Dear My Amazing Family,

I always hear people around me talking about how they don't miss home or their family. They don't like going home for breaks and don't like spending time with their family. Hearing people talk about how they aren't close with their family breaks my heart. Without my family, I honestly don't know where I would be. Even if everything is going wrong in life, I know I always have my family to count on. With every passing year I realize how blessed I am to have you all in my life. I thought it would be the perfect time to thank you all for being by my side through everything.

Let's start with my cousins. I just want to say shoutout to grandma and grandpa for forcing us to sit in the basement during family gatherings, because without that we wouldn't have half of my favorite memories we share. It's amazing having such a crazy bunch of cousins, from mid 20-year-olds all the way down to a 5-year-old, we have it all. I never know what to expect during family gatherings, but that is just one thing I love. I know I will always have your support and endless love. I can't wait to watch us all grow up and become closer every year. Thank you for being the best cousins I could have ever asked for and for making every event one I'll never forget.

Next, my Aunt's and Uncle's. You all give me so much, I honestly don't know what I did to deserve you all. Thanks for always giving me the crazy secrets on what my parents did when they were my age. Hearing all the stories about what you all did when you were younger makes my heart warm. Thank you for inviting me over for dinner when I was home alone. Thank you for supporting me in everything I did when I was younger. From going to my sport games, to my musicals, you came to them all. Thank you for giving me so many memories I will have forever, and can't wait to share with my future nieces and nephews.

My Grandparents. I know you don't have any sort of social media so the odds you read this is pretty low but I still gotta give you a quick thank you. Thank you for cooking me the most delicious food and making the most bomb rhubarb pie I have ever had. (Sounds gross but people eat it ASAP promise you won't regret it). Thank you for making most of my friends jealous because I have the coolest grandparents ever. You really set the bar high for everyone else. Thank you for being so strong and for pushing through every day. Thank you for letting me sleep over or coming to my house when I wanted some company. Thank you for being my motivation every day. You show me what true love is every day and without you, I wouldn't know so many things. Like how to make bomb nachos, or how to do cat's cradles. Thank you for being by my side always.

My Sister. YO FAM. I'm not one to be all sappy to you ever, but we are gonna give it a shot. Having you as a sister has been one of the best parts of my life. I love that being only 3 years apart gives us such a special bond that some siblings don't understand. Even though you hog the covers when we are forced to sleep in the same bed during vacations, and even though you make fun of me 98% of the time, and make me look like I am literally a garbage can when we take photos together, you're still the bomb. Sorry, I probably made your life horrible during high school (and now honestly) and for accidentally hurting you too many times to count. Leaving for college has shown me that you are actually kinda funny and that I have to call you at least three times a week just to hear some jokes to cheer me up. Thank you for giving me some sort of style, for teaching me how to do my hair (even when you burned me), and for teaching me some things about makeup even though now it's the other way around. Thank you for giving me all my guy friends, since they literally all are in love with you so they just hangout with me just to be closer to you. Thank you for being my best friend and my sister. Thank you for being you, never change.

My Dad, hi daddy! Even though you denied my request to be friends on Facebook, I hope you still find this! You are one of my biggest supporters and cheer me on with everything I do. Thank you for teaching me how to golf, and for forcing me to keep playing even when I "quit" at least seven times a round. Thanks for trying to teach me how to mow the lawn, even though it turned out nothing like you wanted. Thanks for teaching me how to drive, and how to make bomb strawberry milkshakes. Thank you for giving up so much to make my life go the way I wanted it to. Without you doing that, I definitely wouldn't be where I am today. I look up to you every day and pray I can find a guy half as amazing as you are one day. Even though the guys I meet like you more than they like me, I still love you!! Thank you for being such an amazing role model, best friend, and dad.

Last but not least, my mom. I already know you're crying already and you haven't even gotten to the part about you yet. Mom, you're the most amazing part of my life. Moving away to college has shown me just how much you do for me, and that I need you to come to school with me next year so you can cook for me. You have taught me so much about the world and about myself and I look up to you every day. You are my role model and I hope to be just like you one day. Thanks for forcing me to keep going, and for keeping me motivated to study or do the things I hate to. Thank you for helping me through the tough times when nobody else was there for me. Thank you for being my shoulder to cry on, and for being my rock. Thank you for telling me I'm not sick, even when I'm convinced I am dying. I hope I have a third of the strength you have and can be as positive as you are. Much like dad, my friends like you more than they like me, but honestly I don't blame them, you're amazing. Thank you for being my favorite person ever, and for always spoiling me with things I don't deserve. Thanks for being the greatest mom I could have ever asked for.

Thank you for being the craziest group and for shaping me into the person I am today. I love you all.

Love,

Syd