Gigi&#039;s Blog &raquo; Tales of the Mortician&#039;s Wife

August 9, 2023 - 1:11 pm

Gigi – Teresa, I hope you are having a great summer!

August 9, 2023 - 1:09 pm

Teresa – Beautiful words full of wisdom and truth! Have a blessed day sweet friend!

August 7, 2023 - 2:54 pm

Gigi – Lynnea,
I love that you enjoyed your home life with your family and made your family feel secure, despite moving often.
I think all mothers will say they have made mistakes and wish things were done a bit differently in some areas. We just keep trying, by the grace of God, to improve and learn and grow.
((hugs))

August 7, 2023 - 2:19 pm

Lynnea – Hello! This is so beautiful and encouraging!
I am an older Christian woman, a wife, mother, and nana, and have been a homemaker almost all our married life. It’s what I always wanted to be since a very young girl. We homeschooled our children wanting to give them a stable and secure life as much as we possibly could. (We moved every 3-4 years with my husband’s job.) Our nest has been empty for quite a while and I see mistakes and failures I’ve made and often feel unqualified to give input into the lives of my adult children. I have read in a book written for older women that I had my chance while they were still at home.
Still, I hope and pray to be able to encourage them.
Thank you for all you share~
With love in Christ, Lynnea

Summer Time

Monday, July 24, 2023

All in all, it was a never-to-be-forgotten summer — one of those summers which come seldom into any life, but leave a rich heritage of beautiful memories in their going — one of those summers which, in a fortunate combination of delightful weather, delightful friends and delightful doing, come as near to perfection as anything can come in this world.

Lucy Maud Montgomery

[the beach at the end of our road]

Hello, my friends — it has been a while since I wrote. How is your summer coming along? We have been oh so busy with the gardens (flower and vegetables), the property, animals, our new baby, our little homestead and visiting the sandy red beaches of Prince Edward Island to cool off in between chores. We have had wonderful company during the spring and summer, friends dropping by, relatives and all sorts of lovely visits in between …

God is so good – every time I turn another corner, I see blessings from Him, little gifts that encourage my soul.

This upcoming week we will be sharing time together with our best friends from the United States – with all that has happened over the past few years, having them come to visit us is definitely a gift that we do not take for granted. I am LOVING having a wee baby in my arms again and am trying to soak up as many snuggles as I can, in between weeding sessions in the garden and regular household chores.

I hope to post more soon – just know that life is short here on this earth – make it sweet! … choose to look for the blessings every day, read your Bible, follow God’s word and you will be encouraged and blessed.

Around the Home, Old Fashioned Living, personal

by Gigi

5 comments

July 28, 2023 - 12:13 am

Teresa – Gigi, what a beautiful family, I love the picture of you all! Looking forward to your future post! God Bless you all!

July 27, 2023 - 7:56 pm

Gigi – Hello Cathy, I will think of a few places for you. Are you looking for food, scenery, arts or – L.M. Montgomery suited places? You can send me an email: Gigigauthier@protonmail.com

July 26, 2023 - 5:16 pm

Cathy Bray – Hi Gigi!

We are planning on visiting PEI for the first time in October. Do you have any suggestions on places to visit? 😀

Cathy xo

July 24, 2023 - 5:54 pm

Gigi – Mrs. White – thank you! We also have our own little beach on our property – the joys of living on an island! Water everywhere!

July 24, 2023 - 4:24 pm

Mrs. White – This is a wonderful picture of your family! What a blessing to have such a beautiful beach near your home. God bless you all!

Unfading Charm

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

“In the home a woman can bask in the provision and leadership of her husband.
She loses her femininity, her grace, and her peace when she rules her husband.
A truly feminine woman trusts in her husband’s provision and authority.
This does not mean she is a doormat.
God has given women a sphere of leadership, not to rule over her husband,
but to govern the affairs of her home (1 Timothy 5:14).

It is her prerogative to efficiently administrate her home and garden.
This is not an insignificant task. It is a full-time career, especially as God blesses the couple with more children.

