Before you, it was just Mom and I. Life was good for the most part. Even though she struggled a lot, I never even realized she did. I never went without; she made sure I was fed, clothed, and under a sturdy roof. I never wanted for anything other than a dad.

There were a few men that came around before you, but they never showed that much interest in me. They never stuck around very long either. I'd grown to expect I'd never have someone to call “dad." Most days, that simple fact didn't bother me all too much. Most days, it didn't even cross my mind. There were days it did, though, and they were the absolute worst.

Then my mom met you. I tried to keep my guard up, but you were different from the very beginning. You were more than just some guy trying to impress my mom by baby-talking me or trying to get on my good side by letting me watch Scooby Doo while we ate dinner.

You were the man who put me on your shoulders and carried me around because I had no shoes and there were stickers on the ground the first day we met. You were the man who let me tag along and annoy the crap out of you while you were doing the most mundane of things. You were the man who cared just as much about me as you did my mom. You were the one man who never left.

I honestly couldn't tell you why because I wasn't always the best daughter. We didn't see eye-to-eye on a whole arm-full of subjects. I'd pick fights just because I was in a bad mood or I was still mad at you about something else. Only God knows all the stupid things we fought about, but you never wavered in being there for me even though you didn't even have to.

You were never asked to treat me as your own, but you did. You always seemed to see me as more than your wife’s child; you seen me as yours as well. Even on the bad days that were oh, so bad, you still never gave up on me. You've always loved me more than you ever had to.

I don't know where I'd be if you'd never stumbled into our life. I wouldn't know how to stand up for myself and others. I wouldn't know how much better it feels to have worked for things rather than having them given to me. I wouldn't know how to change a tire, clean a fish, or shoot a gun. I wouldn't know how much tone of voice can completely change a situation, (I know you remember how big of a problem that used to be for us) and I am ever-so-grateful to you.

I know God gave you to me. You're the dad I always wished and prayed for. Even though I didn't always appreciate you for everything you did for me, even though I hated you out of pure selfishness and stupidity, I appreciate and love you for everything you've done for me. You’ve made me strong and resilient; you've made me who I am.

I love you with everything I am. Thank you for stepping up when someone else stepped down. Thank you for being my dad when you didn't have to be; I couldn't ask for anyone better.