Now I've never done one of these little letters, but for some reason I feel the need to share these thoughts to my parents who I may have never appreciated enough for what they do for me on a daily basis. So here it goes mom and dad.

Dear Mom and Dad, I start this letter off by saying that I could never truly pay you guys back for what have done for me and my siblings. The amount of sacrifice you guys created for us and the opportunities we've had is all due to you two. There have been countless times where our vacations were absolutely incredible, like Disney world or Omaha for baseball tournaments, but nothing compares to the amount of sacrifice you two made to send me to Ireland and Scotland this summer. You guys wanted me to go on this trip to experience another country somewhere half way across the world, and I fully appreciate having this opportunity because I know when you were kids, this kind of chance was impossible.

I understand that times were different when you were kids, both of you had several siblings and my grandparents didn't neccesarily make a whole lot of money to do anything exotic. Nowadays, if any of us wants to do something, you just think how much will I have to sacrifice in order for them to be happy? You really didn't do too much thinking, you just did it. Dad, the amount of overtime you do at work to make money for me and my siblings is incredible. Everything from iPods, sports equipment, vacations, etc. is something not every father can do for their children, it's difficult, but I know we drive you everyday to be the best you can be. And Mom, I don't know if there's anyone else in the world that has been there for me when I needed someone to care for me, love me, help me with anything in life, and just being the best supporter ever. You were the one that drove me everywhere, like practices, games, school events and friends houses, but the list could go on and on forever.

I always wonder how I got to where I am today, and to be honest, I owe a lot of it to you Mom and Dad. Did you ever treat me like the perfect child? Absolutely not, you saw me make critical mistakes in my life, you didn't baby me or say, "Oh it's ok!," you flat out told me you've got to suck it up and take the punishment like a man, no matter if I hated it or not. You two have taught me how to deal with adversity, because whether you think about it or not it happens everyday. You showed me how to be humble through the good and the bad, and having me and my siblings play sports was the greatest blessing for you guys. All you've asked out of me was to give a perfect effort, despite us not being perfect human beings. Thank you for guiding throughout this crazy thing we call "life," I can't even imagine where I would be without you two in my life. Love you two more than you could ever imagine, and I'll always remember your legendary advice dad, that's, "Try not to suck." Yes Cubs fans, that phrase was used long before Joe Maddon said it.