Dear Mom and Dad–
I haven’t said it nearly enough in my life, but I have endless appreciation for the two of you. I appreciate you so much.
I think I got lucky that “I love you” was a common phrase in our house. But again you can never say it enough, I love you two so much. It’s crazy to me that three small words have such an insanely large meaning.
So many times throughout my life I heard people say “Once you leave home your relationship with your parents changes.” And that “You will become closer than ever.” I never paid much attention to this. Quite frankly I never believed it to be true. You’re leaving them; how does it make sense that you will become closer? What factor will drastically change the dynamic of this relationship? But man was I wrong when I didn’t believe those statements.
The race has opened my eyes to so many things you have done for me. The sacrifices you have made. The amount of love you are constantly pouring out. The amazing strength you two have and how it has strengthened me.
A crazy thought I come across often is that if I were in your shoes within this next year of my life I would have a kid and be married. Now honestly, that is not in my thoughts, I can’t even imagine that. But you two did it. You did it in a way I look up to. You were married young, but you have such a beautiful love story. I know it has not been easy, but great things do not come easy. Now it’s been over 20 years of marriage, what an incredible gift. I pray, I pray so hard that I can find love like yours. Love that stands strong in a hurricane. Love that is beautifully redeeming. Love that is full of laughter and smiles. Love that is everlasting. Love that imitates the love of the God. I am so lucky to have your marriage to look up to, thank you.
Not only did you get married young, but you raised three kids young. I mentally cannot fathom how you did it. I cannot find the words to express my thankfulness of you as my parents. Sacrifice is the word I think of when it comes to your parenting. You sacrificed so much, just to make sure the three of us had what we needed, plus some. I hope you know I have never once doubted either of you. I never had a thought in my head the ends wouldn’t meet. You two are the hardest workers I have ever met. You did it for us. Even if the work was hard, and not enjoyable, you did it for us. Dang, thank you. Not only did I have every single necessity I have ever needed, but I had more. You gave me experiences. You gave me a childhood full of figure skating practices and competitions, weekends filled with traveling. You gave me dance classes and competitions. You sacrificed your weekends, weekends that could have been used for rest or catching your breathe after working like dogs all week. But you choose to spend them in hotels away from your home to then spend days in cold ice rinks to cheer me on as I skated. You choose to spend 14 hour days in stuffy high school gyms on the most uncomfortable bleachers just to yell and scream at dance competitions. You were always there. I hope you know how much that meant to me. How much I seriously deep down to the core appreciate it.
You two together are the dream team. Together you have taught me so much, but individually you are amazing human beings as well.
Mom–
You’re my best friend. We laugh, we cry, we fight, we have shared probably every emotion there is together. You are strong. You have been through some of the toughest battles, but always keep going. Even when the wounds are deep and oh so painful, you pick yourself up and move forward. You walk with grace throughout it all. I get my strength from you. I am strong because of you. Thank you for being an example for me. You love hard. You choose people and you do not let them go. You fight for your people. You fight for peoples potential. You never stop believing in the people you love. Mom, you have given me a place of belonging. Because of you I know love will never run dry. You will always be there; your arms are always wide open. I aspire to love like you do. You are the most beautiful lady I know. Please believe me. You have taught me to love being a girl. I know that sounds a little silly, but it’s true. Because of you I know how much influence I have on other girls. And most importantly how fun it is to be a girl. How fun it is to laugh, watch movies, eat ice cream, sing in the shower, do makeup, and just do wild and crazy things. And one of my favorite things you taught me that has stuck with me since the third grade is, “Kill em with Kindness.” I love you.
Dad–
Mom and I are close, but I will always be your girl. I am so lucky to be your daughter, your only daughter. It has its perks. Hands down you are the wisest and hardest working person I know. In times of need you always have someone profound to say and research to back it up. You are full of knowledge, creativity, and good ideas. I hope you know that. You have so much to bring to the table. You are hard working with a caring soul. My work ethic comes from you. You go above and beyond, Dad. You never think something is unachievable. You reach and reach until the goal is completed. You care about your work, and the people that it affects. You care that things get done, you care because it matters. You want peoples needs to be met, you want to see people succeed. It’s such an honorable quality. I am always striving to have a mindset like yours. You care so much about me and about the boys. You just want us to succeed. I know your love for me is endless. You have always treated me like a princess. You have set the bar high. Thank you for loving me beyond belief. Thank you for reminding me that I matter, that I’m beautiful, and that I’m loved. Thank you most of all for letting me run into your arms when I feel like there is no one else, for being a safe place. I love you Daddy.
One of the most important things I have learned from the two of you is that, I can go follow my path and find my purpose, but no matter where I go I have a home and I have loving arms waiting for me. Home is not a building or a place. Home is wherever you two are. So thank you for giving me wings to fly and for equipping me with knowledge, but most of all thank you for letting me soar and applying my knowledge. The thankfulness is unending. The appreciation is bigger than you’ll ever know. And the I love you’s are to the moon and back. I can’t wait to see you again. So soon. I hope you smile as much reading this as I did writing it.
I love you.
Forever your little girl, Ali.
