I just want to start off by obviously saying thank you.

Thank you so much for all the times you have been a dad when my own blood father wouldn’t. Thank you for raising me like a girl should be raised. All my life, I have wondered why my father decided not to be the one to raise me, but I am so blessed that you stepped up and raised me for him. You have been in my life since before I can even remember. You have been there for all of the holidays, birthdays, and big moments in my life. You taught me how to ride a bike and helped me up when I fell and scraped my knee. You taught me how to drive a car and always stayed patient no matter how terrifying my driving was. You taught me how to basically be an adult by always making sure I knew how to do things on my own. You were there through my first heartbreak and sat on my bed while I was crying and assured me that my heart will be whole again. You were there on my prom day watching your little girl be grown and looking beautiful. You proudly watched me walk across the stage and accept my high school diploma, and wiped my mom’s tears.

You were there my first day of college and I know you were trying not to cry when you dropped me off in my dorm. Thank you for never giving up on me when I am being the most difficult person to be around. Thank you for always being the shoulder I can cry on and the person I can lean on for anything. Thank you for making me your own even though you didn’t have to. I appreciate you more than you know. I thank my mom every day for choosing such an amazing man to be in all of our lives. Thank you for never blaming me for giving you grey hairs, because let’s face it, I’ve aged you faster since you’ve come into my life. I know I never really had a choice on step-fathers, but I’m so glad you’re the one my brother and I ended up with. You’ve always wanted the very best for us, and helped us get the best. Through everything that we all have been through together, you have stayed right by our side. I know you will always be by my side for the rest of time. It won’t be long until you watch me graduate college and I know you will proudly watch me on this huge day. I can’t wait for you to walk me down the aisle and just know that it’s completely OK to cry when giving me away to the love of my life. I can’t wait for you to see your grandchildren some day and I know you will be so proud of me. I can’t wait to watch you in life and I pray that I am at least half as successful as you and my mother are. Biology doesn’t mean anything to me—you’re my father. I love you so much, and I am so thankful to have such an amazing man to call my dad.

Love always and forever,

Your non-biological daughter