Parents, everyone has them but not everyone gets the set they deserve. I have seen in my 22 years of life all sorts of parents. I have seen the drunks, the abandoners, the cheaters, the abusers, and the down right low lives that were parents to my friends or family around me.

My story was never this way, and I never realized how honestly blessed I was to get my parents as I did when I went to college. Talking to friends in college really opened up my eyes to what I was given as a child, and a young adult by my parents, and this is a thank you letter to them.

Dear Martha & Rupert,

First off, I just want to say thank you for dealing with my quirkiness. I gave you those nicknames in my late teens as a joke, and you let me call you them to this day, never questioning why. You let me wear tutus to school in high school, because you knew that I would grow out of that phase, and thankfully I did. You even let me paint my bedroom lime green, because you knew that it would make me happy. Although these small things might not seem like much, they really were. You embraced me, even when I was learning who I was still, and I will forever be grateful for that.

Secondly, I would like to thank you for always pushing me. You would never let Dawson and I sit back and not follow our dreams. You always told us we were capable of reaching the stars, and you were so very right. You gave me the tools, and the drive to reach my goals and not all parents do that. I could never thank you enough for constantly being our cheerleaders.

I would also like to thank you for being the perfect role models. People might not understand what I mean, so let me explain. When I say perfect I do not mean picture perfect. What I mean is that you let Dawson and I see your rough patches. You allowed us to see how you fell and got back up again, and that taught us so much. You guys also showed us love, unlike anything I have ever witnessed in my life. I will forever be grateful that you showed us how a man should treat a woman and vice versa.

Your constant love of life, and finding new passions is incredible as well. I love that you keep finding things in life to catch your souls on fire. Whether that is bass fishing, or going on dates to the casino. I am in love with the fact that you guys find things to do together, even after 25 years. You refuse to let anything deter your relationship, and you have set that standard for my life as well.

Thank you for endless Disneyland trips, and loving Mickey just as much as I do. For dealing with me when I was hormonally unbalanced. For being open to talk to me about whatever, even when it made you uncomfortable. For staying awake to make sure I get home safely from work, even when you live six hours away. Thank you for everything.

There could never be enough words, or enough thank yous for me to say in order for you to understand how much I appreciate that God gave me you. I want nothing more than to make you proud, and I know Dawson feels the same.

So one final time, thank you for being the best parents in the world. I would not trade you for anyone, or anything.

I love you guys, Sis.