Growing up, you'd always tell me to get up when I fall because I was losing play time. You didn't let me pity myself and you taught me that pain is temporary. I remember one of the first times I sprained my ankle really bad. You rarely got worried when I fell on the soccer field because I always got up quickly. But this time it hurt worse than any other injury and I started crying. The second you heard tears you rushed on to the field, not really caring if you could do that or not. It was in that moment that I truly got to experience the love of a father. No matter how hard on me you were, or how many times you had to discipline me, I knew that when I was truly hurting you would be there for me.

As I got older, pain became less physical and more emotional. You would tell me that a guy wasn't right for me and try to protect me the best you could, but I always had to learn the lesson myself. But that never stopped you from holding me when I came crying. You've loved me through my greatest successes and my greatest failures. You never fail to tell me how proud you are of me and you never judge me for my mistakes. No matter how bad I mess up, you're the first person I run to because despite how angry you are, I know you'll help me fix it.

Thank you for spoiling me on valentines day and taking me out to eat. Thank you for always fixing my car. Thank you for supporting my decisions, from my new jacket to which college I chose to go to. Thank you for sending me messages of how proud you are of me, and talking me up to everybody you meet. Thank you for sharing your favorite books with me and giving me your advice on success. Thank you for telling me you love me every day and sending me letters at college. Thank you for making me laugh until my stomach hurts. Thank you for always offering to buy dessert (my sweet tooth comes from you). Thank you for telling me that I'm beautiful and that I deserve the best. Thank you for being the cool dad that I get so excited for everyone to meet. Most importantly, thank you for being my best friend and loving me unconditionally.

Because of you, my standards are so high. Because of you, I finally realized my worth and who it comes from. Because of you, these poor guys will never have a chance. There's nothing that I could ever do to repay you for all that you have given me. But I promise to love you. I promise to respect you and to honor you. I promise to take care of you when you get old. I promise to give life my very best, every single day because that's what you have given me. I promise to fall down nine times but to always get up ten. I promise to chase after my dreams and never let anybody tell me that I cant' do something. I promise to keep my standards high and protect my body and my heart. I am who I am because of you and I could never write enough words to tell you how grateful I am.

Here's to you daddio, I love you forever and always.