It is not just loving our children,
but loving and embracing the role of motherhood
that releases us into the joy and glory of our divine career.

Gentleness and meekness are also the inner essence of being female. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (Williams) says, “Your adornments . . . must be of an internal nature, the character concealed in the heart, in the imperishable quality of a quiet and gentle spirit, which is of great value in the sight of God.” These qualities in a female are very precious to the heart of God, and to husbands. In fact, they are a woman’s charm. They are called an “unfading charm.“

~Above Rubies, Nancy Campbell

Around the Home, Babies, children

by Gigi

1 comment

July 4, 2023 - 8:15 am

Robyn – So very well written and expressed Gigi. When we embrace this blueprint, we are truly satisfied and content!

Society’s Antidote

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

“I believe today’s world is hungering to be transformed by the spirit of femininity.
What better antidote for an impersonal and violent society than warm, gentle feminine strength?
What better cure for urban sprawl and trashed out country-sides than a love of beauty and a confidence in one’s ability to make things lovely?
What better hope for a future than a nurturing mother’s heart that is more concerned for the next generations than for its own selfish desires?
All of these qualities – gentle, strength, love of beauty, care and nurturing –
are part of the spirit of femininity.”
-Emilie Barnes,

In a world where women are encouraged to be loud and fierce, to step on anyone in the way of self care, to have a feeling of “I deserve better” and “You are enough”, I want to my raise my daughters to be the exact opposite.

{And ladies, you are not enough – that is not Biblical. We must turn to God for all our help and you cannot get through life without Him. Colossians 2:9-10}

Despite what the world is doing, we are raising counter cultural daughters in our home.

It is time for Christian women everywhere to step down – not up – and be the women set out in Biblical standards, to be keepers of our home and loving our families.

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”
-Titus 2:1-5

I am working on training myself – and my daughters – to be soft and feminine, to be the women God has designed us to be … to love our husband, adore our babies, to nurture and tend faithfully to our children, to take care of the home with a cheerful attitude and to be the woman God has designed.

When I was a little girl, there was a beautiful young mother who attended the same church who caught my attention. She was a stay a home mother and was enjoying her role and tasks. She always spoke softly, she wore beautiful (not fancy) feminine dresses, she had a handful of adorable, bouncy children– and when I was blessed enough to babysit for her – I was enthralled with her decorating … pretty colours, florals, delicate details … she seemed the picture of femininity. I saw there was joy in being a mother, there were gentle treasures in being a wife, there were sweet blessings in keeping a home!

All these tiny interesting facts remained in my mind, engraving a feminine portrait for me to copy. Of course, I have always loved old fashioned living – and books along the lines of Anne of Green Gables and Polyanna – and therefore, my thinking, as a young girl, was admittedly shaped by reading of such gentle books. Staying home and taking care of my babies and children, tending to my home, was something I knew I would do someday.

Wearing skirts, pretty florals and ribbons was always something I wanted to do – and even if I was teased by others as a young lady, I still managed to look past the mocking and continue on in my journey. For a while, I dressed like the world, but soon found it was not modest, not becoming, and certainly not the style I wanted to train my daughters to wear.

And yet while feminity, yes, does come from the outside appearance, it also must radiates from within. If you are hateful, it will show up on your face. If you are bitter, it will change your lovely expression to one of despise. If you are rushed and stressed, it will erase your work of gentle ways. If you are being friendly to someone in person but speaking poorly of them when they leave, all while wearing beautiful feminine clothes, you are not being a godly, beautiful woman. If you are busy and loud, your flowing dresses and pretty hair will not amount to much.

This is a journey I am on and have by no means reached the end – every day is a new opportunity to embrace my godly calling and erase the ideas of the world’s image of a woman that is constantly portrayed.

Embrace your God-given role, ladies!

“At its best, our femininity arises natural, out of who we are,
and finds its natural expression in the way we live our lives and make our homes.
But in our hectic, hard driving society,
it’s easy to lose track of our gentle, feminine side.
The spirit of felinity is something we must nurture ourselves and in our homes,
and celebrate God’s gift to us.”
-Emilie Barnes

So today … embrace your femininity.

