Faith over Fear

Happy Friday!

Its the last day of July and I am excited for what August has in store for us. I am linking up with Andrea and Erika today for Friday Favorites. My Friday Favorites looks a little different than what I normally post today and I thought I would share something that has been on my heart for a while. 

I have been thinking a lot lately about faith and how we must hold on to the thought that things will get better.  It might get messier and harder before it starts to get better but it will get better. I have been seeing on a lot of instastories of people sharing they have been struggling with this unknowingness again including me. I think we all have thought about-When will this end? Will we ever get back to normal?  What is our new normal going to look like? What is going on in the world right now? How did this all happen? Why is this all happening now? I think its kind of comforting we are all in the same unknowing place, in a weird twisted way. 

I think I have been in a good place mentally lately and I am proud that I have been able to handle all this stuff with the tools my therapist taught me over the years; I am definitely not immune to these questions still swirl around my head and it can be overwhelming to think about. I have been trying to focus my thoughts on something else- having faith in the big picture. I may not understand what the big picture is completely but I know during times like this, its a struggle to have faith things will work out. Having faith, in something, anything can help you redirect your focus to help you not be so anxious, overwhelmed and sad. Believing in and having faith in a higher power, whoever that might be for you, can also be comforting and allows you to focus and put your energy into faith not fear of the unknown. 

It has been helping me to read a devotional each night. I read the corresponding bible verse and then the devotional. Its something that I have done since April and it has really calmed my mind each night before going to bed. I try to make that the last thing I read each night. I have been making my way through the What Really Matters and I really have been enjoying it. Some nights, it seems as if the devotional knew exactly what I needed to read. For a little pick me up during the day, these verse help me remain calm and faithful.

  

A year ago today, I walked away from a relationship that was no longer serving me, I had left the relationship mentally a long time before I physically walked out of the door. The choice was easy and hard (if that is possible) to be made and when it was said and done, I knew deep down, that it was the right decision. I had no idea what my next step was after walking out. I had faith that this would be better in the long run and I also knew that it might get messier before it got easier. One step after another, slowly but surely, day by day, things got better, I became the person who I used to be and I picked myself up and found a new normal. I got through it even though in the moments of messiness, it didn't seem that it would ever end. As I look back, I realize it took a lot of faith to make that HUGE decision for myself.

When was the last time you made a leap of faith?

[[If you have faith as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for you- Matthew 17:20]]

-gabrielle

PS. All of these images were found on my Pinterest account. I have been a huge fan of Pinterest from the start, stop by and say hello!

PPS. If you are having a hard time dealing with all of this worry and unknown, please do not be afraid to reach out to friends, family, mental health professional to ask for help. Asking for help is the bravest thing you can do. NAMI is there to help- they have a ton of resources for you. 

PPSS. Did you miss this weeks posts? Check them out here July Mixtape and Dear July.

Have a great weekend! 😃

Dear July....

Dear July, 

I am sad to see you leave so soon; it felt as if you didn't stay too long. You came in hot and you are leaving hot. I wasn't sure what you were going to bring this month; the last few months have been crazy to say the least, I was hoping for a calm month. You did a great job with providing calmness. You brought me a lot of opportunities to think and process and figure out what I want. The conversations I had this month have really put things into perspective and helped me gain some knowledge that will help me with future decisions.

Work has been steadily busy and I am here for that. My days usually fly by and if I am lucky my snacks last until the afternoon (its rare that they will last past 10 AM). I am continually blown away by the amount of work that my office receives daily. I went on a few lunchtime walks that lead me to see some beautiful things in the neighborhoods right around my office. A secret garden, a house that I fell in love with and new murals. These walks let me escape the cold of my office, allow me to get some fresh air to clear my mind to start the afternoon new and to enjoy the small things. 

July, you let me spend ALOT of time outside. I went for many walks in Ocean Gate, I swam and kayaked in the river and had lots of Standup Paddleboarding yoga sessions on the creek. I saw beautiful skies during dusk; I watched swans, dragonflies, ospreys, seagulls and ducks along the water; I sat on the beach on a numerous occasions just taking in what the view had to offer. I loved listening to the water meeting the shoreline and hearing the laughter of children playing. There is something about living by water and being by the water that makes everything calm and feel okay. I have mentioned this to many of my friends and we all agree, the water has this magical effect.

