Thank you for marrying my dad and making him the happiest man in the entire world. I didn’t realize until recently that he’s way better off now than he ever would have been had you not come into our lives. He looks at you with such love in his eyes; I hope to one day feel that kind of love towards someone.

Thank you for being God’s sweetest blessing to me. I know I fought you for years about how you weren’t my mom, but you really are. You took me in as your own and have been my second mom for 16 years now -- and the best one, at that. I didn’t realize how much I needed a real mom until you were one to me. I needed to be scolded when I did wrong, I needed to be praised when I did right, and I needed someone to vent to when nothing was right and everything was wrong. Thank you for being that person for me.

Thank you for showing me what a relationship with God looks like. Without you, I never would have been introduced to the best kind of music, the greatest relationships, or the most peaceful calm to wash over me. I see Him through you in so many ways, like your caring and loving nature toward me and others. It’s taught me the kind of person I hope to grow into.

Thank you for giving me a brother and two sisters. They may be the biggest pests at times, but life wouldn’t be the same without them. It wouldn’t be nearly as fun and interesting as it is now, and I am so grateful for them.

Lastly, thank you for the greatest third family a girl could ask for. You, along with them, have been the best blessings to me. I love them so much. I love Papa’s wits and Grammy’s kindness. I love the crazy, weird jokes and fun you all bring me when we all get together and their love for sports. I’ve never seen such a strong love for a sport before (which is weird, because we know how crazy dad gets with football) but you guys have such a strong, concrete love for the Cavs' that I have never seen before. (That love is definitely why they won the World Championships this year. Go Cavs'!). Anyway, I never would have imagined feeling so loved by a family I wasn’t born into. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without you and them, and I am eternally grateful. So for that, I say thank you.

Love you forever,

Madison