Thinking back on my childhood, I cannot think of one single thing that I wish I could change. And while my childhood was far from perfect, I can wholeheartedly say that I don't think anyone in this worlds' childhood could possibly hold a candle to my own. So, Mom, Dad, thank you for it all. I am grateful beyond measure.

I am grateful for your trust. For not giving me a curfew. For trusting me enough to make my own mistakes, but to learn from them. For letting me pick my friends or boyfriends or career path, whatever it be. For trusting me to come home when I said I would. For allowing me to always find my own way. For building me up and for trusting the person that I am and have become.

I am grateful for your honesty. For every time you would edit the heck out of my school work because you were less than impressed. For every time that you didn't sugar coat anything. For the times you would tell me that you were disappointed in me. For always expecting the best out of me, and for being honest when the best is not what you saw.

I am grateful for you showing me what's really important in life. Family time. One another. Making memories. Our too-big house that feels so cozy because of the laughter and memories and the amazing people that encompass it. For family sing alongs to Mumford and Sons. For family TV nights, piled in your king sized bed watching "Modern Family" reruns. For moments spent with one another. For showing me that together is my favorite place to be.

I am grateful for Thanksgiving mornings. For sleeping in and waking up to a home filled with Bruce Springsteen and love. I am grateful for being made to feel like a master chef. For forming a family assembly line to cook and prepare food, even though we all know that I should be allowed no where near the kitchen. I am grateful for building traditions with you all.

I am grateful for the infamous Roberts' family holiday photo card that we dread taking each and every year. I am grateful for our color coordinated outfits, for getting annoyed at one another over how ridiculously long it takes to get a good photograph of the five kids and our two dogs. I am grateful for the times when dad would moon us or pick his nose to make us laugh when we were younger -- all in the name of getting that picture perfect Roberts' holiday card shot.

I am grateful for our household that always was and always is filled with love. For making friends feel like family, for making guests feel like they are always welcome, for making me feel like home is the safest, best place to be. For baking brownies when friends are coming over, for buying boyfriends birthday presents, for making everyone feel just as loved as you have always made me feel.

I am grateful for the way you wear your hearts on your sleeves. For showing your vulnerability. For crying when you need to, for getting upset when situations call for it, for laughing so hard and so uncontrollably that Mom's asthma kicks in and she wheezes. For every time you have tucked me into my bed and said goodnight. For every goodnight text that you have sent my way while I'm away at college. For you never failing to tell me how proud you are of the person I have grown to be. For teaching me that "love you" and "I love you" are two entirely different things. For showing me that it is more than ok to show my emotions, to wear my heart on my own sleeve.

I am grateful for your protection. For the time Dad threw my Bowling for Soup CD out the window because it had one too many curse words. For all of the times you have resented the people that have hurt me. For banning me from watching "Fear Factor" or "NEXT!" or anything on MTV when I was younger (sorry mom and dad... this one didn't work).

I am grateful for the family vacations. For the times you took us to Disney World and Aruba and Mexico and nearly every Caribbean destination there is. For spending way too much money on hair beads and braids and for getting us henna tattoos and every stupid souvenir imaginable when we were young. I am grateful for some of the most memorable days of my life.

I am grateful for the way that you treat me. For you recognizing that I am my own, imperfect person. For realizing that I am going to make mistakes, but for loving me -- wholly -- through them all.

I am grateful for the relationship that we have. For being able to know that I could go to the two of you for anything in this world. For being able to call the two of you my parents, my role models, and my best friends.

Mom, Dad, I don't know how I got so lucky as to get the two of you. Thank you for building the most amazing life for me, and for loving me no matter what.

'Grateful' just doesn't even begin to cut it. I love you two!