Love in Family

Not the mom you want to be?

It’s always funny to me how the school system decides it’s “Fair Day”, but they take no one to the fair. It’s really just an extra day off school that clearly should be spent by mamas and kids frolicking happily at the fair, snapping photos to post to Instagram.

I don’t know about you, but at my house, it was still a Monday and the grownups around here work on Mondays.

I love that I get to work from home and be physically present with my kids. At the same time, running a business at this stage in the game means that I actually have to “do work” to keep the thing going. That inevitably means I felt guilty about not frolicking at said “fair”. I have every intention of beng a great mom on all the days, but that some days, I’m just doing the best I can. That negative …

Who doesn’t love a little joyride every now and then?

I wouldn’t typically categorize our morning commutes to school as “joyrides”, but yesterday was different. After we ran through our usual routine of showers, breakfast, and chores, it was time to secure Walter’s doggie diaper before we went out the door. As I closed the second velcro tab, assuring him “I’ll be right back”, I felt his increasingly frail little body and looked in those precious brown eyes. It suddenly occurred to me that while the weather is divine, and the jeep top is off, Walter might enjoy going for a little ride, instead of moping back to his little bed for the day. We know we don’t have much time left with him and he’s always loved the wind in his face.

So that’s exactly what we did.

I carried him out to the care, much to the boy’s delight. Just like …

by Crystal Gornto Inspiration Love Motherhood Priorities Leave a comment chat

Growing up, my sisters and I often spent the summers at my grandparent’s house on the Lake of the Ozarks. Those summers are some of my most cherished memories of my childhood. Grandma and Grandpa taught us to fish. Grandpa taught us to clean the fish and then Grandma taught us how to fry it up just right. We’d waterski, banana boat, cross the lake just to go to the candy store, and at the end of the day, while singing at the top of our lungs, we’d “bathe” in the lake off the dock, shampoo and all.

Grandma and Grandpa’s house was where it was at.

Looking back now as an adult, it’s a treasured gift to have such full memories of life with them both. Especially Grandma. She nurtured and loved us with everything she had. I was just one of her many grandkids, but you could have never convinced …

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

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been laughing a lot about all of the “national holidays” that are taking over my social media feeds. It’s all fun and games until somebody gets hurt.

Seriously though.

I try to be good about hopping on social media long enough to check in on people. I try to share something every day, even though I don’t do a great job of it. But you’ve got to be kidding me, people?? Throwing up holidays like National Daughter’s Day and National Son’s Day at the last minute? Who can keep up with all that? It’s like:

Surprise! It’s your mom’s birthday!

Oh, you didn’t know? You’re just so out of touch. (add another judgment on the pile)

I’m already THE worst at remembering birthdays. As much as I love writing cards and throwing parties to fully celebrate the people I love most, I’m the worst at gift-giving. I try, …

by Crystal Gornto Inspirational Words Loving Yourself Motherhood Our Story Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life 2 comments chat

Are you living proof that difficult roads often lead to the most beautiful destinations? Have you learned the hard way that the very best things in life aren’t usually surprising, and they don’t come quickly, or easily? If you’re anything like me, you’re echoing a resounding “YES!” in your mind as you read those words

The very best things often take the longest and require more of you than you think you have to give.

It’s no surprise then, that it’s been more than a year that we’ve been working to bring Cindy Pedraza Puente, the co-founder of CocoAndre, up to Frisco from Dallas to be our Featured Guest for a HeartStories Girls Night Out, chocolate-making class! I wanted so badly to have Cindy with us last year, but the timing and logistics simply didn’t work. At the time it was incredibly frustrating.

But today, I can see so clearly the beautiful destination …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Leaders Inspirational Women Love In Action Love in Family Motherhood Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

In each season of life, I find myself fighting the story in my brain that says, “But no, really. This next season is going to be calmer. More peaceful. There will be more free time and rest.” I fight it because I’ve now lived long enough to know better, life is not magically going to slow down on its own. It only takes one glance at the folks in the season of life ahead of me to realize, that next season might even be busier. I also fight it, because I want to flip that script from “there will be” to:

“I am making choices that lead to . . . more calm, more peace, more free time, and more rest.”

With these boys of mine quickly becoming teenagers – I do realize that there is a moment coming, not too far away, when my time spent mothering will significantly decrease. That’s …

by Crystal Gornto Inspirational Women Love In Action Love in Family Loving Others Loving Yourself Priorities Purpose The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

Not the mom you want to be?

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It’s National (what) Day?!

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Still here, still smiling, 10 years later

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More than this “busy” life we’re living

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