Shasta Nelson

Thick as thieves

Noah and Scott just returned from their big 13th birthday father/son trip. They filled their every moment with sightseeing and adventure. It was truly a dream come true for both of them. Meanwhile Oaks and I stayed behind, guarding the post, and carrying on with our usual lives for the most part, except . . .

We decided to make every night a “mama date”.

We got his favorite food. We watched movies. We jumped on the trampoline. By becoming his sole companion for the week, I was reminded of just how much companionship those boys share. So upon their return, it filled my mama heart with joy to watch Noah excitedly share the memorabilia that he specifically chose for Oakley while on the trip. His selections weren’t costly, but they were incredibly thoughtful. They were gifts from a friend who knows him well. Even though it seems like 90% of their relationship …

I wish you could see the beauty who was taking this picture. It was our new HeartStories Events Assistant, Kim Meissner. She went with me to conduct the “site visit” at our gorgeous venue for the Confident Spring Style Fashion Show GNO, one week from today. We measured, we counted, and practiced setting up the chairs, but mostly we laughed and couldn’t stop talking about how excited we were to be hosting our first runway show in such an incredible venue!

But it wouldn’t have happened if my original plan would have worked out.

I had a vision for hosting this show in another location that was going to be spectacular. It would have been easy and beautiful. It would have saved us hours of work, and the last two weeks would have been much less stressful. But sitting where I am now, looking at this picture and envisioning our night together, …

by Crystal Gornto Love In Action Leave a comment chat

As I’ve been preparing for the Ya-Ya Sisterhood GNO tomorrow night, I can’t help but to pay more attention to the friendships in my own life. I’ve been noticing the different types of friendships I currently enjoy and the friendships that are literally saving my life. Tomorrow night, Shasta will be walking us through The 5 Friends You Need and How to Make Those Friendships Happen. As part of the evening, she’ll guide us through bucketing our friendships into her 5 different circles of connectedness on the continuum below from Contact Friends, all the way through Committed Friends.

One of the most beautiful things about Shasta’s work is that she’s done all the heavy lifting, the research and the analyzing. She fully understands the way our friendships move through the circles. She lays it out so beautifully, just like a map, to help us balance and prioritize the kinds of friendships we …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Love In Action Love in Friendship The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

Almost five years ago, I was planning a big event to kick off the launch of HeartStories. I knew female friendship was the key influencing factor for women to live out the stories of our hearts. I knew we needed to be deeply connected to one another to stop believing the lies we so often listen to, playing like noise on repeat in our minds and replace them with truth and love. In fact, I believed it so wholeheartedly, I left my career to pursue that connection for women. I had a vision for creating a day filled with the encouragement and guidance of wise women who understood the importance of female friendships. It didn’t take me long to find this beautiful soul.

Meet Shasta Nelson.

I’ll never forget the first time I connected with Shasta on the phone. I remember where I was sitting and the knowing in my heart …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Love In Action Love in Friendship Leave a comment chat

I shared a long-overdue lunch yesterday with my dear friend Kim Jones. She’s in the throes of all things busy mama life, while simultaneously putting on THE most amazing fashion show that supports My Refuge House, a program to rescue, heal and empower girls out of a life of trafficking.

It’s amazing work she is doing.

During our lunch we talked about all the things that keep our brains and our bodies running fast. We spent nearly an hour talking about kids, fashion show logistics, work, politics and husbands. But it wasn’t until the very end, we got down to the deeper conversation about life-altering choices, fear, freedom and ultimately joy. It was that conversation that led to a deeper connection and fierce support of one another.

It reminded us why we were there all along.

Those are the kinds of conversations our brains are wired for. We desperately need people to see us …

by Crystal Gornto Inspiration Inspirational Women Love In Action Love in Friendship Priorities The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

I’m heading out this morning to speak to a group of moms in town who are, no doubt, feeling like they need to see their sisters. In the middle of the onslaught of turmoil that’s surrounding us in our cities and online. We’re all having to press hard into deepest troves of maturity, wisdom and faith in order to stay connected to one another.

Of course it’s no surprise that the topic, that was chosen months ago, is about being “rooted together” in community.

I’ve had to dig deep into how we maintain and even grow our connections with others, especially when we disagree. One of the first places I go when I need insight on friendship is straight to the heart of my friend Shasta Nelson. Shasta has devoted much of her adult life to the betterment of adult friendships, women’s friendships in particular. Her writing is like a trove …

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

Thick as thieves

Pick up a compass

It won’t happen on it’s own

What if you believed it too?

We have to practice

An invitation to grow