All my life I have been a daddy's girl. My father is my #1 hero in life. I cannot express to you how much I love my dad. He is one of the select few people who always put me first. My dad and I have had many ups and downs, but he will forever be the first man to hold my heart. Anyone who has met him, knows how selfless he is. He has always put others first and always provided for his family. I'm now 21 and barely speak to my dad, which is mainly my fault, but I am still 100% a daddy's girl.

My dad was 20 when I was born. My birth mom told me that as soon as I was born, he cried and said I was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen (until my baby brother was born, but I can't blame him because the kid is a charmer). I have so many baby pictures where I am with my dad. I never wanted to leave him.

Sadly, my parents got a divorce when I was very little, but this didn't change anything. My dad still provided for me and visited me as much as he could. My dad remarried and he couldn't have picked a better wife. They are the definition of yin and yang. They are so different, but they fit together perfectly. I lived with them when my mom abandoned me with a family friend when I was 6. A year later, my perfect little brother was born and our family was great.

When I turned 8, I was stupid. I was young and missing my mother so I moved back with her. After a few months, I ended up in foster care. For 6 very long months, my dad fought so hard for me. He went to court 1 to 2 times a month. He would walk in the snow from the train station to the courthouse. We had to sit in a room with someone watching us while he visited me. Every time he left, I would cry for hours.

Finally, on June 28th, 2006, I moved back to my dad's. He was my softball coach, my crew chief when I raced go-karts, and my best friend. We spent our car rides singing country music and laughing our butts off.

Down the road, I became a typical teenager and started rebelling. I was breaking the rules and pushing my parents away. I wanted to be like everyone else when I should've stayed true to myself.

I left at age 18 and I haven't seen my dad since.

I just wish he knew how much he meant to me. Him and my stepmom. I love them so much and I've done so much damage that I'm afraid things will never be the same. My dad did so much for me and I don't think I'll ever be able to repay him. I just hope and pray deep down that he knows how much I truly love him. He will forever be my hero.