Gigi's Blog bio picture
  • Welcome to the Gigi Blog!

    Mother to six Little Women and Two Little Men. Married to a Happy Mortician. Caretaker to goats, chickens and many, MANY bunnies. Photographer. Homeschooler. Lover of Jesus, coffee & tea and all things pink & vintage.

I’m too busy.

“So, how are you doing?”

We hear this question almost every day. We ask this question to most people. And we ourselves are asked this question over and over in life.

And the answer is usually – “Good ….  things are SOOO busy!”

Do you feel like your life is too busy? Busy is good, right? But hold on, let’s not get too busy. I mean, it’s great to keep our kids in activities that will help them grow and learn life skills, but do we really need to run our family and ourselves ragged by over-scheduling and ‘being busy’ all the time?
And if we’re too busy, how can we actually have any quiet time? Time with God? or quiet time with our kids or loved ones? I’ve been on a mission  for the past few years to be ‘less busy’ …

So when this idea to do La Tienda Mini sessions popped into my head, I thought “but I’m too busy already.” I have a business to run, a family to organize, children need me, we home school, church activities, the list goes on and on and on … how could I fit a whole day of shooting plus proofing onto my already over-sized-overflowing plate?

And yet -isn’t that always the way?
Are we are too busy for the most important things in life while we run around busying ourselves with small, often meaningless tasks of the daily grind, leaving no room for the bigger picture? Are we not called to love our neighbours, help the orphans and widows and do as Jesus would do? Jesus never said “Help out when you find you have the time.”

Yes, I was right. I am busy. Too busy to help though? Well, that was something my heart argued back … I didn’t want to be so busy that I wouldn’t help the ladies of La Tienda, to answer the calling that God had placed on my heart.

It’s like the parable in the Bible … so many parables and stories where the people are ‘too busy’ and miss the most important thing right in front of them …


Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:4


And so, I went through with it. And with your help – my awesome clients! – with all of the mini sessions, we officially raised $1,100 for the women and children of La Tienda today! Yeah!!!!

The money is already on the way to these ladies and is going to make a big difference in the rest of their year! A big thank you, also, to Heather of Duncan Photography who has kindly offered to help me proof so we can ensure families will get their proofs in time for Christmas deadline (early November).

We are busy people, that’s just life, But let us never be so busy that we don’t see the needs right in front of our faces.

Thank you for helping make a difference. And for making time in your busy schedules to help out La Tienda!

You guys rock. xo


{Just a few from the sessions … }

October 24, 2011 - 9:17 pm

Rachel Thanks Gillian. What a wonderful encouragement to us! This money will helps 11 women for the a Month. What a difference a Day can make!

October 24, 2011 - 8:36 am

Sherri Smith You do beautiful work Gillian. I particularly like the last one. Such a treat to see you sneak peeks.

October 24, 2011 - 7:06 am

kristi It was a great day and I was so happy to be a part of raising money for la Tienda. You are awesome for giving back to them!
I LOVE the picture of my girls. Thank you so much…just what I needed! xo

October 24, 2011 - 4:11 am

Brenda (Gillian’s Mom) Great words of encouragement and exhortation to all of us, Gillian! And great pictures too (as usual)! May God grant you the peace and extra time as you proof and get these pictures ready for the families. And may the $1,100 that you raised, be multiplied so as to meet MANY needs. You have “cast your bread onto the waters”
“He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.” Proverbs 19:17

October 23, 2011 - 11:52 pm

Ljubica Krpan Such a beautiful blog…and even more gorgeous photos!!!

October 23, 2011 - 11:03 pm

Grandma Gerr Amazing!

October 23, 2011 - 10:41 pm

Nancy absolutely stunning…Gillian…everyone’s lives that you touch, and it might not be on a daily basis, is blessed over and over again! Your messages, your positiveness, your spirit…you inspire my dear and I am so very glad that I have been able to include you in mine and my families life….God Bless you and God Bless the women and families of La Tienda!!

October 23, 2011 - 10:39 pm

Nicole So in love Gillain! You are a super star! xox

October 23, 2011 - 10:35 pm

Krista Thank you for your latest blog post. I needed to read your thoughts on our calling vs. our schedules. Your words helped to put things back in perspective again.

Jack.

Meet Jack.

He’s a pretty special little boy.

He has a big battle to fight. But an even bigger story to tell.

Some of you may remember Jack from previous posts …

He is such an amazing little boy … such a joy and sparkle in his eyes and smile – and yet, little Jack doesn’t lead the carefree life of an average toddler.

