Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a hero as: “A person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.”

My hero has and will be my father. He has done all that he can so I am given what I need and want in this world. He never thinks twice about giving me the world and I can never thank him enough for being not only a great dad but also a great role model and friend.

Dad first thank you for being a great coach when it came to softball. I don’t think I can ever repay you enough for teaching me all that I needed to know about the game that I fell in love with very quickly. You coached me through the year’s right next to me. You were right in the dugout cheering for me. You never missed a time to encourage me to run after the ball a little faster or tell me how great of a job I did. When it came time you stepped off the field and stood on the other side of the fence. You still believed in me and that I could do whatever I wanted as soon as I put on my uniform and stepped out on the field. Thank you for spending those long days throwing the ball around with me or chasing what I thought were home run hits. You always were there to tell me what I was doing wrong or what I needed to fix even if I was too frustrated to listen. You never failed to coach me even when you sometimes did not feel like it. Thank you for being my chauffeur when it came to driving everywhere for tournaments. I know driving to North Carolina, sitting in the 100 plus degree weather, swatting the little bugs away was not the plan but you did it because you knew this was a great chance for me. Thank you for running to the concession stand for me when I gave you a simple hand signal that meant I needed a water or Gatorade. I always believed that if it wasn’t for you or mom I would never know what it would feel like to love something as much as I love the game of softball. I would never know the smell of freshly cut grass, how good sunflower seeds actually could be, or most important how great a sound a softball can make when hitting a bat or glove. So thank you dad first for just giving me the opportunity to play softball even if it wasn’t in your favor all the time.

Thank you dad for believing. I know I am your little girl but you always taught me that I had to grow up and make choices on my own even if that means that I could fail. You never complained who I brought over but I always could tell if you had a bad feeling about them. You would let me find out if they were not right for me because that was part of growing up. When I did find out through heart break that I didn’t choose someone who deserved me; you were there for me. You never let me fall, you were always there to catch me.

Thank you for always telling me that I can do anything that I put my mind to. Thank you for all the encouraging texts that you sent me when I felt that nothing could go right. Thank you for being the one man that I am always able to count on. Thank you for telling me how great I am when I just don’t feel it sometimes. Getting through my first year of college or just hard parts when I thought my life was over would not have happened as easily as they did without you cheering me on along the way. So thank you dad for always letting me know to reach for the stars and that no dream is ever unreachable.

Thank you dad for always putting me and Lexi first. My needs and Lexi’s are always first priority when it comes to you and mom and I cannot thank you enough for that. We never went without anything even if we really did not need that new top or the new iPhone. Our happiness was your first priority and that is one reason on why you are such a great dad. Sometimes you had to say “no” but that was very rare of you to do. I will never forget the countless trips that you took the family on and what we got during those trips. We always had the latest fashion trends and many other trends that we thought had to be followed. Thank you dad for putting Lexi and I first and always giving us what we needed and wanted without any hesitation.

Thank you for filling our house with joy and happiness. You not only gave us material items but you filled the house with laughter from your lame dad jokes or your sarcastic attitude. No matter how many times I roll my eyes or give you my signiture fake laugh your dad jokes are the best and I never want them to end. You gave us wisdom that we will use throughout our life. You showed us what happiness really is and how it can happen in life without all of the new technology. You showed us that family is the most important thing in life and how to love someone. Thank you for showing us what love really is and how to show it each and every day. Thank you dad for always filling our life up with laughter.

Thank you dad for being my hero and my best friend. I can never thank you enough for this part. You are a great person to look up to because of your courage that you have going through life, your outstanding achievements that you have accomplished, and your noble qualities because you have many. Everything I have done, I have done to make you proud. By being an amazing dad you deserve an amazing daughter so I try and push myself hoping that I will reach that mark. Making you proud was always on the top of my list because you have been my hero and always will be. I want to thank you for being my best friend. I have always been able to come to you for everything from a problem in sports, school, boys, friends, and everything that life has thrown at me. Your advice I have always taken to heart because you know me better then I know myself sometimes. Dad thank you for being the greatest best friend because I don’t know anyone else who could fill that position.

I’m not going to lie I have always been and always will be a daddy’s girl. He was my first love and I love the journeys that I have walked by his side through. Thank you dad again for being my best friend and the best hero that I could look up to, I love you. You serisouly are the greatest dad a daughter could have.