Thank you.

Thank you for everything.

I feel so fortunate and so very blessed.

Thank you for making me part of your family when I didn't have one of my own. Thank you for helping me understand what a real family is all about. It is hard growing up not understanding love and acceptance and I think we tend to forget FAMILY is not always about the one you are born into. It can be the one you find later in life.

You saved me when I was in a low place and gave me so much love and support when I never knew what love and support was. You would STRIVE to show me.

Thank you for accepting me as your child's partner in life. 

You have always made me feel included no matter what and you will never know how much I appreciate it.

Thank you for creating a safe place whenever I come over, leaving your door open to me whenever I need it. 

If I need you I know you are there. No matter what time of the day it is. I know that I can call you and you will be there and I hope one day my child and if they choose to have a partner in life they will call me too.

Thank you for always showing guidance and support in everything I do in my life. You are such a huge support system to me and I love that I can always count on you to have my back. 

Your family has accepted me as one of your own and I will be forever grateful. Thank you for seeing me as an equal. As one of yours. Not just someone who married into the family.

Thank you for being a safe place to call. Someone I can talk to for hours at a time and not feel judged or criticized. Thank you for opening your arms during the holidays and making me feel as if I belong. Holidays have been off for me growing up or they never really felt "right" and whenever we are together during the holidays I say "Yes. This is it this is what I was missing"

Thank you for raising the best damn kid out there because of you I was able to marry the best damn person out there. So thank you for that. 

Thank you for sharing them with me. Your child that you love and hold dear to your heart, you shared them with me and you didn't have to. I know that sounds weird but they were your child, yours. that you raised into a good honest adult and you welcomed me. Shared them with me. I am thankful. Sounds weird "sharing" but as a mom I get it. They were once a tiny infant and a HUGE part of your life and now they are with me and I felt as if I took them from you. They are still your child but now they are also my partner and you have never made me feel bad for that.

Thank you for being such incredible role models. I strive to be so much like you. I have been blessed to find in laws that do right by everyone, that sets a good example and takes no crap.

You have always cheered me on as a parent and you always make me feel like I am doing a great job, I got pretty lucky.

Thank you for everything. 

We forget that when we marry our partner that we are gaining another family, appreciate that family because you are as much theirs as they are yours. Sometimes we don't get so lucky. The family we marry into or our partners family might be difficult. TAKE the time to try to get to know them. Understand when people are reserved it might not always be personal talk with them. Spend time together. If you are fortunate enough to have a loving, caring SUPPORTIVE family that you are now a part of, cherish it and tell them how grateful you are. Even if you have had your issues or currently have issues put it aside say, hey.

Let's talk let's FIGURE THIS OUT. You didn't just marry your partner, you married their family. It doesn't have to be toxic. If it is. Try again later. Give it time to breathe.