To the men in my life

Its days like today that really remind me of how truly blessed I am. I have been given the gift of having four incredible men in my life who have shaped me into the person that I am today and who will continue to be the role models that I admire and look up to for the rest of my life.


John- From the moment my mom heard your voice on the other end of the phone, we knew she was in love- and it wasn't that much longer until you won over the hearts of us all. With your teddy-bear hugs and your glowing smile, you welcomed us all with open arms. You have brought back the light in my mom's beautiful eyes; a light that had been dimmed ever since my parents divorce. You love my mom more than anything in the world, and I am honored and grateful to say that you show the same amount of love and affection to my brothers and me. I think I can speak for all three of us when I say Thank you. Thank you for everything that you do, and continue to do, for the boys and myself. Wishing you a wonderful Father's Day filled with lots of love and kindness! I love you, John!



Gpa Les- It's hard for me to express in words just how much you mean to me. You have always been viewed as a hero in my eyes; not just because of your courageous efforts in WWII, but because of the manner in which you care for all of those around you. You have always put everyone else before you, making sure they have all been taken care of before taking the time to treat yourself. You have one of the biggest hearts I have ever known and you would do anything, for anybody. Your kindness shines bright from within and I only wish more people in this world were like you. The love that you and Gma share is proof that there really is such a thing as soulmates and it gives me the reassurance that "true love" really does, and can, exist, even in today's divorce-prone society. You have taught me more than you will ever know, and more than I can ever repay you for; I am eternally grateful to have the honor of calling you my Grandpa. To my hero, Happy Father's Day, Gpa Les!!!





Gpa Bob- From the very beginning, you've always made me laugh. With your sarcastic sense of humor and your contagious laugh, you've kept me smiling for 23 years. Through the good times and the bad, you've always been there. Whether it was a hug, a smile, or simply throwing up our peace signs, you've always managed to make me feel better. Although you may not agree with some of my decisions as of late, I know it is only because you want the best for me. That's what makes our relationship so great- the fact that you can tell me what you think, I can tell you what I think, and no matter how similar or different our opinions might be, I know that you'll never, ever, stop loving me! You are an incredible man, Gpa Bob, and I pray everyday that I will be fortunate enough in my life to experience the same kind of love that you and Gma have shared for over 50 years. If I can show my family the same kind of love that you have given throughout the years, I know I will have lived an extraordinary life. I love you so much, Gpa, and don't you ever, ever, forget that. Happy Father's Day!



And last but not least, to the most important man in my life, my Father.

Dad- Where do I even begin??? There are not enough words to express how much I love you. You have made so many sacrifices over the years just to make sure that the boys and I always have the best and never have to worry about anything. You sacrificed everything that you had in order to provide a stable environment for the boys and I during the most unstable period of our lives, all those years ago. No matter how near or far we are from one another, I always know that you're there for me, whether you're just down the road or on the other end of the phone line. I know I may not say it enough, but I CHERISH the relationship that we have. As much as I hate the distance that is between us, I honestly believe that it has made us closer. Whether its an intense hour-long conversation about life, or just a quick 5 minute call to inform me about "man's inhumanity to man" (haha), your phone calls always put a smile on my face. You are always there when I need someone to talk to- telling me exactly how you feel, but still giving me the freedom to form my own opinion- even if it's not the same as yours. I love you sooooooooo muchy, baby, and I will forever be your baby girl! Happy Father's Day, Dad! Love Always, Doods