Buxom – Stay there eyeshadow. Named after different breeds of dogs, waterproof, sparkly, and Bare Escentuals makes a charitable contribution to Canine Companions for Independence with every purchase. Of course I bought the sparkly copper color. Golden Retriever.

This incredibly beautiful video from Kristian Anderson to honor his wife’s birthday. Even more beautiful is his story of recent cancer diagnosis and an honest an genuine relationship with God.

Rachel’s Birthday Video from Kristian Anderson on Vimeo.

“The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people,” Obama said in an address from the Oval Office. “… Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it is time to turn the page.”

I felt like I should write something to comment on the “end” of our combat presence in Iraq. Seven years. It merits my attention and my thoughtfulness. But the thing is that it seems like too large, too profound, of a thing to even begin to comment.So maybe I’ll just let this instead mark a large moment that deserves marking and remembering and hopefully understanding as time passes.

There is no doubt that our last president loved and supported our troops. There is no doubt in my mind that our current president does as well. But tonight it was a more somber message, about sacrifice and commitment through the transition. I hope that one day when we look back we can somehow see good come from the sacrifice so many have made and that a future has indeed begun to be built for the Iraqi people.

(image thanks to the US Army)

The sermon I listened to this morning was about “costly kindness”, or basically, sacrificial giving. Personally “costly kindness” makes me think of being kind to someone as costing you something and to be honest I rarely think that is the case. Usually you gain just as much as you give. But sacrificial giving makes more sense to me. Or at least it sounds more painful.

The sermon also talked about how at the turn of the 20th century people were generally referred to as “citizens”. Even when talking about the whole lot of us here in the United States. We were only a little over a hundred years into being a country and I guess that term just made the most sense. But in this day in age you rarely hear that. Now we are referred to as “consumers”. We are looked at in terms of what we buy rather than what we produce.

Now the whole idea of consumerism is a subject that deserves far more time and thought but tonight I have little of either so I’m just thinking a bit about costly kindness. And of course my mom comes to mind. She’s the perfect example, almost to a fault, of costly kindness. I say “to a fault” because whenever I complain about Pat not doing something or doing something that I think he shouldn’t do she’ll tell me “be nice to Patrick”. And he then in turn will quote her sometimes when I’m giving him a hard time. Thanks mom.

But seriously, she is one of those people who just gives because she loves me. Not just the big things that all parents do but the little things. Like when I brought my laundry down this morning and forgot the cleaning ladies were coming so I left it to do later, and when I got home it was already done and folded. It’s nice that I’ve never had to doubt that I’d be a good mom because I always knew I had a great example leading the way.

I need to do a better job of taking that kind of costly kindness and putting it into action. With strangers, which is sometimes easier, and with people I interact with day to day. Giving people the benefit of the doubt. Giving people a little bit more of my time and energy. Giving a little more when it would be easier not to. And giving thanks for the opportunity.

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!

I love this passage that begins the book:

Mary Ann Singleton was twenty-five years old when she saw San Francisco for the first time

…her mother began to  cry. “You won’t come back. I just know it.”

“Mom, please, I will. I promise.”

“But you won’t be the same!”

“No, I hope not.”

I think I’m going to like this book.

EPIC TEXT NUMBER ONE:

Yesterday Pat’s brother texted us this:

This bulldog was just cruising down the boardwalk.

And then he turned around on his own and went back the other way.

Skateboarding bulldogs. Is there any better reason for a text? Ready to visit SD in two weeks now for sure. Although it is still not the same as the dog, cat, rat from SF.

EPIC TEXT NUMBER TWO:

I just text my mom this picture of Harley and her big butt from this past weekend.

My mom replied:

She wants to be a Kardashian.

That is why I love her.

So Pat got his phone on Friday and I hope by now he has begun to comprehend what he has been missing out on for these past few years. Mainly the amazingness of having everything you need (phone, music, camera) at your fingertips. Also, he will probably be obsessed with Angry Birds before long and the iPhone may very well takeover his life. Very soon we will go to restaurants together, order our meal, and then not speak to one another for the rest of the night. Just kidding. But seriously, on Saturday morning when we had like 10 minutes before I had to leave we were hanging out and he asked to see my phone so he could play Angry Birds because he hadn’t downloaded it yet. Ha. Good thing I love him.

The one neat thing about both having the new iPhone is the Facechat capability. Basically it’s video chat but with your phone so it is much more mobile. For example, today I took a tour of his new house. Well not new but new to me since I have not been to Kingsville in months. It is incredible. I already am as happy as the people in the commercials. This just proves that your TV never lies.

Go to the 1:30 mark and press play.

Wish I could’ve had Glory try out.

Of course as with any new toy it gives me free reign to spend more to properly outfit it. aka new case, new apps, and my long coveted Hipstamatic application which makes your iPhone camera into a crappier, old camera. But one that takes really awesome pictures.

Happy iPhoning. Can’t wait until Pat’s arrives and we can have some face time.