Dear mom and dad,

I am getting ready to go off to my first year of college. Although this is a very exciting time in my life, it is also a very emotional time in my life. As I get ready to leave, I reflect on all the memories we have had together. Mom, I look back on our road trips together, the amazing concerts you have taken me to, and all the laughter we have shared. Dad, I look back on all the times we have gone to the batting cages together, I look back on all the times we have sat on the porch talking to each other, and laughing with each other, I also remember sneaking out of the house, without my siblings knowing, to go and get ice cream! Now, here are some things I would like to thank you for.

Thank you for providing for me! The last eighteen years, you have always gone above and beyond to help me. You have given me the things that I have needed, and have also done your best to give me the things that I have wanted. I know that you both work incredibly hard to take care of me and provide for me, and for that, I thank you.

Thank you for always supporting me! In all of my dreams, you have continually walked right by my side. You are always standing on sidelines, cheering for me. Thank you for caring about the things that I care about. Thank you for helping me make my dreams come true!

Thank you for counseling me! My whole life I have been able to depend on you. I have been able to come to you, no matter what the problem. You have given me advice, whether I wanted to hear it or not. It is so comforting to know that I will always have someone to come to with my problems. Thank you.

Thank you for loving me through everything! I know that at times, I am a very hard person to love. At times, I have needed your love more than anything else. Thank you for loving me through the thick and the thin. Thank you for displaying to me what real love is.

Thank you for always making me feel safe! I think it is so important to be able to feel safe, no matter where you are. However, it isn't always easy to feel safe when you have to move from house to house. Thank you so much for always doing your best, to make the environment that I am in feel comfortable and safe.

Thank you for laughing with me! On the worst days when all I want to do is cry, you always find some way to make me laugh. On my great days, when all I want to do is laugh, you make me laugh until I cry. Thank you for always brightening my days, no matter what kind of day I'm already having.

Thank you for being a friend to me! I know you are my parents, but you also know exactly when I need a friend. You know when it's time to get serious, but you also know when I just need someone to laugh with. I am so grateful to have parents that are as caring as you!

Thank you for always being honest with me! I know that I am sometimes in the wrong, and I am so happy that you can tell me when I am doing something wrong, I am grateful that you are not worried about sugar coating anything, instead you tell me what I need to hear, when I need to hear it!

Thank you for never giving up on me! I know that at times I do things that would make it very very easy to lose all hope. I thank you that you are there for me to remind me of what my goals are. I thank you that you have been by my side to set me back on the right track. Thank you for always believing in me, even when I didnt believe in myself.

Thank you for disciplining me! I cannot believe I am saying this right now, but seriously, thank you for raising me right. Thank you for showing me how important it is to respect the people around me. Thank you for showing me that everything isn't always about me, and not everything is going to go my way. Lastly, thank you for showing me the difference between right and wrong!