Meet Fang

When I announced to one of my mom's sisters that I was considering getting a dog, a greyhound, she laughed. She laughed because coupled with this conversation was the fact that I had moved into a groundfloor apartment which made me more vulnerable to crazy folks entering without invitation, but I knew that one top deterrent to potential intruders is the presence of a large dog with large teeth. Right?

Enter the Greyhound.

"With his quiet dignity and independence, the Greyhound is often likened to a cat.

Once past the puppy stage, he is calm and quiet indoors, moving lightly and gracefully.

This sensitive breed prefers peace and quiet and soft-spoken people. He does not do well in an environment with frequent tension or loud voices.

Most Greyhounds are politely reserved with strangers, and prefer to lean against their owner's leg rather than approaching people they don't know.

Greyhounds are non-aggressive. They tend to freeze when challenged or attacked.

This quiet dog seldom barks."

This merits my aunts laughter at the idea of my getting a greyhound and simultaneously thinking he may be a guard dog. (She did suggest I get him a collar with spikes and call him "Fang" to at least appear intimidating.)

The first half year, Silas would distance himself as far as possible from strangers and sometimes not-so-strangers. Now a year later, he will acknowledge someone's presence and may even go up to him or her, but still when a guest rings the buzzer and enters my home, Si goes straight to his bed, lies down and cautiously observes at a safe distance.

Not a guard dog. Until now.

Though he weighs 60lbs+, Silas has a small bladder. If I do not time his outings properly, I will be woken up mid-dream with his request to be taken out. I've learned these are not to be ignored.

Recently, whilst half asleep during one of these outings, I held his leash as Si pranced around the base of a tree to relieve himself.

At this moment, a man had been dropped off and was heading toward the entrance of an apartment near where I was standing. He was livid, grumbling and every movement was out of anger to the point that he furiously kicked a pile of leaves and sticks and sent them scattering. Instantly, my docile dog sprang to action, lunged at the man and barked viciously. Thankfully, we were far enough away that no one was in danger of being bitten or beaten, but indeed it was an event that though my heart was racing, I was proud of this little friend and felt (and feel) safe with a bodyguard at my side.

So, I have this message to any potential intruder:

Beware of Dog!

The Perfect Gift

Arriving home from work on Friday, I found a new phonebook waiting underneath the mailboxes for each of the residents. Not remembering the last time I actually looked at a phonebook, I brought the orange plastic bag and its contents home, released Si from his cage and offloaded my work related accoutrements.

Over the last few months, I've probably spent hours investigating and choosing quite deliberately which toys I thought would be the most engaging for my little greyhound. Usually with little success.

This week the ideal object of entertainment was discovered. Silas, my 'nothing gets me excited' greyhound went absolutely crazy over this postal service delivery. Ripping into the bag, tearing the phonebook(s) apart, and throwing the respective pieces all over the room.

This kept him occupied for quite some time and I regret not videoing his moments of exuberance. And in classic Silas mode when he felt all had been successfully torn, slobbered, chewed and scattered he collapsed contentedly in the middle of it all.

The House that Craig built

Out of the need for change, which I think is a common characteristic amongst our female population, yesterday evening I moved the furniture of my little apartment around.

However, I realised that prior to this point, I've not yet given my faithful readers the grand tour of my abode.

So below is a video of my home. Enjoy! (The furniture has now been relocated, but this is how it's been for the last 7 months)

Most of the furniture and wall decorations were purchased on Craigslist, for which I'm extremely thankful.

Hope it works and ... sorry, if you get a bit dizzy.
(and my phone started ringing, thus the quick ending)

Mary, Martha and Joshua

This past Sunday afternoon I finished reading my latest pick from the Kent District Library "The Year of Living Like Jesus" by retired local Grand Rapids pastor, Ed Dobson.

Not a specimen of literary art, some sections I skimmed and others I ashamedly skipped. I would take up issue with some comments he made and others I would applaud loudly. However, overall it's a book that I enjoyed and very much valued reading past the ink on the page.

Due to this book, at the forefront of my mind has been the concept of living like Jesus. Not like Dobson did with growing his beard (good thing!) and eating kosher foods, but according to Christ's teachings and his values as we read them in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John of the New Testament.

I, therefore, found myself unexpectedly in the midst of a Kingdom moment this past Sunday.

Four year old Joshua lives a few apartments down from me. Early evenings when he has not disobeyed his grandma, his mother allows him to play outside with his bike, tee-ball equipment, bug catching kit or any other toy he's recently acquired. He's ever knocking on my patio door or calling from a few yards away "Nessa, come and watch me." "Hi, Nessa, whatcha doing?" "Nessa, look what I have."

Some days I've joined Josh as we collected insects, chased toads and searched for ducks. Other days I'd greet him cheerily, step outside for a few words with his mom, then hide inside from the mosquito army camped outside my patio door.

Sunday, I had planned out my afternoon in a timely way and had little room for extra curricular activities. Following church, I'd prepare my weekday lunches, clean up dishes, do a bit of laundry, dress for a birthday party and leave. Then I heard my little neighbour's voice call out, "Nessa, are you there?" I peeked out from my kitchen without thinking. He saw me. I was caught. "Come and see how fast I can go!" In formerly white ankle socks, red shirt and shorts, Josh was out with his bike riding around in the the dirt.

I had no time for Josh today. To placate him I'd poke my head out every few minutes and call "Yes, I see you." "Oh my, that WAS fast!" "Do that again, Josh!" Hoping my responses were appropriate to what he was actually doing and allowing myself to finish the dirty dishes in the sink.

Whilst scrubbing a greasy pan, Dobson's book came to mind. I then saw myself living the "Martha and Mary" story of Luke's gospel. Martha busied herself with the household chores and Mary sat with Jesus listening to him and enjoying his company. Jesus appreciated and honoured Mary for her friendship and communion and wished Martha would join them.

My mind then jumped to the teaching of Jesus calling those who love him to welcome these little children, and in doing so, we welcome him.

My little Jesus was calling for me to come and watch him, to love him and to value him. He soon appeared again at my screen door to show off his bike helmet. I put down the dish cloth and told Joshua to wait one second. I ran to my closet, retrieved my bike helmet and joined him outside. We compared helmets and he was impressed that ours had the same 'buttons' to latch and unlatch them. He hopped on his bike, I leaned up against the tree and timed his riding from his patio to mine and back.

I went to bed that night still with a laundry basket of dirty clothes and I was a few minutes late to the birthday party, but for at least for a small section of my day, I remembered a commitment made long ago to live like Jesus and spent a valuable couple of minutes with him playing in the dirt.

It happens everywhere.

Mail and Male

Click on the photo below for the zoomed in version and notice to whom it's addressed. (Yes, I did blur out the address, attempting to keep strange people I don't know from knocking on my door. The strange people that I do know are quite enough!)

One of my first letters at my new apartment - Are you serious?!?

Sneak Preview

In one month, I will begin nesting down in this little neutral abode in Grandville.

Hopefully with a number of accessories and toys to make it a bit more colourful and a bit more 'Vanessa'!

For now, this is your sneak preview. Be sure to check back here 30 days from now for the real thing!

Guess what she's signing!