show up

Rise up with love

When I opened my eyes this morning, I was frantic to see a text from my sister Michelle, in Florida, letting us know she’s alright.   But there is no text. We texted all day on a family thread into the night last night, but that’s where it ended.  Based on my quick search of the interwebs this morning, I’m sure she’s without power.

I’m trusting she’s otherwise completely fine.

I read a stat that 75% of Floridians are without power this morning.  If they slept at all, they’re waking up to the darkness.  It was only a week ago, that their church in Orlando loaded a giant semi and drove to Houston to bring supplies to their brothers and sisters in need.  Oh how the tables have turned.  All those affected by Harvey are long from getting back on their feet and now Irma has left her mark.

When the storms, fires …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspiration Inspirational Women Love In Action Love in Friendship Loving Others Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
read more

Holding hands is how we save each other

My heart leapt when Nichole Nordeman tweeted, “I’m in tears over these human chains in Harvey flooding.  A woman in labor.  An elderly man.  Holding hands is how we always save each other.” 

It’s so true.  

If you’re close enough to hold hands, you’re close enough to see eyes.  When human eyes meet with care and compassion, it soothes us and makes us feel safe.   Our hearts are made for connection.

There is nothing more powerful than showing up and being present for the people in your life. 

Because even if there are no words, holding hands says, “I am here.  I am right beside you. I’m not letting go.”   It can’t happen through a text or even video chat.  It happens face to face.  Hand in hand.  Heart to heart.

Show up for the ones you love today.

And hold their hand.

Holding hands is how we save each other.  

to more love,

Crystal

P.S. …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspiration Inspirational Words Love Love In Action Love in Family Love in Friendship Loving Others Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
read more

This I know

My friend Melanie hosted an ice cream social style back to school party at her house yesterday to welcome the new families in our grade.  We’re not sure what happened, but none of the new families ended up making it out.   So we moms who already knew each other all just chatted it up around the pool while the kids played around like wild hooligans.

And ate truck loads of ice cream.   

If I’ve learned anything over a year of hosting the HeartStories Girls Night Out, it’s that the people who are meant to be there are the ones who show up.  Every single time.  When you throw a party, it’s easy to get caught up in wanting to make sure everyone you think would enjoy it, or benefit from it, shows up.  Just like yesterday, I caught myself thinking how much I wished the new moms where there so …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspiration Love In Action Love in Friendship Loving Others Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life 2 comments chat
read more

Difficult and optional

It seems impossible that summer is almost over.  Wasn’t it just yesterday we were hosting end of the year pool parties?!

My not-so-little babies aren’t super stoked about this.  

They’ve enjoyed this summer so much and they are both a little bit nervous about the level of academic difficulty and strenuous schedule of the upcoming school year.   They’ve missed their friends and can’t wait to get back to seeing them again every day. But when they weigh that against the pressure of the hard work, they end up looking for every reason in the book that they need to skip this entire year of school.  They’d much rather become beach bums and skim board all day long.  (I’m empathetic, promise.)  

But it’s become laughable.  

We’ve started making jokes about all the things they could, and could not do, in life with a 3rd or 4th grade education.  When that …

by Crystal Gornto Inspiration Love In Action Loving Yourself Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
read more

Circles of women

I woke up this morning, thinking about you and what to share with you today, the word “family” kept coming to mind.  Maybe it’s because I didn’t get as much time with mine yesterday as usual, I’m not sure.  But I know family looks different for everyone.

These girls are a huge part of mine.  

It’s one of the greatest blessings of my life that I had the privilege to grow up alongside these ladies.  We share a lifetime of memories, in our hearts and in our minds, that bind us together like the strands of a strong rope.  We will be by each other’s sides come hell or high water.

We’re sisters.

It’s our DNA, sure.  But it’s so much more than that.  It’s the memories, the shared experiences, that have weaved us together over the years.  It’s the laughter, the tears.  It’s banana boat rides and Thanksgiving turkeys.  It’s games of Monopoly …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Inspirational Words Love in Family Love in Friendship The Journey Through Life 1 comment chat
read more

Choose your legacy

I don’t know how he does it, but my dad seems to make it to almost all of the boy’s ball games (& all their cousin’s games too!).  It doesn’t matter if it’s rain or shine.  Inside or out.  Soccer, football or basketball.

When that whistle blows, he’s usually sitting on the sideline.

He’s an encourager.  Over all these years, he’s looked for the best in people and learned how to encourage them to see it too.  He notices even the smallest wins or minor improvements and celebrates them.  He sees what makes people special and he’s trained himself to find the opportunity to speak it.

Guess how he sees it?

He keeps showing up.  Game after game.  Weekend after weekend.  Eyeball to eyeball.  He’s paying attention.  He’s looking for the good.

It’s his lifeblood.

As we were driving away from a game this weekend, I was thinking about how special that is for our boys.  That over their …

by Crystal Gornto Inspirational Words Love In Action Love in Family Loving Others Priorities The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
read more