It's hard to update with a little mongrel trying to chew your fingers off.

Finally, she settled into chewing on my chair, which of course I couldn't allow to continue. So I said no. She stopped chewing, and slowly turned her head to face me. She stared me down for a moment, before lunging at my face.

Apparently my little princess doesn't like hearing the word "No." I try explaining to her the necessity of blogging, the importance of work, the fact that her very survival hinges on my ability to sustain life as we know it. She merely cocks her head and wags her tail and then attempts to remove my nose from my face.

Thus, I have decided to document just a few of the principles that appear to govern the life of a 6 week old pup.

1. The humans put newspaper on the floor so that you know to pee and poo beside it.

2. When they turn out the lights and lay down on those high cushy platforms, it's because they're sick. You should jump on their heads every two hours or so to make sure they don't pass out of consciousness.

3. If they put it in your mouth, it's because you're not supposed to chew on it. Chew on the furniture instead. It tastes better.

4. Pouncing is fun. Do it all the time.

5. Don't be discouraged when the cat hits your head with her paw. If you chase her around the room enough times, she will see that she loves you.

6. Playing with toys is only fun while your human is watching you, touching you, or holding the toy. If she is not doing one of those things, you should bite her.

Oooh..... I think she's gonna let me go to bed soon. yay.

Well, thank you to those of you who prayed. The house feels better.... much better. Everything seems to be back to normal, but we're still paying attention.

It's funny, actually, the things that wake you up, kick you in the pants, and cause you to recall a time when your spiritual growth was proactive, instead of passive. I thought I could just live my life, and love God. I thought that being a God fearing and integrous person in the context of my life was a satisfactory endeavor.

But with knowledge comes responsibility. This we've always known, and I conveniently forgot. That is until I found myself face to face with a spiritual realm.... and I stood up. I raised my fist and found my voice. We prayed together. We sang together. It was intense. It was exhausting. It was good.

But then I got angry. I mean, it's hard enough to survive my life in the physical realm. As if I don't have enough to worry about. Between working and eating and sleeping, and my family's complicated issues, it's all I can do to maintain some level of sanity and stay alive at the same time. Sensing demonic presence doesn't really help.

I mean, sometimes all I really want is a small house on a quiet street, with a doggy door and wooden fence, and write my stories and play with my dog, make my rounds at the apartment. Keep the glass fingerprint-free and the carpets clean. Sometimes I don't want to think about world hunger and suicidal family members, or mental illness, or spiritual warfare. I just want to mow my lawn and do my dishes and have you over for tea on occasion, teach my dog to do something cute.

However.....

It's like Ani Difranco said. "If you're not trying to make something better, then as far as I can see you are just in the way."

And the fact of the matter is that the spiritual realm is very real, and like it or not, I am aware of it. And ultimately, my survival is not my concern, since I won't last another moment apart from God's will. And who am I to complain, temporary as the grass, if God has more important things for me to do than while away my days in a tribute to self-centredness??

I mean.... really. Who do I think I am? I can't just pick and choose my reality.

I'm sure I'll never know the whole story on what happened in our house on monday. It was scary and it was real. Reminded me of some things. We think it's over, but I'll try not to forget.

Now I'm praying that Abu sleeps through the night. I can't take many more of these middle 3 am battles.

We've been dealing with some pretty funky spiritual dynamics in the house today, a situation that's been increasing in intensity for quite some time and suddenly exploded. Today I experienced an irrational fear of the sort that only comes upon me when there are demons close by. I'm going to sleep in this basement, though earlier today, the idea of even going downstairs was enough to give me a coronary.

There's been weird stuff, weird vibes. The animals and the baby have been behaving in ways which, combined with other dynamics, have made us sit up and pay attention. We've been praying through the house, annointing everything with oil, and playing praise and worship music.

The things we're sensing have to do with the previous tenants. Things to do with Witchcraft and sexual perversion. I would like to ask any of you who are the praying sort to pray for us, and the baby, and the animals, and our house. We want it clean. We don't want this heaviness, and we don't want the former tenants garbage. If you'd like to know more, feel free to contact me. Right now we're just looking for as much prayer support as we can possibly get our hands on.

Okay now, I'm gonna go to sleep, and I'm praying for a peaceful sleep. Or maybe a dream from God, which will show me what is left to do, to free our home.

Perhaps I'll say more about the craziness that has been today..... maybe once it's over, and this heaviness has lifted. In the meantime, I covet your prayers.

And without further ado, behold my scrumptious baby snugglemuffin.


scratching in my parents' yard....

for a comparison of how little she is....

and sleeping in the car after a meal.

It's hard to get a good picture of her, because she's so black, and because she doesn't really seem interested in sitting still and posing for the camera. Can't imagine why. It would seem that Abu is the first dog my parents dog isn't interested in tearing apart. In fact, we let the two run around in the yard together without incident. Right now I have no idea where she is.... the 12 year old girl has taken off with her and I haven't seen her in quite some time. I should probably find her..... it's about time to go home.

okay well now you've been properly introduced. stop bugging me for pictures. It's not like I own a camera or anything.