To the man I call my dad,

Sometime during the summer of 2002, I was going bowling with my mom, some family friends, and her new boyfriend. That day, my life was forever changed; it was the day I met you, the man I would eventually call my dad.

You and I became inseparable. As you always say, “I had you wrapped around my little finger.” Although you were only twenty-four when we met and you were scared that you weren’t ready to be a father, you stepped up and filled the missing puzzle piece in my life. You made us the family we are today.

You eventually bought our first house for our little family. I remember being so thrilled to have the loft bed that you built for me. You also put a slide on my bed, even though our dog Bailey used it more than I did.

That house also saw one of the best days of my life: the day you asked my mom to marry you and asked me to become your daughter, as if I wasn’t already. I don’t remember that day as vividly as I’d like to but I remember coming home and you putting the rings for my mom and me on Bailey's collar; I remember crying. I also remember how I accidentally lost the ring the day after I got it because I was so young and forgetful, but thankfully it ended up being found.

When the time came for me to go off to high school and I wanted to go to an extremely expensive private school because all of my friends were going there, you did everything in your power to make sure you could afford to send me there. You literally gave up everything out of the kindness that fills your heart to make sure my mom and I always had what we needed and more. You also gave up what little free time you had off work to spend time with us.

You taught me true unconditional love between a father and daughter. Even though we aren’t related by blood, I’m exactly like you which I know my mom hates because she’s constantly picked on by us both.

You have taught me how I deserve to be treated by a man. I pray that when the time comes that my future husband treats me and my future children the way you have treated my mom and I.

I cherish every day I get to call you my dad. Thank you for always calling me your daughter even when people have said otherwise. Thank you for being the dad that you didnt have to be.