Dear Brian,

I honestly don't even know where to begin. You have been a part of my life for about two years now, and I would not have it any other way. From the moment you came into my family's life you have treated me as your very own. I could not even begin to tell you how grateful I am. I could tell right away that you were giving my mom the happiness that I have wanted her to find for so long. I am extremely protective when it comes to her, but you two could not be more of a perfect fit.

You have shown me what it is like to have a father, and that is something I did not think I would ever have. Growing up with a single mother has never been easy for me. Father's Day was my most dreaded holiday, and now I get to spend it with you. To me you are not just my stepdad; you are my best friend and someone I can always rely on and go to with anything. You are always there for me, no matter what I am going through, regardless of how small the problem is. Finally being able to say that I have a dad is the most amazing feeling, and I would not trade it for the world.

You have not only blessed me with a father figure but with a brother as well. As fast as you accepted my mom and me, we accepted your son. He is truly a gift and I feel incredibly lucky to be able to watch him grow up, although I wish he would stop doing it so quickly. Being an only child is all I had ever known for 17 years, so being able to have a sibling really means a lot to me. Having him in my life makes me feel like I need to better myself for him. I want to set a good example for him and help him turn into the amazing man I know he will be.

In addition to adding a little brother to my family, I have also added your entire family as well. Your family has also taken us in with open arms, and it is clear where you got your amazing heart from. There has never been a time when I did not feel comfortable or welcome around them. I love being around them and getting to spend time with everyone as a family.

Over these past two years, I have gained a father, a brother, an even bigger amazing family, and endless amounts of love. There are not words to describe how lucky my mom and I are to have gained not only you but your entire family. You have made the both of our lives significantly better, without you who knows where we would be. Thank you for everything you have done for both my mom and me, and for everything you will do in the future. You are genuinely loved unconditionally by the both of us.

I love you.

Sincerely,

Your daughter, Erica.