HeartStories - Replace the noise. Hear love.

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
  • Get Involved
  • Blog
  • Become a Member
  • GNO
  • Cart

vacation

A mental vacation

If you’ve read my blog this week, you’ve probably noticed that I’m on vacation.  While I’ve been on vacation, I’ve been thinking that vacations aren’t exactly what they used to be.  With the rise of our ever-connectedness via modern technology, we can work from anywhere at anytime.  Oh the joy of it!

But I’m not really sure it’s bringing us the joy we imagined.

I took a nap today.  Maybe for the first time all year.  I sat down on the bed, picked up my laptop to work and promptly decided to close it, put in earplugs and go to sleep.  I completely checked out.  (I set an alarm and everything!)

I had to choose to take a mental vacation, even while on vacation.  

Sounds ridiculous, but it was so good.  I woke up a little lighter and happier than before.  It felt like a weight was lifted.  I could go play or get …

Share the Love!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
by Crystal Gornto Inspirational Words Love In Action Loving Yourself The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
read more

Building in a pause

Scott has a speaking engagement in New York tonight, so I tagged along to enjoy the fringe benies of his travel.  As always, it was a bit nutty getting everything squared away on the home front, make it to the airport in rush hour traffic in time to check the bags and stand in an enormous (& notoriously slow) security line to get to the gate.  By the time we got our halfway naked selves through security and gathered all our scattered belongings, we noticed the two big signs above the benches just ahead:

“Repack and Redress Here”

We had a good laugh about the fact that we’ve become so accustomed to the strip down shenanigans of the airport security checkpoint that we welcome a sign to tell us where to go to gather personal items and put clothes back on.  It was a much-needed comedic break from the stress of the previous couple of hours.

We …

Share the Love!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Loving Others Loving Yourself Priorities The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
read more

Priceless Moments

 

I’m a hustler.  I get up before the crack of dawn.  I can run with the best of them.  Give me a goal and I’ll blow it out of the water.

Every time.

But give me my son, asking me to help him with a creative school project.  Give me a Friday night movie with my fam on the couch. Give me ball games, a Saturday in the muddy creek with the boys, dinner with friends, snow skiing, summer in the mountains, time at the lake, a trip to the beach… and you’ll think this girl is a sloth.  I can laugh for days and sleep until noon.  I can’t get anything done.

It’s like a switch flips.

You can have Hustler Crystal or Vacation Crystal.  You have to choose one.  It’s almost impossible for those two girls to co-exist. (I’ve spent many hours of therapy around learning to …

Share the Love!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
by Crystal Gornto Love In Action 2 comments chat
read more

This is amazing

As summer draws to a close and kids head back to school, I’m feeling bittersweet emotions.  I’ve spent more time with the boys this summer than probably any summer before and yet somehow, it still doesn’t feel like enough.

I’m sad to see them go.

On the other hand, I’ve spent more time with them this summer than any other summer, AND we’re remodeling our house, which means there are many, MANY things to do and catch up on starting next week. So I’m excited to refocus my time back toward the things that have been on the back burner.  I’m looking forward to making some space to create again.

I’m looking forward to space to breathe. . . alone.

But even as those words hit the page, it sends a chill up my spine and a dagger to my heart.  I don’t want them to go.  This summer has been amazing.  Those boys are my life.

And …

Share the Love!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Love In Action Love in Friendship Loving Yourself Purpose Leave a comment chat
read more

What do you do with peace?

The last few weeks have been a bit unusual for me.  I’ve never traveled for three straight weeks before, but our annual family trip with my in-loves just so happened to be exactly adjacent to a family reunion trip with my extended family.  In all my planning, it seemed like it would be simple as pie.

It didn’t go exactly as planned.

Flights were cancelled, the airline wasn’t helpful, kids were tired, and momma was tired.  By the time we arrived in Colorado, I needed a vacation from my vacation.  Then there was the late bag, the wait for the bus to the rental car facility, the 45 minute line and the news that the car I booked wouldn’t hold all our bags, much less get us up the mountain on our four-hour drive.  Perfect.

Then a strange thing happened.

After we finally got some food and got on the road, I started to feel energized.  (alright, some …

Share the Love!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
by Crystal Gornto Love In Action The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
read more

Eating dinner off the ground

 

Traveling this my family this week, we visited some natural falls and hot springs.  It reminded me of an experience we had years ago.

When I was about 7 years old, my family shared a big green mobile home with some friends.   We took lots of fun road trips in that big monster.  I remember a fun trip to the Grand Canyon among others.  But there is one memory that stands out the most.

The picnic table tip.

If you’ve ever eaten at a picnic table connected to the benches, that wasn’t secured to the ground, you’re already laughing. If not, let this be your warning.

Make sure your crew sits evenly on both sides.

The story goes that we were at this natural falls campground.  We’d been playing in the water all day and returned to the camper to make hamburgers.  (I say “we”, but now that I’m a mother, I know it was …

Share the Love!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
by Crystal Gornto Love In Action Roadblocks in Life Leave a comment chat
read more

Posts navigation

← Older posts

Become a member!

The Girl's Night Out you won't regret the next day

Don’t miss any love!

Sign up to follow this blog here.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Upcoming Events

  • Off to the Races! GNO – Finishing Strong with Fascinators & Mint Juleps May 3, 2018 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  • 6.7.18 GNO June 7, 2018 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  • 7.5.18 GNO July 5, 2018 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Topics

Recent Posts

  • Shortcuts, quicksand and the long way home
  • New life around the table
  • The odd couple
  • There’s always a way
  • You can’t do it alone.  
  • The fairytale is a lie
  • Imbalance (and priorities)
  • Meaningful over mundane
  • Nothing gets in the way of family
  • Do it anyway

Stay in the know

Join our tribe to be first to hear about new events & products to keep you connected with purpose in the busiest seasons of your life.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

REPLACE THE NOISE. HEAR LOVE.

    

Press & Media | Site Credits Copyright © HeartStories 2018
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.