June Inventory

June felt like it flew by in a blink of the eye. I am happy we are finally out of the tough part of quarantine; New Jersey has basically lifted almost all the restrictions. A big bulk of the restrictions will be lifted next week and while I am still ambivalent about eating out, a lot of people are embracing it. I am curious to see how things are going to unfold.

Highlights
-Paddleboarding
-Walks by the water
-Finally out of quarantine 

Lowpoints
-People not following restrictions
-All the unrest through the Country

Favorite Moments
-Friday night sunset Paddleboarding on the creek
-Early morning walks 

Favorite Posts
What's up Wednesday
June's Photo Story
June's Mixtape

Looking Forward to
-Beach Days
-More Paddleboarding
-Getting my tax refund (!!)

Quote of the Month
-Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly and most underrated agent of change.- Bob Kerry

Hope and Wishes for July
- Enjoy the sunshine, take time for the little things and see new things

What to look forward to in July
-Plant mom update (!!)
-How my word of the year still applies
-Top 10 Favorite books

I am looking forward to July and what shanangins await us. 

[[to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1]]

-gabrielle

Fabulous Five on Friday

Happy Friday! It's the last Friday in May- how the heck did that happen? This month was an interesting transition month for me. I started back in the office full time yet some the restrictions are still in place here in New Jersey. With this warmer weather, the beaches and boardwalks have been reopened under specific guidelines and restaurants have been doing curbside and dockside to options which include alcohol. It makes me giggle to see a margarita in a to go cup. HA! Lets write this down under things only that can happen during a pandemic.

I am excited to soak up the warmer weather by spending more time outside and also being more creative. The summer time is when I feel like my creativity is at its peak. I am excited what I come up with this summer.

For my Fabulous Five on Friday, I am taking an inventory in May. I love doing this; it gives me a chance to reflect and see what I liked, what I didn't like and what I can improve. Do you reflect on the previous month?

Highlights
+started painting and creating again
+walks around the neighborhood & seeing the marinas come alive
+Drive by birthday celebrations
+New goals were created and hopefully I will start to work on them in the upcoming weeks

Lowpoints
-still having anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed
-feeling lost
-feeling over with this whole thing

Favorite Moments
+Celebrated one year since my surgery and good health with an outdoor picnic
+played with fire and created something really neat
+so many good dinners with mama and daddy outside
+SUNSHINE and WARM WEATHER

Favorite Posts
+May Mixtape
+May Photo Story
+My Crohn's Disease Journey
+World IBD Day
+Dealing with Questions and Comments

Looking Forward To
+Official summer and the longest day of the year
+Going to the beach
+More creative projects
+Slowing down and enjoying each moment

Quote of the Month
+The most important decision you will ever make is to be in a good mood-Voltaire

Hopes and Wishes for June
+I hope June is filled with new possibilities, sunshine, the beach, lots of walks and a slower pace. I wish for lots of memories not captured by social media or cameras- just in my mind.  I want peace and quietness from all this craziness.

What to Expect in June on Wonder Grace and Joy
+Plant mom update
+My Hobbies
+Summer Wishlist

[[Be Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction and Faithful in Prayer. Romans 12:12]]

-gabrielle

ps. Don't forget to check out this weeks posts: What I Learned from Crohn's Disease and Crohn's Disease Resources

Linking up with Andrea and Erika today.

April Inventory

Another month almost done.  April was a month that felt like it was 6 years long. I cannot believe we have been under quarantine for so long. I pray that this is working and we will be able to return to our lives with a new normal. I felt pretty good physically all month; my emotional/mental health was wobbly but I think I've gotten a hold of it. I loved this quote above and I felt like I started to realize how true this is.

My April Inventory

Highlights
+Doing a lot of soul searching and thinking about my life
+Finding my Cross Stitch Project
+Long walks in the neighborhood
+Lots of writing
+Virtual Live Yoga

Lowpoints
-Sadness and being worried
-We are still in Quarantine

Favorite Moments
+Not filling my car up for almost a month (and gas less than $2!)
+Jumping into creative projects again

Favorite Posts
+The New Normal
+The Happy List
+Making my {Mental} Health a Priority

Looking Forward To
+Warmer weather and sundresses
+More days spent outside
+Continuing to adjust to the new normal

Quote of the Month
+Everytime you are able to find humor in a difficult situation,  you win.

Hopes/Wishes for Next Month
+ We see more hope and maybe an end in sight with this quarantine
+More clarity in my mind and for what I want and what I need

What to Expect Next Month
Lots of post about Crohn's Disease; May 19 is World IBD day and I am excited to share this with you all since its very close to my heart.

[[Respond to every call that excites your spirit- Rumi]]

-gabrielle

March Inventory

In the great words of Ron Burgdendy, Well that escalated quickly. March was a rough month. Did March feel like a year to anyone else?

Chalk and Leaves

Just like last month, I decided to take inventory in my month. This month was especially hard to find happy things but I think some good came out of this crazy month. What were your happy moments from this month?

Highlights
+Spending more time with my parents
+Running outside in the warmer weather
+SPRING
+Zoom yoga classes
+Learning to slow down and breathe (still working on this)
+Getting my sewing machine out to sew masks
+Reaching out to friends and family

Lowpoints
-Worrying and the stress of the COVID-19
-The unknown of all of this

Favorite Moments
+Running outside
+Seeing the flowers and trees start to bloom
+Family time (lots of it)
+Spotting rainbows and sidewalk chalk art on my runs
+Catching surprise sunsets on the water

Favorite Posts
+Thirty Two
+Recent Snapshots
+All About Me

Looking forward to
+More outdoor runs
+More yoga (virtual and in person)
+connecting with friends in person after all of this passes

Quote of the Month
+All great changes are preceded by chaos-Deepak Chopra
+At the end of the day, remind yourself that you did the best you could today, and that is good enough- Lori Deschene

Hopes/Wish for next month

+Not to take little things for granted- going out to aimlessly walk around Target/TJ Maxx/ Michael's; a food store with the shelves stocked; a boring Tuesday at the office that is full of employees and clients; seeing school buses on the road; and most importantly handshakes and hugs. We need to focus on the good things to come again, whenever that might be.

What to Expect Next Month:
+New Normal
+My Fitness Journey
+Being Vulnerable

[[Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you- 1 Peter 5:7]]

-gabrielle