I spent a lot of time at home, as well. I only venturing out one time to an actual store (not just the food store)- for the first time since quarantine. I was so excited to go to Target, I got there an hour before they opened! HA! Going into stores now, for me, is not as enjoyable as it used to be. There is something different about it and I cannot put my finger on it.  I still enjoy (probably a little too much) food shopping early in the morning before the crowds. I am not fully comfortable yet to be out with large crowds.  Not going out shopping has done wonders for my savings account, too. New Jersey is allowing outdoor dining but from what I see in my town, social distancing isn't being followed that well and that makes me a little uneasy. I am hoping people will start to follow the rules better or we will be stuck in quarantine and phase two forever. 

I have been feeling physically AMAZING. I am always in disbelief that I feel this good, consistently. Is this how people who don't have chronic illnesses feel all the time? It has almost been a year of continually feeling good and I thank my lucky stars every day for this fabulous feeling. I have slowed down with my workouts this month but I did other things that were physically active-walks, paddleboarding, yoga, kayaking. Maybe August will bring me some oomph to start my workouts again.

Another unexpected joy this month- buying a desk and chair. This has totally changed my productivity levels with this blog. I used to blog from my bed and while it was very comfortable, it was hard sometimes to concentrate. Having a dedicated space that I can blog or do school work makes me so happy and I am able to concentrate much easier.  I find myself getting up early and staying up later than normal to work on a post or do some research. Speaking of school, I signed up for classes for the fall semester. I might not have truly enjoyed the college experience back in 2006 but now I embracing on line learning and being able to have time to take classes again. I hope this excitement continues with school and the blog, I have been enjoying this a lot.  

July you brought me three of my favorite posts I have written lately- Favorite Books, Plant Mom Update and  Am I Still Blooming? These were so much fun to write and share with you. My plants are loving their new homes and I have been finding new ways to continually bloom in all aspects of my life. 

Its hard to think we are now entering the second half of 2020, July. How in the world that even possible? You have brought me some great moments this month so THANK YOU for making this a good month, July. I am looking forward to August and seeing what he has to offer. As you wind down July, can you tell August to keep up the beautiful sunsets and turn the heat down just a smidge, we are kind of melting here in New Jersey. 

XOXO

-gabrielle

July Mixtape

Hi Friends. This month's mixtape is truly a mix of all different kinds of music. This month's music brings me so much joy- old favorites mixed with new favorites.  I hope you enjoy these tunes!

WGJ vol. 7

Thank you Lord - Chris Tomlin, Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line

Like I Knew You Would- Peyton Smith

Stay Awhile- New Found Glory

Little More Be Alright- Drew Green

Would Have Loved Her- Chris Bandi

Single For The Summer- Sam Hunt

Come & Go- Juice WRLD, Marshmello

The Hurt is Gone (Acoustic)- Yellow Card

Me About Me- Raelynn

Good Times Roll- Jimmie Allen, Nelly

Tonight, Together- The Goo Goo Dolls

Given The Chance- The Starting Line

The Boys of Summer- The Ataris

Wouldn't Be Home- Don Amero

Dear Maria, Count Me In- All Time Low

Had Me By Halftime- Morgan Wallen

The Great Escape- Boys Like Girls

Hay Girl (Stripped)- Ryan Robinette

Head On Collision- New Found Glory

Seaside- Billy Currington

The Night Will Go As Follows- The Spill Canvas

Dirt Road Anthem- Jason Aldean

Smile- Katy Perry

Springsteen- Eric Church

Listen here. 

What have you been listening to lately?

[[Like a soundtrack to a July Saturday night-Eric Church]]

-gabrielle

P.S. This is my 100th post for Wonder Grace and Joy! ONE HUNDRED! I am so excited about this.  AND this past week I've had over 10,000 views on Wonder Grace and Joy.  

P.P.S.If you didn't notice I was able to import my posts from Everyday Jersey Girl and Just Simply Elle onto Wonder Grace and Joy. I have been blogging for almost 10 years at this point. I am happy to see all my posts in one place. 

Funny Friday

Happy Friday! 

Summer has definitely showed up this week- it has been HOT! Lucky for me, my work (window) AC unit has been keeping my office just above the freezing mark. This week, flew by; Lots of odd things came up that never had come up before. HA! Let's just say I have been learning ALOT in this week.  I wasn't able to take many walks this week due to the excessive heat but I did get out on my lunch one day to take a short walk. I stumbled upon this beautiful garden that was on both sides of the sidewalk; it was magical. Bees and butterflies floating from one flower to another, I felt transported to another place. It was a nice little break from work. I plan to visit this magical garden again. 

I also put in to take today off and the next five Wednesday's off. I love taking Wednesday's off because its perfect- you work two days, you're off one day, you work two days and then you're off for two days. I am hoping this will help me recapture some summer fun and help me enjoy this unique summer some more. 

On a very important note:

Stanley is MISSING!

