I've been lazy, but the Holy Spirt never is.

Tonight, the second person called me out on either not staying in contact or not updating my blog. I've just been lazy. I figured I'd better write something because Mother was getting worried. I guess there were some news reports of several people getting killed in Herat. Funny, but I'm here and I hadn't heard anything about it. So I'll need to at least write something even when nothing is happening.

Lately, I've been doing a lot of stuff that frankly isn't a whole lot of fun. Monthly property inventories and accountability were wrapped up yesterday. This is monotonous and I dislike it very much. It starts all over again next month. I've also had to counsel some soldiers for being overweight and take the appropriate administrative actions. This is also not fun. One thing that is good is that one of my soldiers dropped enough weight to come off of the "special population" (read fat-boy/girl) physical fitness program. Not that big of a deal, but he has made a lifestyle change! That is a huge accomplishment, and I'm very proud of him. I've also been writing up awards for U.S. Navy sailors. By the way, all of my people in my office are U.S. Navy sailors. It makes it very interesting. Anyway, I've been working on an award which isn't fun either. It's great to submit a service member for an award, but the approval process is frustrating. It usually takes several rewrites to get it through. I just finished tonight, and I think I've got it this time. I'm also mentoring my Lieutenant. Sometimes it's frustrating because he doesn't know a whole lot. That's when I remind myself that I was once like that. It's uncanny because he asks the exact same questions that I asked when I was a 2nd Lieutenant and I thought I was the baddest mo' frappy on the planet. It's actually kind of fun because I made a promise to myself that I would provide mentorship and guidance to my lieutenants when I was a Captain because no one ever did it for me. Of course, I did this when I was a Captain on active duty, but I think I'm much better at it now.

Finally, a great thing happened today. We had an English speaking priest give us an Ash Wednesday Mass, although it was Monday. This is the first English Mass we've had in two months! That wasn't the best of it, though. After Mass, Father offered the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). It felt good to go after two months without the opportunity, but that wasn't the great thing. After my confession I waited outside of the chapel for my friend to finish his. When he came out, he admitted to me that he had just done his first confession in over 10 years! Absolutely wonderful! He, of course, said he felt great. Of note, he did not receive communion during Mass and asked my why I thought that he didn't go before confessing, because he didn't know why. My only response was, "it must have been the Holy Spirit!" Not to wax religious on everyone, but the Holy Spirit truly guided his actions today; and it couldn't have come at a better time than the beginning of Lent.

By the way, any suggestions on what I should sacrifice for Lent? Lent begins Wednesday, so I have only one day to figure it out. I really can't give up alcohol or women as a Lenten sacrifice because the Army has already taken that away from me with General Order 1B! I need some help.

Enough of my rambling. Good night all.

Oh yeah, I'll get some pictures up soon.