moms

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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Beauty in the First World dog pile

Yesterday hit me like a freight train.  I had all the best intentions to spend some quality time with the boys as we close this last week of summer, but clearly that’s not what the universe had in store.

All of my first-world, privileged duties decided to dog pile into one day.

The first hour of the morning was spent cleaning giant, disgusting doggie accident off the brand new carpet upstairs.  That joyous exercise was quickly followed by a scheduled phone call with our featured guest for the GNO next month (eek!  I can’t wait).  Then greeting the pair of contractors who came to fix some doors ended stayed all day with their saws, hammers and paint.  That was  accompanied by the back to school doctor’s office calls, paperwork and outrageously long new insurance verification process.  Lunch for my two, plus a friend.  The trying on and purchasing of school shoes that …

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

This was my view for the afternoon yesterday.  After picking up big brother at the airport, then taking them both for a quick tour of my old neighborhood in Dallas, they desperately wanted to go play in the creek.  I desperately needed to get some work done.  So we met in the middle.  I literally took a TV tray, a lawn chair and my laptop down to the creek, so they could play and I could work.  (Take a wild guess how much work I got done.)

Do you have a love/hate relationship with the “freedom” of the summer schedule too?

I love the extra time with the boys and there’s a huge part of me that wants to abandon all else to just play, play, play the summer away.  After all, there are vacations to plan, friends by the pool, and cookouts happening nonstop.  Then there’s the adult in me, …

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