*not Stanley, just a likeness of him

We have not seen him for over a week now. I am getting worried. The last time mom saw him, she said he had a wound on his leg and he was laying down on a tree branch outside our kitchen window. I hope he's okay. Maybe putting this out into the universe that I miss him, he will come around. I hope he's just hiding somewhere to avoid the heat. Fingers crossed.

Moving on.....

Here are some meme's I found this week that seriously made me laugh. I found all of these in the Facebook group: Quaramemes There are some really REALLY funny ones on here.  I hope you laugh just as hard as I did looking at these.

also please tell me that someone else still smiles underneath their mask when they see someone, I cannot stop doing it. I look like this constantly

I will leave you with a great joke I heard this week: What do you call a peek-a-boo injury? ICU! 😂

Did you miss this weeks posts- Plant Mom Update and Mid-Week Thoughts

[May the next few months be a period of magnificent transformation]

-gabrielle

Linked with Andrea and Erika.

Mid-Week Thoughts

Social Media. We all have a love/hate relationship with it. I know from my experience with it, it has tremendously changed, especially in the last 5-7 years.  Most people have some type of social media and use it daily if not hourly.  I have some thoughts on Social Media this week for my Mid-Week Thoughts.....

The other night, I was rummaging through my Tumblr account looking for a specific post; I was deep in my archives-July 2013ish- and I found exactly what I was looking for (it was the friYAY! pink graphic from last Friday, if you were wondering). Then I started to look even further back and I noticed something interesting. I posted whatever I wanted- I wasn't cohesive, it was part of a color scheme, it was what made me happy. If I wanted to post 7 photos in a row that was for a holiday, I did. If I found a long read that I agreed with, I shared it. It didn't matter what you did and that was magical.

I also took a short trip back to my other two blogs- Just Simply Elle and Everyday Jersey Girl; Most of these posts were just me talking, little snippets from my day or something funny I observed. The posts were sometimes only a few lines, sometimes they were long. I miss that kind of blogging. I feel now when you post something you have to make sure it fits your online presence and the aesthetic matches with your mission statement. In the old days of blogging, you did it strictly because you liked what you saw and you wanted to authentically talk about it.

There are bloggers that do exactly that- they jus talk about their lives without any concern for a specific aesthetic or cohesiveness- they post about their lives- messiness and all. I LOVE that- the ones who aren't afraid to be real.

Krista Robertso from Covering the Bases was posting from her Instagram archives last week and she was commenting on how what she posted back in 2013 would never work in today's instagram. She had a lot of #ootd collages that showcased her accessories and preppy outfits. Carly Heitlinger from Carly the Prepster also was talking about how she looked back at her Pinterest secret board from 2011 and showed what her aesthetic was back then for her wedding. Carly has been pretty true to herself (from what I've observed online) and her aesthetic over the years.  Its nice to see these Influencers be authentic and show that they used to do the same thing- post whatever they wanted.

Its funny how things change over the years. This old way of social media- posting what you want- I think was so much more authentic. You shared what you wanted to share, you didn't have to follow any unwritten rules and online life just seemed simpler. That was just over 5 years ago- it seems like a lifetime ago. Now, in 2020, if you are an influencer, you have to post certain things, saying exact phrases and positioning branded items in your photos/videos just so. I am glad Instagram has made influencers tag their posts as 'sponsored' or 'ad' to show people that they really are getting paid to talk about a certain product.

During the pandemic, I think everyone has been consuming more screen time then they ever had. It looks like people are having the best time ever and I fall into this comparison trap of saying "why are they having a better time than I am?" You only see what they are showing your in their winning season; you have no idea what they lost in their losing season. Its a fine line to see and not become consumed with it all.

Do I love this new social media...the jury is out on that. I try to show my authentic self  online, in whatever I post, wherever I post it. I know I have been more selective what I choose to post which for me makes sense- its all about joyfulness- if it doesn't spark joy, its not being posted by me. I have also been more selective on what I choose to see in my newsfeed. Why would I post something that I just hate or am angered by. I try to keep the joyfulness and authenticity in the forefront.

I think that's enough for this Mid-Week Thoughts. I'm going to try to do this ever so often, its fun to just write 

Do you enjoy social media like you used to? Has the use of social media changed for you?

[Bring your own sunshine]]

-gabrielle

Plant Mom Update

Hi! I'm here for an update on my babies- my plants. Its been interest the last few months, a total learning curve. Having plants in my office have definitely brought me a lot of joy and not to mention a breath of fresh air. If you didn't read my first post about becoming a plant mom, read it here.

