courage

We need your wabi-sabi

I love the way life often gives you exactly what you need for the moment, in the most unexpected ways. . . if only you’re paying attention.

As we’re working on decorating our home, I’ve been reading articles about design lately, more than ever in my life. While I was recently reading an article about trends for 2019, (which in truth, is so opposite of my nature – reference yesterday’s post) I noticed a term I hadn’t heard before. At least I hadn’t noticed it before. The writer was referring to a design style called “wabi-sabi”, which is apparently “on trend” for 2019. The reference photo didn’t seem to have a particular style I could name. In my lack of understanding, I just kept reading, without much more thought. Until, the very next day, this quote image came blaring across my screen.

“wabi-sabi” (Japanese)

(n.) a concept, an aesthetic, …

If you live in Frisco, you’ve might have seen this bright orange van around. It’s a hard to miss. Covered in enormous cameras, antennas, and other unidentified gadgets, it reads “Self-Driving Vehicle” on all sides. The first time I saw it coming towards me, I freaked out just a bit and steered to the opposite side of the road, for a measure of safety. But as it neared me, I noticed there was actually a driver inside. Whew.

That startled me for a minute.

As I’ve seen them more often, I shared conversations with friends about what’s going on in there. Word on the street is that they actually are self-driving. Some have only passengers and others have a drive.ai employee along for the ride. Even if there is someone sitting in the driver’s seat, they are not actually driving the car. The car IS drivable. They could drive if it went …

by Crystal Gornto Inspiration Inspirational Leaders Inspirational Women Inspirational Words Love In Action Loving Others Priorities The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

Friday was the last day of school for my little men. While Noah was at the lake with friends, all Oakley wanted to do was play football. So we took the top of the jeep, gathered some friends and headed to The Star. They’d only been playing for about 20 minutes when a whopper of a rain storm blew in. I knew we couldn’t leave without the top on the jeep, that was thankfully parking in the parking structure. So what else would I do, but to tell them to keep playing?!

Play in the rain!

There was hardly a breeze and no lightening to be seen. That rain took the temperature from a scorching 98 to what felt like 70 in a matter of minutes. They could have waited under the patio for the storm to pass, but instead they just kept right on playing. What at first seemed like it might ruin our afternoon …

by Crystal Gornto Inspirational Words Love In Action Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

I wanted to write a story about each of our Featured Guests for this Thursday’s GNO and realized that I don’t have a picture with Theresa. She had to scoot out of our little brunch get-together before I was able to grab a pic with her. I was so bummed and searched her Facebook for a fun picture to tell her story. I was instantly drawn to this beautiful image.

Then I read the story . . . and the tears fell.

Now I know why we didn’t get a picture together. You needed to hear this story in her words, not mine. I want you to meet Theresa, to get to know her story and her heart. I can tell you all the things I know and love about her, like her obvious wisdom, kindness, courage, resiliency, generosity, and her fierce belief in supporting other women. But I can’t even get …

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This beautiful, warm soul is my new friend Anna. This was actually the first day we ever met face to face. We’d chatted by phone and texted multiple times, so by the time we met, I felt like I’d known her forever.

We were meant to be friends.

One day, I was having coffee with my friend Tonia (our home organizing sponsor) when I mentioned that we were looking for the fourth panelist for our “Let’s Get Together” GNO (this Thursday). She whipped out her phone, telling me she had the perfect person. She immediately sent Anna a text, and to my complete surprise, she was down for a chat. We hopped on the phone later that week and I knew Anna was our girl.

She courageously agreed.

It was courageous for so many reasons, not the least of which is taking the mic, in front of a group of strangers, to share what beauty means …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Love in Friendship Loving Others Loving Yourself Priorities 1 comment chat

Last night we got together with our small group from church and in honor of Scott’s (25th) birthday, we all pitched in to make his favorite dessert and things got a little hot. Flames danced in the pan while they sang their beautiful rendition of the birthday song.

That’s a pretty good representation of our marriage and life together.

No one has ever accused us of being room temperature, the flames dance a lot. We’re both off the charts on the passion factor, which has its pros and cons within the relationship. Things get heated often and easily, but one thing I know for sure is there’s no one else I’d rather spend my life with.

He’s the one and only. . . and always will be.

During our little family birthday celebration, we went around the table saying all the things about Scott we appreciate and what are grateful for. It made me …

by Crystal Gornto Inspiration Love In Action Love in Family Loving Others Priorities The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

We need your wabi-sabi

Both the self-driving car, and the driver

Play in the rain

I see courage

Love is generative