You see, at  just a mere 12 weeks old, baby Jack suddenly became very, very sick. After many, many blood transfusions and visits to the hospital and the emergency room, Jack was finally diagnosed with  DBA – you may not have heard of this disease … Janet, his strong, amazing mother writes more about it here on her website, which I will quote below:

“Jack has rare bone marrow failure condition known as Diamond Blackfan Anemia. An extremely rare blood disorder affecting less than 1000 people in the world. Jack is a beautiful, happy, and energetic 2 and  half year old doing all the things that most two year olds do except Jack’s body is unable to make red blood cells and every three weeks he needs a life sustaining packed red blood cell transfusion. To date he has had in excess of 35 transfusions and during the course of his life he will likely have over 1000. As a result of this his body is overloaded with iron and he must be hooked up to a pump every night to help rid his body of the iron.”


Coming up in November, his family is hosting a fundraiser to help find a cure for DBA. If you would like more information, want to help out, or would like to purchase tickets, please jump on over to their site and send them an e-mail. You can also check them out on facebook.

Help this little guy get a fighting chance against the disease that has taken over his young life.

October 21, 2011 - 3:04 pm

Heidi I remember meeting Jack when he was just a little baby – it’s so good to see him looking so happy and beautiful!!

A little something …

I have a little something to share with you …

{See below video …}

Yes, that’s right. The Gauthier family is GROWING again!

Another little precious gift from God will be joining our family in May 2012! And yes, we are very excited! I was going to try to keep it a secret longer, but everywhere I go, I bump into someone who ‘already knows’ because Abby is already out spreading the word … hey, at least he’s excited and not dreading it! 😉

Yes, so FIVE kids. We have already heard many of the following from many people:

“You *DO* know how they are made, right?” {Um, yes. 🙂 }

“Still trying for a boy?” {No, not really, we are happy with God’s plan for our family!}

“Are you CRAZY?!” {Hmmm – that would be a YES!}


I know, does it sound crazy? Well, it might be a little. But it’s also an amazing blessing … I personally cannot picture our family with one child missing. They are equally loved and desired.

We had our sneak peek at our baby last night and it was just LOVELY seeing him or her kick around and move at such a young, tiny stage.

It doesn’t matter how many babies we have had already – the experience of a new little one growing inside of you is still an amazing miracle each and every time.

Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.
~ Isaiah 49:1 from NIV


October 19, 2011 - 11:40 pm

janet pereira woooohoooo i’m so excited for you, i love big familes

October 15, 2011 - 7:19 pm

Renee congrats Gauthier family!

October 14, 2011 - 6:43 am

Anne You are an amazing mother, and such a blessing from God. Congratulations to you and your family.

October 13, 2011 - 10:21 pm

Heidi Siegel I am so overjoyed for you!! xoxo

October 13, 2011 - 8:32 pm

Shelley Congrats! That is wonderful news…..and you were talking about more kids at the photo shoot 🙂 and you are right it doesn’t matter if it’s a he or a she you will have what you are meant to have 🙂

October 13, 2011 - 8:22 pm

Lita Congratulations!! The girls must be sooo excited too 🙂

October 13, 2011 - 7:40 pm

Debbie Congratulations! That’s fantastic news. Hope your pregnancy is a good one! Are the girls excited?

October 13, 2011 - 7:10 pm

Grandma Gerr Wonderful!!! All the grandparents will always have one to hold! LOL
No emply arms! <3

October 13, 2011 - 5:00 pm

Gillian Tait CONGRATULATIONS!! You make such beautiful babies:)

October 13, 2011 - 4:47 pm

Amy Awwww just a few days ago we saw this picture perfect family… now its going to be picture perfect-er?? lol Congratulations and God bless your precious family!!

October 13, 2011 - 4:05 pm

Tiffany Congratulations Gillian and Abby!! The girls must be so excited!

October 13, 2011 - 3:55 pm

Amy Congratulations! Your family will even be more beautiful
Than it is already. God Bless and keep Healthy.

October 13, 2011 - 3:39 pm

Brenda (Gillian’s Mom) AWESOME!!!! Dad and I are so blessed with ALL of our grandchildren!! I can’t believe we are having another one … babies/children are so precious!!! WE ARE SO EXCITED!!! It will be a great Mother’s Day 2012!!!

October 13, 2011 - 3:33 pm

Christine Taylor Oh my goodness!! Wow that is so exciting!! Congratulations, you two make beautiful babies!!

October 13, 2011 - 3:29 pm

Pam Soltesz Congratulations to you and Abby, Gillian!!! And of course, your 4 little “angels-in-waiting”. How very exciting and what a beautiful blessing for all of you, AND the (I’m sure) happy grandparents, too. Hot-diggity-dog!!! lol

October 13, 2011 - 3:25 pm

Chris You know we’re excited for you. And you know what Sonya is thinking.