Most of the plants were doing really good in the spots, I originally put them in. I will move Joy! or Scott's Tots to the window sill once in a while when I think they need some more sunshine. The quints made the biggest transition; I moved them to my house when the COVID mess started and while I miss seeing them while I am at work, its nice to see them at home. I think they are getting too used to the house- I am going to break their hearts when I move them back to work. HA! Lets hop right into how everyone is doing:

Bunsen

Bunsen has been living his best life recently. He was looking sad and not his best; Momma helped me to replant him and freshen up his soil and let me tell you, it's like I have a brand new plant on my hands. He looks so healthy and vibrant. He loves his new bright yellow pot and I think it really brightens up my office. Some of his leaves kept turning brown and while I don't exactly know why, I think the new soil is really helping.

Beeker

Beeker was so jealous when Bunsen got new soil and a new pot before him. HA! Beeker just was replanted this weekend and from the looks of it, he is so much happier that he is in a pot by himself. His tall and long leaves are loving the space. He was crowded in a pot with his other two brothers I decided to move the other two out and replant them in their own pot. Say hello to....

Statler & Waldorf

I think Statler and Waldorf are going to be much more happier in their own planter. Beeker, Statler and Waldorf all seemed to perk up once they were replanted in fresh soil. I can't wait to see how they grow. 

Joy!

Joy! has had it rough since I adopted her. I have yet to figure out a proper watering schedule for her and her outer leaves sometimes just turn ugly overnight. Maybe she needs a new spot? Maybe I need to go back to water her with  ice cubes again; Overall Joy! is still a joy to have.

Scott's Tots

Oh Scott's Tots... Just like the cringeworthy episode of The Office this succulent cannot seem to catch a break. Within the first two days, I overwatered it and killed one of the plants in it. Now I haven't killed anyone else (yet) but they all seem to be on life support. These things, against all odds, keep living. They might not look the prettiest but they sure do have some gusto and I like that. If all that I do is keep them alive and sorta healthy, I am happy.

The Quints

They handled the transition from office to home really well. I know Orchids are fragile and moving them was a big risk. This risk totally paid off. The Orchids are blooming really well and I think they like home more than the office. I think it has something to do with all the natural light they get all day long.

Tiger Lilly

Tiger Lily bloomed for a very long time and then one by one her blooms started to wilt and fall off one by one. I am hoping they will rebloom again, she had pretty blooms.

Buttercup

Buttercup bloomed for a longtime and is still blooming. Her bright yellow flowers make me so happy. Buttercup and the others seem to be really hardy which surprised me because I always thought of orchids as fragile.

Snow White

Snow White bloomed also for a long time and her pure white petals really popped against the blue walls in the kitchen. She lots her flowers a few weeks ago and I am so ready for her to bloom again.

Violet

Violet is the strongest orchid out of the five of them. She bloomed back in February and she JUST lost her blooms at the end of June. She kept the most blooms for the longest time. I fell in love with her vibrant and unique color the moment it bloomed.

and last but not least,

Sunshine AKA Quint #4

Quint #4 FINALLY bloomed after a long six months of waiting in anticipation. She had a teeny tiny bud back in February but nothing ever came of that. Once I moved her home, she slowly started to bud again but it looked as if she stopped. I tried talking to her and then decided to turn her to face Buttercup and low and behold, it worked- She started to bloom within a few days. She is a beautiful yellow with a purple stripe on each petal.

Lulu

Lulu is doing great considering I accidently chopped off her vine. I felt terrible but it seems as if she is growing slowly; she loves hanging out with Bunsen and Beeker.  I hope she takes after them!

If having 10 plants wasn't enough, I had some flower seeds from my birthday that I never planted; I planted them last weekend and they are starting to grow already! Meet Sparkle and Firecracker!

Sparkle

Sparkle is starting out slow and steady with 3 little sprouts. I was so excited to see green in the planter! I am so curious to see what is actually going to bloom. There are three different types of seeds in both Sparkle and Firecracker.

Firecracker

Firecracker is quite the overachiever. He already has 9 (!!) sprouts. I thought something was digging in the soil but when I took a closer look, it was little sprouts. Just like Sparkle, I am so curious to see what is going to bloom.

Well, It looks like I am a great plant mom, I kept everyone (mostly) alive and thriving! I love being a plant mom and learning about all the different types of plants I have. I also have a new found appreciation for gardens and plants. I cannot help but notice all the beauty nature has to offer.

I am excited to see how Bunsen, Beeker, Statler & Waldorf do in their new homes; I am excited to see what blooms in Firecracker and Sparkle. Overall I am still hopeful and excited about my plant mom status.

Have you had luck with plants during quarantine?

[[If speaking kindly to plants helps them grow, imagine what speaking kindly to humans can do.]]

