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joy

The Journey to Joy

While I was working at a summer camp in college, there was a rule that if the counselors wanted to “play on the lake” they could only go out to do that at the crack of dawn before the campers woke up.  So we’d often meet at the dock in our swimsuits and quietly back the boat out of the slip.  We’d slowly make our way out of the camp cove and into the middle of the lake.  Then we’d ski, tube, and generally laugh and cut up. 

It was the best way to get in the mood to start a full day of work with kiddos.  

I’ll never forget one specific day, I went out with a group of female counselors.  After we’d been skiing, we decided to pull off into a cove to hook up the tube.  While we were there someone (it was probably me, but I honestly …

by Crystal Gornto Inspiration Love In Action Loving Yourself Our Story Priorities Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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It’s not over yet

It’s the last day of the year, but I’m not giving up on 2019.  

My word for the year in 2019 was “rest”.  After building the house and moving our 15 years of “collections”, I came crashing into the end of 2018 exhausted.  I was happy and everything was good.  But I was so TIRED.  I needed rest.  I had no idea what rest could possibly look like in the middle of full-steam momentum with HeartStories, but there was no doubt that I needed it.

So I let that word {REST} guide me all year. 

I “slept in” when I felt like my body as asking for it.  I “stayed in” even when my brain wanted to go be at the party.  I made conscious decisions to step back when I would ordinarily be the first one to raise my hand. Instead of constantly being the one to initiate in my relationships, I …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspiration Inspirational Women Love In Action Loving Yourself Our Story Priorities The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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You are a work of art

This.  Image.  This woman.  Stunning.  Fierce. Full of wisdom.  Almost smirking in the face of adversity.

If only you knew.

If only you could know a small part of the story that brought her where she is today.  Only then could you begin to understand the depth of her outrageous joy, her fiery strength, and her unreasonable love for you, and everyone she meets.  I’m sure she’s not a perfect human, but she’s certainly the kind of human I want to be. While I can’t begin to explain how much her friendship has meant to me already in this life, trust me.  It’s big.

Of all the images I’ve seen of Me Ra this one stops me in my tracks.

This is her.  Yes, she’s FULL of joy, bubbling over, smiling, almost always.  But this one tells a richer story.  A fuller story.  I can’t do her story one iota of justice, trying …

by Crystal Gornto Love In Action Leave a comment chat
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Keep believing

I can’t even begin to describe how much I’ve learned since starting HeartStories in 2012 (officially 2013).  I was in it for what I could do to help others, but sitting here, looking back, it’s been almost seven years of the most intense season of growth of my life.  And I don’t foresee that changing anytime soon.  I live in a constant state of walking in the unknown.

Nothing is sure to work. 

Every risky choice I make is made from layers of experience, seeking wise counsel, praying earnestly, and then simply deciding it’s worth it to jump.  Merely choosing to do the next right thing. Sometimes that process turns out beautifully, even better than I could have hoped.  But it also often leads to painful lessons, challenges, and struggles I didn’t see coming.   IT’s the essence of the John Ortberg quote that you’ve surely heard me say a million times.  I still …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Love In Action Our Story Purpose Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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Her love is sweet

When I was a little girl, this beautiful woman took care of me so well and so often that it’s hard to believe she even speaks to me at all.  Seriously.  She is the oldest of 4 girls in our family, which made her the built-in babysitter.  We all already know that I was more than a handful growing up, so she put in many of her hours towards sainthood in those years.

And as well as I remember it, she did it all with a knowing, loving smile, just like this one.  

Well, maybe except that one time, when Mom and Dad told her as they were leaving to make me eat my entire bowl of cantaloupe.  She did what they asked because she was always good like that, but it didn’t work out very well for either one of us.  Let’s just say I haven’t eaten a bite of cantaloupe …

by Crystal Gornto Community Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Love in Family Love in Friendship The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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Show up with Joy

Today is a special day for this Princess Smiling Sun! (Or maybe it was Princess Laughs A Lot) I’m not exactly sure, but whichever it was, it was a great representation of who she is.  My sister Heather brings a bright light of joy wherever she goes.  It doesn’t matter if we’re scrubbing toilets, loading a U-haul or throwing a bridal shower, Heather shows up and brings her laughter and optimism along with her.

She’s always lived up to her name: Heather Joy.  

Of course, when we were younger, she was my “little sister” and a was a bossy mean big sister.  I hate it to this day.  I literally feel so much shame about all the missed opportunities I had to love on her and lead her as a big sister should.  How I wish I could go back and be kind to her as a kid.  But instead, as much …

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