I cannot stress enough how grateful I am for you to be apart of my crazy life. I also cannot stress enough how grateful I am that you’re letting me be apart of yours. The man you are lending me at the moment has turned my life upside down for the better. He is gentle and loving but also protective, and basically everything my parents have ever wanted in a man for me. I want to formally thank you for being an extra set of love, for accepting me just as I am, and for letting me love the sweet boy you have raised. I don’t ever want you to feel I am taking him from you, for I know my place, and I know you loved him first. That’s why I’m so honored for him to be apart of my life because this is a want, not a need.

I can’t thank you enough for having me over for dinner, for making sure I am always comfortable, and for taking me in as your own. You always apologize for not having it all together, whether that be a semi messy house or inappropriate jokes at the table, but I don’t ever want you to be sorry at all. This is what makes me feel at home when I’m in your home. It lets me know that you are not perfect; therefore I don’t have to pretend that I am either.

I also want to thank you for always checking up on me, even if it’s a quick text or phone call. I know sometimes I am horrible at replying in a timely fashion, but just know that I always see it on my phone, and I always love knowing you’re thinking of me at these random times of the day. Not that my own parents don’t check up on me, they do, but it’s a really good feeling to know that someone who’s not blood cares if I got a job, or if I did well on a test, or if my cold has gone away or not.

It has always been a fear of mine to not get along with my significant other’s family, and with you guys, that is no longer a fear. It’s such a good feeling to know that I basically have a second family that I can go to for advice and love. It brings tears of joy to my eyes to know how close we have gotten in the time that I have grown to know your little boy. I will say, you have raised a good one. Don’t ever doubt yourself about that. He has taught me things I never knew I could know, and just so we’re clear, it isn’t because he just dreamed up these ways of living life. He learned them from you, and that’s why you’re such a key component in our lives.

This is but only a portion of everything I want to say to you, but I physically cannot put into words how thankful I am that God placed us into each other’s lives. They say behind every good man is an even better woman, but I think a better family comes first. I know y’all are not perfect. I would never ask of that, but you’re pretty perfect enough for me in my book.