-gabrielle

Fabulous Four on Friday

Happy Friday!

Did anyone else feel that this week moved both fast and slow? I felt like I got a lot done but I also have a lot to still accomplish. This week's weather was beautiful- some humidity but not a lot and the nights were exactly what you would expect in July- perfect.

1. Luck
Do you know the feeling when the Universe puts things in your path for a specific reason? I feel like the universe has been putting subtle little hints in my path for the last week or so; grasshoppers, ladybugs and dragonflies have been appearing in my path and I have been noticing them. Grasshoppers, ladybugs and dragonflies all are a symbol of luck and good things to come. Now it's just a waiting game to see what is to come from these lucky items.

2. Kayak
Over the weekend, my dad and I tried out his father's day gift- an inflatable kayak. We were both excited to try it out. It was awesome-easy to inflate (within 10 minutes) and we were on the water zipping around. I would totally recommend the Intex K2 Explorer Inflatable Kayak. It can be found here. (Its sold out but keep checking- its totally worth it.) Super easy to use, especially for two beginner kayak-ers.

3. Desk
I bought a desk and chair on Wayfair two weeks ago and they came this week. I was eager to put them together and I am so excited to have a space to write instead of writing in my bed. This desk and this chair have made me so happy. I have been intentionally making time to sit and write an plan. I love that my desk looks out to my backyard and the seeing the sunshine through the trees in the morning has made me so happy.

4. Stanley
Since quarantine, I have been spending a lot of time looking outside.  I have noticed certain animals hanging around certain trees and running through the yard. One squirrel in particular, Stanley, has stood out for me. This little squirrel has the skinniest little tail I've ever seen. I've seen him multiple times and I've taken a liking to him. Well, most recently, I haven't seen Stanley running around while I eat breakfast and I got worried. Earlier this week, as I was leaving, I finally saw him, I got SO EXCITED to see him again. You would have thought I saw a celebrity HAHA! Stanley looks like he is doing great, skinny tail and all. [I blame this squirrel watching on the quarantine.]

Check back next week for my plant update- spoiler alert: things are going pretty darn good! 😊

Did you miss my posts from this week? Check out July Photo Story & What's Up Wednesday

Linked with Andrea and Erika.

[[We have to choose joy and keep choosing it.- Henri J.M. Nouwen]]

-gabrielle

What's Up Wednesday

What's up everyone? I hope you are enjoying your July. This is definitely the most unique summer, I have experienced in a long time; I am soaking in all the goodness and I am trying to find the joy in this season of life. I think I have been doing a pretty great job with that. Have you been trying to find joy during your season of life?

What I'm Eating

Lots of farm fresh veggies.  I am all about fresh produce in the summer. We had corn from a local farm over the weekend and it melted in my mouth.

What I'm Reminiscing About

Summers past; I am loving this summer and what it has to offer but I do miss the normal hustle and bustle of the area I live in.

What I've Been Loving

The sunshine and all my summer clothes.

What I'm Dreading

Nothing. I have been pretty content with life lately.

What I'm Working On

Putting my new desk and chair together. The chair arrived last week and the desk arrived Monday. More details to come!

What I'm Excited About

Having a dedicated space to write. 

What I'm Watching

I just finished season 2 of Greek and I am jumping right into season 3. I have a few movies on my watchlist that I want to jump into as well.

What I'm Listening To

What ever I can get my hands on. Lately, I have been exploring the new releases page on Spotify and I have been finding some new tunes. Also my Discover Weekly and Release Radar having been providing me some new tunes.

What I'm Wearing

Lots of dresses and sandals. I am trying to find causal yet work appropriate outfits using all the clothes I have.

What I'm Doing This Weekend

Beach, Kayaking, Paddleboarding, long walks- anything outside weather permitting.

What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month

Spending more time outside and starting my online class. 

What Else is New

Not too much, I have really been enjoying life lately.  I have been really enjoying writing more as well. I have been feeling quite lucky lately. I've been seeing things that might seem random but they all seem to be connected in a really good way. 

What are you up to?

[[celebrate every victory.]]

-gabrielle

July Photostory

Hello! Its time for another photo story. I think I need to change the name of this post to NATURE because that's what 90% of these photos are. I have been enjoying nature a lot during quarantine and the views I have been seeing have been spectacular. 

Have you been spending extra time outside lately/during quarantine?

Looking back on these photos I have taken over the month have reminded me that beauty is everywhere and you need to stop at look around one in a while. These moments were not planned, I was just in the right place at the right time.

[[The day I decided that my life was magical, there suddenly was magic all around me.-Marabeth Quin]]

-gabrielle