Dear Mom and Dad,

Thank you for all that you do.

And all that you have done.

It took me moving 500 miles away to realize how special you two are and how much I value you and your opinions. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about who you've raised me to be and how you've raised me to treat others and that's all because of how I saw you treat each other. I got to grow up in the most loving and supportive home imaginable and I sometimes don't think I really realize that, so thank you.

You have been the only people to unconditionally love me throughout everything I have done and continue to do in my life, through the good times and hard times, as well as be my biggest cheerleaders. I realize now how fortunate I am to have been brought up by two loving parents who make it evident that there is nothing more important than staying true to who you are and loving what you do with every ounce of our beings.

You live your life with love for others, whether its nurturing, tough or friendly, you all always know what I need before I know I need it. You all have set the standard for the love, care, and support I hope to find in someone someday and have shown how to stay with that person through thick and thin.

Mom...

I know we've had our fair share of arguments and it took me moving 500 miles away to really understand why you do what you do, but thank you.

Thank you for being the late-night phone call I can always make when I have a bad day or need someone to talk to.

Thank you for never giving up on me and always having the faith in me that I sometimes lacked.

Thank you for unconditionally loving me, for showing me what that really means, and for always being that one person I can tell everything to.

Thank you for teaching me about what it means to have passions and loves and how to be the independent woman you raised me to be.

Thank you for constantly breaking down my walls and for showing me all of the potential that I have.

Dad...

You have always been my go-to whenever I have a bad day or need to rant.

Thank you for never judging me when I do have a bad day or for the fact that I still struggle with budgeting, despite being a college student and love to go shopping :)

Thank you for taking the time to teach me everything I've needed to know along the way and for being my biggest role model. I see how you lead a family and take pride in who you've raised us to be and I could only hope to do half of what you've accomplished.

Thank you for teaching me the true definition of character and what it means to be an honest and faithful person.

Thank you for loving mom yet still understanding me when mom and I bicker.

Thank you for endlessly embarrassing me whenever we go on family trips and thank you for being my best friends.

Most importantly, Mom and Dad...

Thank you for raising all of us in the most loving and caring home imaginable, where I know it is always safe and where I always know that if you two are there, I will always have that safe place to run home to.

Thank you for being you and for loving me.

Love, your daughter