make a difference

You can’t plan your way to safety

Yesterday I shared that Oaks and I had gone back to the creek to check on the little shelter we built a while back. This picture was from the day we built the shelter. It was a hot and sticky day, but we needed to kill some time. So we bumped over the curb and mowed over the tall brush that leads to the path by the creek. We scaled down the creek bed wall and into the sandy shores of the creek.

As always, it was beautiful and serene.

The sounds of birds chirping and water running over the rocks is about all you can hear down there. Even though it’s peaceful, I try not to let him get too far out of sight around the bends because after all, we’re intruding on the watering hole for all the animals in the woodland lining the creek. So while he’s trodding happily …

On Thursday night, we threw a “Sponsor Love” party with the Evelyn Kershaw Salon to show our appreciation to all of our incredible HeartStories GNO Sponsors. It was a delightful evening to mix and mingle, while getting a fabulous conditioning treatment and blow out. (I promise to share all the pics soon!) But these two somehow made it off to the side. They were out of the main room with all the hubbub, in a completely separate, quiet area.

For a party person like me, I kept wanting to fix it.

I wanted to drag that chair into the middle of all the others so Alison could feel all the “sponsor love”. But, of course, things were working out for the best, way beyond my party planning understanding. It turns out that these two needed that quiet room. They were both at the right place, at exactly the right time. They were exactly …

by Crystal Gornto Inspirational Women Loving Others Loving Yourself The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

My mom is going through all the old family photos she’s collected over the last 50 years, working hard to get them all scanned to a digital format. While my sister Michelle was in town to celebrate their anniversary, she immersed herself in the piles of photos for a little, while sending the rest of us a few pics here and there.

This is one I received.

That’s me, circa 1979, before I was old enough to protest that lace, frills, and bonnets weren’t ever going to be my thing. Which seems hilarious now that I wear hats constantly, and loved wearing that fluffy white petticoat at the 80’s GNO. But not when I was a kid. I was all dirt, snails and puppy dogs. . . and maybe some green tempera paint.

Time changes everything.

When I look at the sweet face of that chubby little girl, I see a million stories. I …

by Crystal Gornto Inspiration Loving Others Loving Yourself The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

It started one Sunday morning in January 2011. Our church had several organizations that fight human trafficking and sexual exploitation come to share with us and educate us. The Super Bowl was coming to Dallas and they wanted us to know what to watch for.

I heard a story that day that caused a huge shift in my heart.

After drying my tears, I talked with Scott about what we could do. We were both so busy at the time, we didn’t know how we could get involved so that day, we signed up to donate money monthly to the cause.

But I knew I was meant to do more.

I thought I could just let that knowing simmer. I thought I could go on about my busy life, juggling a career and my roles as a mother and wife. I thought nothing had really changed.

I was wrong.

One story. It changed my life forever. It …

by Crystal Gornto Fashion Friday Love In Action Our Story Leave a comment chat

With the runway show only four weeks away, the question of What do I wear? keeps coming up among friends. I’ve been thrilled to hear the most popular options don’t include a trip to the mall! Since it’s Fashion Friday, I thought it’d be fun to explore those shopping options together. If you’re not here in Dallas to attend the show, these ideas will be useful for any gala or cocktail attire event.

Disclaimer: I’m not a fashion expert by any stretch of the imagination! If you read this and we show up looking like we just stepped off the set of Saturday Night Fever, well hey, at least they’ll be two of us!

Alright, if you’re still with me, let’s go!

Vintage gowns have been a popular choice for women on the red carpet in Hollywood for years, but only more recently have they made their way into our lives. We might not have cute …

by Crystal Gornto Fashion Friday Love In Action Leave a comment chat

I had a really strange dream a few nights ago. It was about Seth Godin, a man I greatly respect and admire. The dream was simple. He gave a talk, then offered to stay and answer individuals questions, one on one. People came from everywhere. They were pouring in the door.

It seemed like they’d never stop coming.

Kids on bright yellow school busses showed up. Adults in dark business suits got in line. College students in their hipster clothes waited in line, texting their friends. There were moms with frazzled hair in line with toddlers in tow. He ended each conversation with his hand on their shoulder, looking in their eyes, saying, “Go, make something happen.”

It was fascinating.

I was standing in the back of the room, watching the seemingly never-ending line of people file in, and watching his patience and passion with each of them, one by …

by Crystal Gornto Inspiration Inspirational Leaders Love In Action Priorities Purpose The Journey Through Life 4 comments chat

You can’t plan your way to safety

The gift waiting for you

It started with a moment

What to wear?! Vintage or Rent the Runway?

Choose your impact