October 13, 2011 - 3:22 pm

Sherr Smith We’re so happy for you and Abby. Lovelyn will have someone special to play with like Lyla and Lucia have each other. And of course Lacey will have a new baby to ‘mother’. <3

October 13, 2011 - 3:15 pm

Kim Robbins Congrats Gillian, Abby and the girls, what a blessing!!

October 13, 2011 - 3:14 pm

Amanda Moore So very happy for you and your family and I agree..a little crazy maybe but who says crazy is always bad, every expierence is precious and new in itself!

October 13, 2011 - 3:11 pm

Jamie Big, HUGE congrats!!!!! I think May is going to be a special Month ;0)

October 13, 2011 - 3:08 pm

Courtney Congratulations Gillian!! That’s such exciting news!

October 13, 2011 - 3:07 pm

Michelle Garyfalakis YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So excited for you guys. God’s plans are perfect and so is His timing 🙂 What a blessing!

A Little {Love}

“You spend your whole life thinking she needs you …

then one day you wake up, and you realize it’s you that needs her…”

-Lark Rise to Candleford

October 12th. I can barely believe it … and yet, in other ways, it certainly feels like she has been a part of our family forever. A whole year has passed now since Lovelyn made our family of five a family of six.

Her easy going attitude, her snuggles and hugs, the beautiful bond with her sisters … it all just fits so well into our family. We are so very grateful that God chose us to be Love’s parents … I can’t imagine life without her …

Grateful for 365 days of having her in our home, our lives and hearts.

Happy birthday, our little Lovelyn Joy!

You are truly loved. xo

October 12, 2011 - 9:48 pm

Heidi Siegel Beautiful pictures of your beautiful baby girl!! Happy Happy Birthday to you little Lovelyn! :):)

October 12, 2011 - 1:07 pm

Grandma Gerr She is so adorable! Gramma Cardinal loves her so much! Already she has her own personality! <3

October 12, 2011 - 12:42 pm

Samantha Erin Photography she is so adorable!! what a jem.

October 12, 2011 - 12:29 pm

Sherr Smith Such a precious gift. She suits your family so well. Hugs & Happy Birthday wishes to little Love.

October 12, 2011 - 12:24 pm

Charmaine She is absolutely beautiful! Happy 1st birthday to her. LOVE the set up for her photoshoot as well. The apples and the books are just so perfect 🙂

October 12, 2011 - 12:07 pm

Catherine Greenwood-Grabas Happy Birthday Love! What a great Mama you chose!

October 12, 2011 - 11:46 am

marcia happy birthday to your little beauty! she sure lucked out being born into your warm, loving, fun (and pink) world.

October 12, 2011 - 11:44 am

Catherine Robertson Precious!!!! Happy 1st Birthday little one!!!

Baby Sadie.

“A baby girl…
one of the most beautiful miracles in life,
one of the greatest joys we can ever know,
and one of the reasons why there is a little extra sunshine,
laughter and happiness in your world today.”

What a beautiful day it is when a new baby is born …

Welcome to the world, Sadie Claire …

Congratulations, Keri & Chris. What a beautiful family you have. xo

October 12, 2011 - 11:33 pm

ileya You were clearly meant to have a girl. contracts.

October 12, 2011 - 9:57 pm

lisa russell Congratulations,Keri and Chris
A beautiful baby girl to join the team.
Welcome Sadie 🙂

October 12, 2011 - 9:47 pm

Heidi Siegel Our heartfelt congratulations to you Keri! What a precious family you have and such incredible pictures to remember these moments! xoxo

October 12, 2011 - 3:39 pm

Mich Congratulations Keri and Chris. Sadie is so precious and you look amazing Keri, I am so happy for your family. Welcome to the 4 girls club 🙂 You will have a blast. Enjoy those 1st snuggles, nothing is sweeter than them in life. xo. Beautiful pictures as always Gillian.

October 12, 2011 - 11:17 am

Lori She’s so precious. Can’t wait for more snuggles

October 12, 2011 - 8:44 am

Eloise Pranger Amazing!

October 12, 2011 - 6:59 am

Evelyn Gebele Beautiful!

October 12, 2011 - 12:51 am

Tara C Absolutely perfect in every way! I think I said this before to Keri, but I LOVE her name! Great job, Gillian! And Keri, seriously…could you look more amazing after giving birth??

October 12, 2011 - 12:33 am

Lisa Post She is perfect <3

October 11, 2011 - 11:06 pm

Tabitha Beautiful!

October 11, 2011 - 10:57 pm

rebecca mclaren Beautiful pictures, just makes you want to have another, lol. She is beautiful and Keri always looks amazing!!

October 11, 2011 - 10:28 pm

Melanie Beautiful baby girl and gorgeous photos 🙂
Congrats Keri & Chris!

October 11, 2011 - 10:27 pm

Jennifer Gilbert So gorgeous! Keri, you are radiant!