To Mom:

I have always been astonished by how much you love your children and family. You have always made time for me, and I am forever grateful. I still remember when I was young, you used to roll me up turkey slices with some grapes, and I ate them while watching Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. I know I can be repetitive with my constant asking of what’s for dinner, but you know I am always hungry; even when you decide not to ask, you can just always assume. I love you beyond words. You make me a better person every second of the day. 

To Dad: 

Thank you for being my biggest motivator; you have always been there for me. I cannot believe how much I have grown because of you. With all our trips, you have supplied me with memories that will last a lifetime and a restaurant that I will annually travel to. I have made many decisions in my life because of you. You make me a new person every day with how you challenge my brain and how you challenge me physically as well. I thank you for every sports accomplishment because in the challenging moments and in those mentally draining times, your teachings have made me strong. I love you too, and I will never forget how to act because of you. 

To my sister Katelynn: 

We started out rough, honestly. It felt like every day when we were younger, we fought and hated each other. I think it was your senior year that we really figured out that we tolerated each other and then liked each other enough to yell during Lego Star Wars and not get any feelings hurt. We have been on several family trips and promised to stick together, and we did. We went on Culver’s trips and watched shows, but somehow, we made time for ourselves. We have been through it all, and we have made so much progress. I love you unconditionally. You have taught me so much about how to be nice to people, and you have taught me so much humor and fun things. You are amazing. 

To my brother Jake:

I look up to you more than you know. What I think we don’t understand about each other is we are so similar it’s insane, and I think we ignore that about each other, and we always look at each other with this understanding that if we tried to talk, we would find something amazing. It’s competition to be what you were, it makes me a better person knowing that I have someone to beat. I know it may be annoying that you get called my name all the time, even when you have ten years on me, and it’s annoying for me, too, almost repetitive. Honestly, I haven’t liked you at periods of my life because I thought you didn’t like me, but I have found that I love you because I had someone to help shape me into the person that I am and what to be because truthfully you are an amazing example of a great person and brother. 

To Grandma Lou: 

We have been through so much together. I have been on countless driving trips to your house and countless stays. I have been there for several holidays and family events, and you are an inspiration for how you control and function with such a crazy family. We have so many memories together, and some I will never let you live down because you are so silly. I have always loved the surprises you have when you call me and say one of my parents or siblings is out of the house, unbeknownst to me. I love you, and you are one of the most significant parts of teaching me who I am today. 

To Grandma Marlene:

You have been nothing but loving and influential to me. I always love our dinner dates at Red Robin when you tell me the new and crazy stories of your neighbors and the idiotic construction workers who always ruin something. I am always inspired by your independence and ability to help people. I always admired how you took care of GG and how much you loved her, and that showed me how to love someone just as much. I will never forget how you gifted me my first Xbox, and I always remember how you surprised me, making my whole year. I will always thank you for how many memories I have with my sister playing games and me and my friends playing video games. 

To Uncle Brian:

I thank you for making me into the man I am today. You taught me how to do a proper handshake and how to look people in the eye. I have always loved how much you appreciate my sports and ask questions about them. I am always proud to tell you that we won or that we had a good week of practice. You have influenced me in such a positive way, and it’s hard to find a person like you. I am so grateful that I can have you in my life. You have shown me nothing but kindness, and I hope I make you proud. 

To Grandma Groff: 

I love you so much. It’s been almost a year now, you were 102 years old and you were truly the most inspiring person in the world. You were amazing, and I have so many goofy memories of you at your table and having talks in your old living room. I still have the little train set in my room, and it’s always brought me so much joy remembering you. We have a special rocking chair in our house, and I rock in it, remembering all of the conversations and the smell of flowers infiltrating my nose. I remember the Dove chocolates that you used to give me too, and how you always used to sneak them to me. I always walked in on you reading a different book every time, and I was always astonished by how much you read. I love you, always remember you every day, and miss you a ton.  

To Papa: 

I miss you so much every day. I can’t believe that it has been three years since I last saw you. I still have the memories of you asking me how baseball and football are going. I still remember your 50th anniversary with Grandma when we made cupcakes, and Jake gifted you his jersey from the Alexandria Ace. I always knew how much you loved your family, and I know how much you wanted to show up to one of my baseball tournaments. I know you show up to my games now; I feel you watching me, I feel you at the National Anthem, and I feel you after the game. I still remember my tournament after you passed. I hit my first home run, ending up hitting two that game. I still wear my necklace every day, and I have your American flag in my room looking over me. I will always miss you, Papa, and I will never forget how much you loved me.