As we begin another Lent season, I pray that I can complete this promise to God. I believe that journally does help. Sure, the words may not be exactly what others think of the situation, but this is my space.

Starting Lent in Mexico and then returning to Iowa did bring some challenges in finding something to give up. I will be in Mexico for 30 days and Iowa 16 day. (Yes, it is 46 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter - 40 days exclude Sundays). Some of the thoughts:

1. Fast food: I don't eat fast food in Mexico, so didn't think that would be challenging enough.

2. No Social Media: I don't use it much as it is and I do need to do something things for business (and I need to see pictures of my babies)

3. No TV - nope

4. No Music - Hell to the No (sorry, take my music and kill me now)

5. Soda - No, I have done that and I don't want to try that again when I know I will be traveling

6. Late Night Snacks - that is hard when I will be traveling about 7 days

So these made the final cut:

1. Commit to journaling everyday - we are starting that now

2. Save $ - I am going to transfer money into my savings every day. We will do a countdown. $40 today, $39 tomorrow, $38 on Friday. I will not transfer on Sunday (to maintain the 40 count)

3. I am going to commit to not watch any gambling videos on YouTube. There are many events coming up (Fran's birthday week, Brian's birthday week, 1.2M drawing on Lady Luck, drawing on Dude Luck page...). But I commit to no reels and no videos.

4. This one is a little reminder for me to use the learning Spanish app daily. It would def change my experience at the ranch.

So, let's see what Lent brings us this year 🙏✝️

1. Journal done 

2. Transferred money into savings. I am questioning if I should transfer it to his account or even my Wells Fargo account. If I am successful, I will have over $800 in savings at the end of lent

3. No gambling videos... which was hard because I saw the thumbnail of Fran's video

4. Spanish--- just completed.

I worked most of the day. Javier left tonight. I always worry about him driving back - especially alone. When I drive back alone, I stop and sleep, he doesn't. It is weird being here without him, but I don't see him a lot when he is here. The kids kept asking if I was leaving - Nope, Not Today - that was the shirt I was wearing LOL

The next time he leaves for Iowa, I will be with him. I won't be back until summer. I have appointments in March and May. June 29th,  I have the cruise booked - but I might have to cancel with Staci moving. We'll see. There are other dates that would work, so no worries. I will have a cruise this year.

I fried some eggs for breakfast (I love fried eggs, but feel weird cooking here still). Then this afternoon I drove to Santiago to get a few vegetables that I could cut up and use in pasta. Pasta doesn't hurt my stomach as bad as other things, so that is my go to meal - or peanut butter toast.

🙏

Been a busy weekend. I wasn't feeling the best, I must have eaten something wrong again. We had power and internet issues all weekend. Seemed like anytime I wanted to journal, we didn't have internet. I didn't know that my laptop basically didn't work without internet. I will def have to look at that.

Sunday... woke up and thought I would be productive. Sunday I normally clean up the room, take a shower and then travel into Santiago to get fruits and vegetables for the week (kind of like a farmer's market). Well - it was cold, so I was going to stay under my heated blanket and work on the laptop in bed... Nope, no internet. I cleaned a little, turned on the heated blanket and then headed for the shower. No water... ok

I guess they didn't have the well pump on. So, I waited for the water to get hot and took a shower. Got to my room after my shower and the power went out. We pretty much had no power for most of the day. But no water, no internet, no power was a good day compared to other parts of Mexico. I didn't know anything about it until my mother sent me a message asking if I was anywhere near the violence in Mexico. Looked up on my phone and yeah, shit was hitting the fan over in Jalisco. The Mexican military killed the leader of the CJNG (new generation cartel in jalisco). Also managed to kill a few of the top men in that organization. So then the cartel started burning down the city (it was various cities but nothing close to me). A few of the Mexican states were put in "shelter in place" alerts. Airports were closed, Costco was burned down - lots of cars and buses burned. Most of Mexico closed. 

Monday was quiet. Schools were closed and people just kind of chilled. Some parts of Mexico were business as normal. You wouldn't know that from all the articles posted on social media from the US. I swear, I feel safer here than in the US. But whatever. 

We had water, power and internet on Monday, so I had lots to do. I have been feeling off. Missed a few days of meds. More pain. More crying for no reason after hearing a song. 

Today is Tuesday and I am exhausted. No real reason. But I needed to get back on track. 

1. Missed a few days of journaling (some was internet and power related)

2. NO gambling videos

3. I need to check on which bank transfers I missed

4. I know I didn't do any of the spanish lessons

So now I need to get back on track. Next week I will be finishing up the business paperwork, but then I will need to work on taxes.