Moms and dads....there is so much to say about them. They get on our last nerves. They make us laugh until we pee our pants. They can make us so mad we think our heads might explode. But at the end of the day our parents are who make us who we are. So thanks Mom and Dad for making me...me.

1. You taught me how to take care of a home.

You taught me how to clean and how to (kind of) cook. You taught me to pick up after myself. You taught me to make my bed every morning, because nothing feels better than getting into a made bed after a long day. And you taught me that the most important part of a home is who you share it with.

2. You taught me how to love people.

You taught me to show love to everyone that I encounter, even if they might not deserve it. You taught me to be kind and compassionate. You taught me that love is a person's greatest strength. You taught me that all people are equal and that everyone deserves to be loved.

3. You taught me how to handle money.

You taught me to save during the good times for the bad times, because they will come. You taught me that I don't need to buy everything that I like just because I want it. You taught me to be smart and to make sure that I have all my needs covered before I start on what I want. You taught me to take care of myself.

4. You taught me to love our Lord above all else.

You taught me to go to church, not because we're supposed to, but because we need to. You showed me what living a life of faith meant and looked like. You taught me to trust in Him always and that He would always provide for me (and He always has). You taught me that he is a loving and kind and gracious God, not a hateful and spiteful one like the world makes Him out to be. You taught me that it's not the religion that matters, it's the faith and the spirit.

5. You taught me what family is.

You showed me that family is always there for one another, no matter what. You taught me that family isn't just blood and that some of the people closest to us are those who are not our blood but CHOOSE to be our family. And you showed me that a family's love is unconditional; it's a bond that can never be broken.

6. You gave me the perfect example of true love.

You showed me what true love should really be. You showed me how two people in love should treat each other. You showed me that real love doesn't end. You taught me how to compromise. You taught me that it's okay to argue and to disagree but that fighting is a whole different story. You taught me that two people can overcome just about anything if they put the work in. And you taught me that relationships require a LOT of hard work.

7. You taught me how to work hard and be independent.

You taught me that you have to work for everything you get in life and that everything worth having takes a little hard work. You taught me to rely on myself for what I need and to take care of myself. You taught me all the skills I needed to provide for myself and how to get my hands dirty.

8. You taught me that I'm not alone.

Yes you taught me to be independent and take care of myself but you also taught me that it's okay to ask for help if I really need it. You taught me that there are people in my life that I can call on when I need someone and that I don't have to do everything on my own.

9. You taught me to take care of my body and my mind.

You taught me that most problems can be solved with some exercise or a little break from life. You taught me to treat me my body like a temple. You taught me that mental health is just as important. And you taught me that the two go hand in hand; if one is out of whack the other one will be too.

10. You taught me to be myself.

You always told me to be who I am and to not worry what other people think. Sure this might have led to some pretty special outfits, but because of what you taught me I was super confident in those special outfits. You taught me to believe in myself and trust my gut. You also taught me to stick up for myself and what I believe in.

You two made me into the young woman that I am today. You made me fierce and crazy and weird and loving and kind and I could not be more thankful. I hope that one day I can be half as good parents as you guys are. I love you to the end of the Earth, forever and ever.