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Real life and real love behind the highlight reel

Every month at GNO I talk about the incredible importance of going below our “perfectly curated” social media feeds to the real stories that weave us all together as human sisters.  The places behind the filtered scenes where real life happens.  On a day like today, where your feed is likely bubbling over the top with perfect pictures of longevity, love, and romance, it leaves me no doubt that you’re likely feeling a little “less than”.  Like everyone else has a love story that is surely less messy than yours.   You know how I know?

Because I feel it too.

It’s easy to look at the declarations of love and best friendship infiltrating your newsfeed and begin to believe that even if they struggle, it’s not as hard, messy, or difficult as yours.  Like somehow they hit the magic lottery.  Their kids don’t struggle at school, or ever fight at home.  They …

by Crystal Gornto Inspiration Love Love in Family Loving Others Loving Yourself Motherhood Priorities The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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It’s SERENDIPITY!

They say life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.  I believe “them”.  Especially when I see this picture.  This is Amanda Acreman.  She’s the Lab Manager at Serendipity Labs, which is a beautiful new upscale coworking space here in Frisco.  We met serendipitously through a tip from my friend Elizabeth, who curates events at another venue here in town.  Elizabeth and I had been working for several months to see if there was a way HeartStories could grow into their space as a next step in our Girls Night Out journey, but it seemed that no matter how we sliced it, it wasn’t going to be a fit.  I wanted that venue to work, so badly.

I was sad to even need to consider another space.

I couldn’t imagine that a co-working space would be a fit for what we were doing.  I couldn’t see how they would have a …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Love In Action Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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Aim for the rocks!

At the “BraveHearted Cookie” GNO Thursday night, this incredibly strong and brave sister Regan, shared a story with all the women about one summer in college when she volunteered at a teen adventure camp.  The last week of camp they set out white water rafting.  She had all twelve of her kids in the raft when she saw the other boats were all flipping at a certain point in the falls.  The lead guide instructed her that if she didn’t want her boat to flip she needed to get all the kids to the front of the boat, paddle hard, and aim the boat to HIT THE ROCK HARD!

It seemed counter-productive, but Regan trusted that the guide understood exactly what needed to happen.  

She knew the kids in her boat.  She knew they were strong enough to do it and that they would be brave enough to hit that rock hard.  …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Leaders Inspirational Women Love In Action Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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A life without love

It’s been a HUGE last seven days for Team HeartStories, and me.  “Event week” is always super busy as we pick up steam to pull together and tie up all the loose ends, but this past week was exceptionally huge.  Our venture to try out live streaming the live GNO event to those who wanted to enjoy the experience along with us at home, added to the “normal” pressure that comes with hosting a sold-out event was more than any of us had anticipated.  It meant (very) late nights and incredibly full days of trying to squeeze it all in before Thursday night, but we pulled together and we did it!

We made it across the finish line. 

Certainly not without more than our fair share of hiccups and blunders, but we did it and the reviews were exactly what we hoped for; the ladies felt loved and honored.  They had a …

by Crystal Gornto Inspirational Words Love In Action Loving Others Our Story Priorities The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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Jump, while you’re still afraid

I spent six hours yesterday with Hannah, one of the most patient, kind and helpful people I know.  She’s our HeartStories right-hand person. (We haven’t given her an official title yet because she’s basically our “boots-on-the-ground miracle worker” and that title seems a tad bit long.)  I wish this was a picture of her yesterday, but y’all she would kill me and I love her too much.  The point is, we spent six hours together, working on ALL the tech components for the “GNO at Home”  livestream workshop that we’re offering this Thursday for folks who weren’t able to attend the live event due to the early sell out.  It seemed like an easy idea to just grab a phone, stream the two workshops, and voila! . . . anyone who wants to join us, can now host their own girls night right along with us!

It’s funny how things seem so …

by Crystal Gornto Inspirational Words Our Story Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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Courage looks different in every season

As we were planning out the weekly content for this month, based around bravery, Megan and I were brainstorming all the places women have to practice courage.  As I was thinking through all of the areas of my life that require courage, “parenting” quickly bubbled to the top.  It’s funny, because when the boys were younger, parenting required more endurance.  Now that they’re entering their teenage years, I’m learning that love in parenting requires huge amounts of courage.

We took this picture at the beach in 2016.

The rest of the family had to leave but that year, I had a little more space in my schedule, and the boys really wanted to stay longer.  So the three of us rented a tiny little car and cheap little (upstairs) motel room across the street from the water at The Sunshine Inn.  We decided we would go on an “adventure”.  As an Enneagram …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspiration Inspirational Women Love in Family Loving Others Motherhood Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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  • Real life and real love behind the highlight reel
  • It’s SERENDIPITY!
  • Aim for the rocks!
  • A life without love
  • Jump, while you’re still afraid
  • Courage looks different in every season
  • Finding your way through, together
  • The only way through
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