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Time, Trust & Transparency

It’s Thursday, so I’m throwing it back. I’m throwing it back to a time when Libba, Toni and my friend Mel (who somehow didn’t make this picture) were literally were saving my life. We originally dove into friendship in the most unorthodox way, by spending 20 days in a writing challenge we called “Friendship Writers”. Toni led us with a daily prompt and we each had to write for 20 straight minutes – no edits – in answer to the prompt. At the end of the 20 minutes, we were to hit “post” on the writing and be finished.

The result?

Those three ladies became the “Triple Threat” in my life for that season. When we began, we were nearly strangers. After twenty days, we knew things about each other that we’ve never shared with anyone else – before or since. We built a fortress together. But not a fortress built of …

Oaks and I had a little post mama date watch party last night while Dad and Noah were at camp. I wish I had “selfied” us watching the election results roll in. If you watched, you know, it was a bit of a roller coaster ride. While it can be stressful for grownups, because there’s so much on the line, I’m learning that it’s not only fun for kids to get involved.

It’s incredibly important.

Even if it still only feels like some sort of game to them right now, it’s a bonding moment between us. Elections open the door in our home to let your thoughts, and opinions be spoken and your voice be heard, even when we don’t all agree. They create a safe and empowering environment to think for yourself and share open discourse about what others think and really listen to why they think the way they do. The …

by Crystal Gornto Inspiration Love Love In Action Loving Others Loving Yourself Priorities Purpose Roadblocks in Life Leave a comment chat

Monday nights are date night for Oaks and me. We make a run to In-N-Out to get our favorites, since we’re the only ones in the family who’ll eat there. Then we sit in heavy traffic for more than half an hour on our way to pick up Noah from soccer practice. We talk and laugh while he points out all the exciting cars we pass.

But last night, the birds were back.

Apparently they’ve taken notice of the shorter days already. In their magnificence, they’ve collectively decided it’s time to head south. We sat in awe at the traffic light taking in the scene of thousands of birds resting simultaneously over the tollway. Every spring and fall in Texas, I’m taken aback by their journey. (And more than just because they make deposits all over the soft top of my car!) But last night, I couldn’t help but think about how one …

by Crystal Gornto Inspirational Words Loving Others Loving Yourself Priorities Purpose The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to rock the “Britney Spears” style microphone, Lauren (of Blue Posy Floral Designs) showed us all on Thursday night. As we were preparing for the Arranging for Autumn GNO, we had many discussions around layout and sound. Because as it turns out, when you put one hundred women in a room with their girlfriends, around tables, with food and wine, they talk and laugh. . . and talk and laugh some more. Which is, of course, all perfect and wonderful.

It’s exactly what we want it to be.

But when it comes time to learn to do the thing they came to learn to do, all that talking and laughter can make it difficult to for anyone to hear. So, to go along with our theme for the night, we rearranged the seating and the sound set up, to bring everyone a …

by Crystal Gornto Female Social Entrepreneurs Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Love In Action Loving Others Priorities The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

This day after Halloween, has been a special day for me my whole life long. For 31 years it was a special day because my sister Kim, my childhood best friend, playmate, and my partner in crime growing up, was born on this day. When I was born she was a two year old by my side.

She’s been by my side ever since.

Thirty one years later, as we neared the date for Oakley to make his entrance into the world, it became clear that there was a chance he could be born on Kim’s birthday. In fact, as we drew closer, it was more like an option. Being dilated to a 6 with no contractions on Halloween day, meant that we could just wait it out. . . or we could schedule an induction for the very next morning. I was worried about Kim losing her day of celebration if …

by Crystal Gornto Inspirational Words Love in Family Loving Others Priorities Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

These kids have been trick-or-treating together since before some of them were born. Literally. Halloween 2006, I was 39 weeks pregnant, dilated to a 6, and walking the neighborhood with this crew. Grant it, a couple of them were being pulled in wagons, and sweet baby girl wasn’t even part of the plan yet, but we were all together.

It’s Trick or Treat tradition.

The Collins are friends-like-family. They’re one family in our core group of friends, some of which, we’ve been doing life with since we moved to Frisco. They’re the reason we moved to Frisco back in 2004, after living one street over from them in Dallas. (Apparently, we like them a lot!) Even as the kids are becoming teenagers and going through the changes (in body and in friendship) that teenagers do, there’s still a familiar level of comfort that makes it easy for our families to spend time together. Over …

by Crystal Gornto Love in Family Love in Friendship Priorities The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

Time, Trust & Transparency

Sometimes, even if you lose, you win

Because you have a song

What “cool” is all about

A double gift

Let it be scary