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moms

Extra “mom grace” required

As I look back at pictures of the boys and me when we were ALL younger, I realize even more, what a wild journey this role of motherhood is.  Those sweet chubby cheeks and baby kisses feel like an eternity ago.  It would be easy to gloss over it all with a Hallmark card this weekend, saying that I’m the best mom ever.  And maybe they will.  But I know better.  So much has happened and changed since they were itty bitties.  The only things that are constant in the journey of motherhood are the invitation to grow and learn, and the deep strand of love that cannot be broken, no matter what.

At almost every stage, I’ve felt a new level of incompetence.   

As soon as I feel like I’m getting this thing down, one of the boys enters a new phase of life that requires a new parenting skill …

by Crystal Gornto Inspirational Women Love In Action Loving Others Loving Yourself Motherhood Priorities The Journey Through Life 2 comments chat
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The Queen of Hearts

It’s officially spring break in Texas, which means mamas everywhere are doing all the things.  They run the gamut of family trips, mission trips, staycations, squeezed in experiences, to simple strategies for keeping kids safe and alive while mama continues to fulfill her grown-up adult responsibilities.  I’m somewhere in the middle all of it.  Since we snuck in an early long weekend trip, the boys are finding fun ways to entertain themselves at home, while I’m trying to find times to be fully present and engaged, while also catching up on all the things I got behind on during our trip.

It’s the ever-shifting of the “mama priorities”. 

A fun new activity for us this spring break is playing Texas Hold’em.  Our new neighbors (who are not from Texas) taught the boys how to play one night, a month or so ago, and they’ve loved it ever since.  So much so that they were …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Leaders Inspirational Women Love In Action Loving Yourself Motherhood Priorities The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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Set the table

In early March, I opened an invitation from my friend Wendi to “The Inaugural meeting of the AC3 – Ambitious Chicks Cocktail Club”.  Sounds so fancy, right?  Inside the email, my friend Wendi shared a story about how she used to host the AC3 in Dallas and she’s decided to bring it back to Frisco.

It wasn’t fancy at all.

In fact, in her note she explained, “I have no agenda here other than to be the catalyst for whatever organic connections may arise between you all.”  And for me, that was the mic drop.  I’ve lived long enough to know that when someone as busy doing amazing things as Wendi, feels inspired to connect a specific group of women, I am paying attention, and doing my darn best to show up.  (even if I was over an hour late due to child-taxi obligations)

The laughter, empathy and connections were simply beautiful and so …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Leaders Inspirational Women Love In Action Love in Friendship Loving Others Leave a comment chat
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Beauty is there

We went on a 4th grade field trip yesterday, which was a little hard to do the first day back from Spring Break.  Especially when your to-do list is longer than a first grader’s Christmas list.

But it turned out to be such a gift. 

Just as soon as I got settled into my seat on the bus, there was a realization that the available seats had been miscounted and a few mamas would need to drive separately to make room for all the kiddos.  *hand immediately raised*  I kissed my little punkin’, whisked up my things, and floated right back down those bus stairs.

Once at the bottom, we assembled a group of  mamas. 

Karin, who drives a nice large SUV volunteered to host us in her car, so we all piled in.  One of the mamas was new to our school this year and the rest of us don’t see …

by Crystal Gornto Love in Friendship Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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Forgive to find your respite

On a road trip with the boys in the middle of nowhere, we passed this quaint little church nestled just off the highway.  I’m not really into architecture or particularly fascinated by church buildings, but for some reason I was drawn to it like a magnet.  Much to the boys chagrin, I flipped a U-turn as soon as I could and we stopped to snap a photo.

I wanted to go inside, but I spared them. 

On the heals of yesterday’s story about the cost of the exchange of moments life, and while I’m focused on all things self-care moving into next weeks girls night out, this is as good a time as any to talk about this building. I basically grew up in a church building (not like this one) with a lifetime of wonderful memories.  I have no doubt, that experience forged me into the person I am.  It’s were …

by Crystal Gornto Inspiration Love In Action Loving Others Loving Yourself Priorities Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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You can only control you

We hadn’t been home from school five minutes, when I looked up from the kitchen to find this scene.  (There was surely a choir of cherubs singing above)  I hesitated to say a word, in fear it would mess up their groove, but I couldn’t help myself.

This moment needed to be recognized.  

They had their water bottles, binders, and pencils, and they were focused on their homework like I’ve never seen.  I don’t know if it was the solar eclipse, their growing maturity (fingers crossed!) or just Monday afternoon energy.  Whatever it was, I was happy to take it and hope it would last all year-long.  But my little hope balloon busted on the announcement that it was time to load the car to go to tutoring.

Instantly, the ambiance went from light and airy to thick, with moans and drudgery.  

Even though it’s our Monday – Wednesday – Friday routine, it …

by Crystal Gornto Love Love In Action Loving Others Loving Yourself Motherhood Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat
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