Back to our regularly scheduled program

Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Happy 2019!!!

If this is your first time reading my blog Welcome. Here is a little backstory on who I am. My name is Danie Weaver. Notice there is an e in my name hence the daniewithanerelfections. I am a Christian. I am a huge Disney fan. I am a nerd. Sometimes my blogs are reflections placed on my heart by my heavenly father. Sometimes they are reflections of my feelings and sometimes they are purely geeky. I am married to Jman who is also a geek and gamer. I started blogging in July of 2018 and usually blog every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Oh yeah, I’m also a Cancer survivor, so many of blogs are trying to navigate the world post cancer and find the new normal.

Welcome new readers.

Old readers thank you for your patience and support while I took a much-needed break to go on vacation and get over a cold. Yes right after I got home I got sick. Which sometimes is par for the course of a vacation.

Today is the first Monday of the new year. My job as a teacher at a local college comes back today. I also start classes for pursuing my Masters and Credentials in Special Education today as well. Not to mention that Jman’s work schedule is changing yet again. I can’t wait for the day when his schedule doesn’t change so much and he gets weekends off. If you are thinking wow Danie that sounds like a full week. You are right. It is a full week. It usually takes us two weeks where I feel like we are just scraping by then the light at the end of the tunnel breaks through and it is not a train.

Now I am not going to say I’m the type to say I like change. I embrace change and go with the flow but I have to mentally prepare for the change. I process things. I take a few days to mentally prepare for change. However, on vacation, I pushed these changes into the back of my brain. Now today I am feeling anxious.

I am also a plan b type of person. I love to have a plan b sometimes a plan c and rarely a plan d. I make sure all my ducks are in a row before I start any plan. Jman is more easy going and much like Han Solo goes into a situation guns blazing.

I have found that both of these aspects of myself can cause me to sin. If I process too much then I am fixating on a problem and being present. If I am more concerned with my other plans usually my plan A fails because of something that is a minor detail that I forgot. Like forgetting to look at hours of operation or if it will rain today.

I work on all the time being present, realizing that making extra plan also distracts from the now.
So what do I do when I’m anxious and jumping into processing and planning mode?

Keep my normal morning routine. For myself, I usually get up, get dressed, get ready, turn on uplifting music, make my tea, read my devotions, eat breakfast, make my lunch, and anything else that needs to happen. I put all the things that I need that day in a centrally located spot so when I head out the door I have everything I need.

I am present on Social Media. Now, this is the hardest place to be present sometimes. So often this is a place where everyone is bragging, sharing how great their life is. Often I find my self comparing my life to others. That as I scrolling through everyone posts I get caught up in my own hurt. Often there are others who are hurting. I miss them. So I will take social media breaks. Or remember to confess my sins as well. Then when I see someone hurting I can pray for them. Usually, I leave a prayer in the comments so the person knows that I am actually praying for them.
I pray.

I check in with Jman. Jman and are constantly checking with each other throughout the day, this makes our relationship stronger.

I have safe people I can text to let them know I am struggling.
I am aware when an anxiety storm is on the horizon. Like this week I know will be filled with anxiousness and planning and processing. There will be fails, misfires. And those things are okay but one needs to learn from those mistakes. I will keep my life simple, not add anything else new. Life will be simple and structured again and once we find our rhythm.
I acknowledge grace. Grace is abundant and helpful.
Finally, I tune out the voice that says: I am not enough. You will never be enough. I fill my week with positive music. I watch positive shows. I tell the Devil that I will not listen to his lies. I may mistake but they don’t define who I am. When my insecurities flood in about going back to school I acknowledge the facts and try to learn from it.

What’s your week like this week? Is it normal? New or routine?

TTFN or Ta-Ta, for Now, May God Bless you and keep you:)

Psalms: 142: 5-8
5 Then I pray to you, O Lord.
   I say, “You are my place of refuge.
   You are all I really want in life.
6 Hear my cry,
   for I am very low.
Rescue me from my persecutors,
   for they are too strong for me.
7 Bring me out of prison
   so I can thank you.
The godly will crowd around me,
   for you are good for me.”