Dear Mom and Dad,

I know that I don't show it as often as I should, but I'm very appreciative of both of you and all that you have done, are doing, and will do for me. From the little things like listening to me rant and rave or texting me just to let me know you care about the big things like paying for me to attend a prestigious university and not expecting me to have to pay a dime of tuition by myself. You have both always made sure that I have everything that I not only need, but want as well. Thank you for that!

I bet sometimes you think that I forget about you or don't miss you when I'm at college. I do miss you. I miss home cooked meals, watching Criminal Minds and Family Feud, and our conversations. I'm gonna be honest here, I miss not having to wash my own dishes. And I miss having someone to bring me a glass of sweet tea when I say that I'm "too busy" to get up, but we all know I'm just too lazy.

I know that at times, you must feel like I put my boyfriend and friends before you. I don't. Yes, I love spending time with them, but I love spending time with y'all, too. I really do enjoy every moment that I spend with y'all and no, I don't think you're boring or embarrassing. Well, the shoe does fit the latter a little bit. Just kidding. Anyways, the point is that I don't intentionally ditch y'all for my friends. And, I'm looking forward to Christmas Break where I will have plenty of time to spend with y'all, as well as my friends.

You both always tell me how proud you are of me. I want you to know that you should be proud of yourselves, also. Without you two, I wouldn't be who I am today. I had the two best people as my role models. Thanks for always believing in me and supporting me, even when you knew I would never become a cheerleader, a great athlete, or Miss Arkansas. Thanks for teaching me about life through everything that you do.

Thanks for always putting me before yourselves. As I am growing older, just know that now I'll always be here for y'all the way y'all were for me. When you need to talk about something, know that I'm only a call away. When you need me to bring you a glass of tea, because you're feeling lazy, just ask. You'll have to wait a few more years for me to have the money to buy y'all as much stuff as you've bought me over the past twenty years. But, I'm already your biggest supporter and biggest fan. Don't you ever forget it.

So, as Thanksgiving approaches, I just wanted to thank you both for giving me life in both the literal and figurative ways. Thanks for everything you have done and continue to do for me. It really means a lot.

Love,

*insert one of the many embarrassing nicknames given to me by dad, that I refuse to put on the internet*