" What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, life lessons, and most importantly cookies!" - Rudy Giuliani

Grandparents... What a wonderful gift they are. Mine were truly angles in disguise. However, growing up my grandparents weren't typical grandparents to me. They raised me since I was five years old and took on roles that were never meant for them to carry and at the age of twenty two I couldn't thank them enough.

Growing up with grandparents is way different than growing up with parents. You get more things, become a little more spoiled, and the word no is obsolete from any vocabulary. The world was my oyster growing up and whatever I wanted I had.

I participated on sports teams, participated in dance classes, was a competitive cheerleader, basically if a girl could do it I did. My grandparents spent their time taking me to practices, and games, and competitions. They provided me with a childhood that I probably would not have had if my circumstances were different.

Not only did my grandparents provide me with all the material items that I always wanted but they gave me something so much more. They taught me values about hard work, and loving god, they taught me that family is very important and you can only get so far without them. They taught me what true love really was and how to be a lady. They taught me to always go after my dreams and if I put my mind to it I can accomplish anything.

They really were my backbone growing up; and as I got older I realized that the words thank you just weren't enough. How can I thank them when what they provided me with was so much more than the words thank you could ever amount to.

Four years ago I lost part of my backbone. My grandmother was taken from me a little too soon. When I lost her I really had to think about what was actually important in my life and put those things that matter first. I had to take a step back and reevaluate what needed to change in my life. I began putting others before me, making more time for family, excelling at things that I knew would make her proud. From that day on I was devoted to giving thanks to my grandparents and making them proud of the girl that they raised. I know that I can no longer thank her but I will do everything in my power to live everyday like she would have wanted me too and excel in my life to make her proud.

Today it's just me and Grandfather who also is my hero. I know that he will never see this because he is not Tech Savy and pretty much hates all social media but I just wanted to say THANK YOU! Thank you for stepping into a role that was never meant for you to have. Thank you for being that father figure in my life. Thank you for always having my back and being there when I needed you the most. Thank you for your guidance and never turning me away when I strayed from the ideals that you had in place for me. Thank you for allowing me to grow how I wanted and for never trying to make me into something I am not. Thank you for your words of encouragement in my times of need. But, most importantly THANK YOU for loving me unconditionally even at times when I didn't deserve it.

Everyone's grandparents play a different role in their life but, if you have your grandparents in yours please cherish them because they truly are angels. Make sure that you thank them on a regular basis they will appreciate that.