Our parents are the ones who teach us how to walk, talk, and basically survive. Yet most of us never thank them for any of it, or let alone for just being our parents. Being a parent is extremely hard and demanding, and as you know some parents don't stay around to try and figure it out. So to my parents who tried their best to figure it out, thank you.

Thank you for teaching me to find the best in everyone, to have the utmost compassion, even to people who wouldn't turn their heads in my direction. For teaching me to always help those in need, even if sometimes its taking from what I need, always put someone else first. That God is good all the time. He will provide for you, just have patience. Sometimes even when bad things happen it will be okay, God gives His strongest soldiers the worst battles because He knows you can handle it. Never give up, never surrender.

Thank you for teaching me manors, respect, and the appreciation for others. Everyone has your respect immediately. They do not have to earn it, it should be given, but they most certainly can loose it. Whether it is the CEO or the janitor you treat everyone with same manners and respect as everyone else. The world could not work without everyone, and everyone has their place and purpose.

Thank you for teaching me family is the most important thing. You don't need money, you don't need popularity, and sometimes you don't even need friends as long as you have family. To always put family first, you can always retake classes, get new opportunities, but you can never respend time with family after they are gone.

Thank you for being my best friends and my mentors. Not only have you taught me so much, but you have always been there for me. Whether its been defending me to the person who treated me wrong, going to Donut Shack at six am, or even long road trips. You always know how to cheer me up or give me the advice to get me through whatever I am going through.

I guess what I would like to say, is thank you for being my parents. Thank you for everything you do for me and everything you teach me. I would not trade you two for the world. In all the parents I've had the pleasure of meeting, getting to know, and heard of, you are still by far the best. Thank you for sacrificing all that you did for us to make sure we had it all. Reality was, with the family you guys created, we already did. I love you both more then I could tell you on a daily basis and I am so thankful you are mine.

If you appreciate and love your parents as much as I do, I urge you to tell them and tell them often. There are so many people out there who don't have the best parents, parents that care, or have even lost them. Be thankful if you do and let them know they did something right, because a lot of times they always feel like the bad guys. Hug them, kiss them, love them, and most importantly thank them for everything they have done for you.