful marriage looks like.

I was blessed with two wonderful parents that have a great relationship. Thank you for showing me what a marriage should be like. You’ve given me a perfect example of what my future marriage should be like. Both of you work as a team and have supported one another through everything. I may not have appreciated it when I was younger, but now I couldn’t be any more thankful.

Thank you for never letting me quit.

Of course, throughout my life there have been things that I didn’t always enjoy doing. There were extracurriculars that weren’t my cup of tea at first, but you made me stick with them and I soon grew to love them. Not giving up when things get tough is something that you both have instilled in me from day 1. As I’ve grown up, I’ve come to realize just how important that concept is-- life often throws curve balls, but I have learned from you that I just need to keep on keepin’ on.

Thank you for spending countless hours at soccer games.

Soccer was one of the biggest things that bonded our family. As a youngster, I played, dad coached and mom cheered from the sidelines. As time went on, both of you continued to sit in the stands at every game, rain or shine. Thank you for the many purchases of cleats, jerseys, shin guards and pre-wrap (all colors of course). Mom, even when I had to tell you to quiet down at games, I hope you know that hearing you cheer me on made me happy. Dad, after a bad game, I knew it would be a quiet car ride home, but I know it’s just because you knew what I was capable of. Soccer holds a special place in my heart and I’m so happy that it was something that we could experience as a family for so many years.

Thank you for the countless calls and facetimes.

While being away at college, both of you have had your fair share of calls and texts from me. Thank you for always answering, even at the weirdest times. Calls have ranged from stressing over a grade, excited about good news, to a simple hello. You have always had the right words to say. However, facetimes are my favorite because I get to see Moe! His furry face and wagging tail always make my day! Sometimes, all I need is a quick call to one of you and then I feel like I’m ready to tackle the rest of the day.

I can’t express the gratitude I have for both of you. God blessed me with terrific parents and I will always be grateful for the two of you. You have taught me more lessons that I will ever realize. Dad, thank you for my love for IU basketball, our concerts in the car, and teaching me to read horse racing forms every summer because I can never seem to get the hang of it. Mom, thank you for all of the scrapbooks that I will cherish for years to come, being the #1 soccer/PTA mom, and loving TLC as much as me!

I’ll love you forever & always,

Your Little Girl