Dear You,

This Father's Day and everyone before it, I think to myself how lucky I am. Scratch that, I think that every day. I think about I blessed I was that you chose to love me. You aren't my biological father, but that never made a difference to you in the way that you treat me and love me just as much as my brothers. (If not more because since I'm the only girl I'm clearly the favorite, sorry boys.) My biological father has never really been a part of my life and yet I have never found myself lacking. I like to think that water really is thicker than blood.

Not to say that it has always been easy. Having to explain to people why I don't look like you or explain how I have so many half-siblings. I sometimes struggle with knowing that the man who is half responsible for me existing couldn't care less about me or love me or the other two kids he helped make. Or what he put my mom through. I don't know if I'll ever forgive him for all of that. I never really got closure and that's hard for me. And I know it was hard for my mom.

But in a weird way, I'm almost grateful he left. If he hadn't left me and my mom, my mom probably would never have met you. I love knowing that I was there on your first date, that you took to caring about me from the start. And the thing was is that you didn't have to. You chose to treat me as your own. You saw me take my first steps, I called you 'Dad' from the very start. You married my mom and adopted me to make it official. You even gave me two brothers.

You sacrifice so much to make sure the family is taken care of. Working away from home for so many months is hard on the family and you but I know you do it anyways for us. It hasn't always been easy. Actually, it's been pretty damn hard. But I know you do what you do to take care of us. I have never had to question your love for your family.

Growing up without my biological father was the greatest blessing in disguise. My mom and I have a special bond forged from when it was just me and her. Then she met you and things got even better. Without you, I wouldn't have my little brother or my older brother. For that alone I'm thankful. I wouldn't have so much extra love in my life without you. I'm the biggest 'Daddy's Girl' and proud of it. You're my best friend and my biggest cheerleader; you've taught me so much and I just want you to know how proud I am to be called your daughter and how grateful I am that you chose me.