There is so much I want to say, but I know in the depths of my heart that words will never be able to express the love and appreciation I have for you. As a dad, you have many responsibilities, one of them being caring for me. Yet I know there is so much that you do that I never knew about. There are so many things that I still have to learn and understand, most of which I probably won’t learn until I become a parent, and that’s OK. So, I wanted to take the time to thank you for all you do.

Thank you for being my superhero

When I was younger, still at the age of princesses and dragons, you were the person I looked to. In my eyes, you could do everything. All those days we went fishing or to the park, never once did you let anything happen to me; never once did you let me fall – at least in the way that truly mattered. Skinned knees and strawberries were normal for me, but not on your watch.

You were the one there to pull me out of the street when I got too impatient or snag me by the back of my shirt when I flew too far off the trampoline. You could do no wrong. Dad, you were the strongest man on earth and, even now, I still believe that you are. So thank you for being my superman and for giving me something to believe in, then and now.

Thank you for teaching me to be brave

For as long as I’ve been alive, I have always known you to be honest, a gentleman and a strong believer in me. All those times when felt that I might fail, you assured me that I wouldn’t -- and then went on to give me a thousand legitimate reasons why I wouldn’t.

You taught me how to stick up for myself. All those years you had me “in training” certainly did not go to waste. Now I understand why you pushed me to stand up and fight back. That is something that I am eternally grateful for, more than you know. Through both your actions and your words, you led me and helped me grow into who I was meant to be.

Thank you for showing me you love me

I know you don’t say it very often, and I know it’s not something that you always care to say. But that lets me know the phrase “I love you” is dear to your heart -- not something to be thrown around. Yet you do tell me in your own way -- by showing me.

Every time I leave to go back to college and you call after me, “Did you check your oil?” I hear, “I love you.” When my phone buzzes and I get “Did you make it back OK?” in a text, I hear, “I love you.” When you go duck hunting before work and I wake up to a Bojangles biscuit and a tea, I see “I love you.” Every time a boy made me cry and there were no words, you held me and I felt “I love you.” When you dropped me off at college before heading back home, and you looked around my room and then turned to me and asked if I had everything, I heard, “I love you -- I know you’ll make me proud.”

Thank you for loving me unconditionally and without boundaries. I never could have asked for a better dad. I love you with all of my heart!