#7. I am grateful for...

Men.  Good men.  There have been many good men that have blessed my life in ways that only men can...and I'm not just thinking about the Priesthood, though that is a tremendous blessing that deserves a post all of it's own.  I'm thinking more about moments like yesterday when that rough and tough husband of mine surprised me with a bowl full of pomegranate seeds.  He must have spent a good deal of time carefully picking them from the shell and all just to show me I'm worth it.  For sure my number one man!  But there have been the examples of countless other good men, examples that certainly helped me to know what to look for when looking for my number one man. 

I am reminded of my grandad and his visits with boxes full of grapefruit.  He'd proudly and patiently stand at the sink and so gently cut away at the fruit to fill me a bowl of the good stuff...as many bowls as I could eat.  Is food the way to my heart or what?! 

I'm grateful for my brothers and the way they'd "watch out for me," especially during my dating years.  I sure didn't so appreciate it then, but sweet.  Really.  Boys are just so sweet. 

One of my favorite memories with my big teddy bear of a father-in-law happened on a day when my nerves were frazzled and life was feeling very difficult and lonely.  We were living in their home and the kids must have been sensing all the tension because they were behaving badly...very badly.  Russell was serving his time in one of his many time outs of the day, and Ladd had just gotten home and was relaxing after a long shift at work.  This is when Russell started kicking at the wall.  Ladd kindly let me know that the kicking was not acceptable and that is when I blew up at him.  I did.  "Of course it isn't acceptable!!!"  My blow up went something like that in a voice that I raised louder than I'm proud of.  In the middle of my march out to my car to grab Russell's car seat,  (my plan was to strap Russell in the middle of the room away from all furniture and walls...a brilliant thought, really, one that I didn't deserve in my moment of frustration) Ladd got up from the couch and extended his arms and told me I needed a hug.  I did, in the worst way, and his sensitivity to that combined with an apology from yours truly and his gorilla like arms (he's a man of great stature! :)  )  was the perfect recipe for my cure that day. 

And then there was my friend and mentor, Brother Montague, who is the epitome of what good men with their tender yet tough ways have the capacity to accomplish.  The man had a bark that had his choir at attention in seconds,  yet such a soft heart sensitive to how music has the potential to invite the Spirit and move people to change.   I remember the hours he spent with me, looking over my writing in his study in his home.   This busy and incredibly talented man taking a sincere interest in my interest changed me in many ways.   At our wedding reception, Brother Montague looked Ryan right in the eye with his scary mafia like look, and threatened him that he "had people" if anything ever were to happen to me.  He did, too, "have people."  :)  He called those prisoners friends.  Brothers even.   Poor Ryan.  Really, it's a miracle we ever were marrried with the guff he got from the men that were looking out for me. 

And then, of course, there is my dad.  There are a million stories there, but all these sick days spent longing for more time with my pillow is filling my heart with such gratitude for him.  My dad likes to make sure I always have a nice and fluffy down feather pillow just to call my own.  It's his sweet little way of still getting to spoil his daughter, making sure that she is comfortable and well taken care of.  And while he knows I am, I'm thankful for the reminder of how father's being good to their daughters (great song),  how men being their good and tender and tough selves, can build generations of better:  better daughters, better moms, better wives, better sisters, better leaders, better sons.  Good men build a better world.  So for good men everywhere, I am so grateful.