Love your husbands. They work hard for their families.
Raise godly children. They are the hope for our future.
Make your home a happy, beautiful place, a shelter from the dark and weary world.
Spread joy and happiness to everyone you meet in the outside world.
Enjoy the beautiful life God has given you.
Plant flowers and more flowers in your gardens!
Wear beautiful clothes and throw out your sweat pants! Dress up for your family!
Share the love of Jesus, as He is our only true and lasting hope for a lost society.

Around the Home, Old Fashioned Living, personal

by Gigi

11 comments

July 3, 2023 - 7:10 pm

Gigi – Mom, I love you!xo Thank you for always encouraging me!

July 3, 2023 - 10:47 am

Mom (Gigi’s Momma) – This brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat. But it swells my heart with love and joy!! Gillian, you are truly making a difference in this nasty world. I love the guiding gentle words of encouragement. Mom xoxo

July 1, 2023 - 1:01 pm

Teresa – Lovely post on modesty and on the heart. Both are so much needed into days world. I try to raise my daughters this way as well. Lovely photos Gigi, I need to pull out my camera and get back taken pictures ~ My how your new little one is growing. HOW is your garden doing? I hope to visit PEI one day,such a beautiful place. Teresa

June 29, 2023 - 4:22 am

Gigi – Michelle, I need constant reminder, as well! (hugs)

June 29, 2023 - 4:21 am

Gigi – Hi Annie, that is a good question – I have gone over the ways of how to sit, walk, and talk with the girls (something we review quiet often). We are all learning together. Of course, they are little girls and play and run and have fun, but when it comes time for sitting at church/a gathering with friends, hopefully some of the things we have gone over will come to light for them. We have done a few courses together with some other friends and families; one is the Christian Charm Course (so much fun). We also have a Keepers of the Faith class that we lead in the fall and winter months. I also think it is just a lifestyle that is displayed and shown to them. I am constantly reminding myself on certain standards. Yes, we have set courtship standards … it is new to us so we’re not experts!

June 29, 2023 - 4:18 am

Gigi – Monica, you are so right – it is a gift to be a woman! So happy to have others who love to embrace their roles as mothers, wives and keepers of the home. xo

June 29, 2023 - 4:18 am

Gigi – Thank you, Bobbie. I hope you are feeling well with your pregnancy.

June 28, 2023 - 10:46 am

homeofmanyblessings – Just Lovely!

June 28, 2023 - 8:33 am

Monica – I do so agree and cannot love this post enough. It truly is society’s antidote! The downfall of civilization is resulted (ultimately from sin) from the created order being destroyed. Women trying to be men and turning away from the GIFT of being a try, feminine woman. It is a blessing to be a woman. Such a wonderful blessing.

The photos (the girls and baby!) are beautiful and breathtaking. The flowers on the island are looking so glorious. I cannot wait to see them. 😉

Praise God for your taking a stand on this subject. It is very encouraging and convicting.

June 27, 2023 - 5:35 pm

Annie – Lovely thoughts, Gigi. I, too, long for a gentler world. And as a young mother myself I’d love to know – besides keeping house, what are some ways you help teach your daughters these ideas – acting in a more feminine way? Have you needed to set courtship standards yet? I would love to hear about some of these topics, if you ever have time.

June 27, 2023 - 4:24 pm

Michelle – Oh thank you so much for this! So needed in the day which we live! I do wear dresses and dress modestly BUT have the attitudes and actions you describe here, not good…So I am guilty!
And also guilty for not being/doing the things you listed at the end. Thank you so much for this encouragement! You and your family are such a light for the Lord! Thank you!!

Held

Saturday, June 3, 2023

“Does she cry often? She seems so happy all the time…”

The question was asked at a recent church gathering, an enquiry about our little baby’s cheerful demeanour. Dressed in her sweet little church gown, her soft baby head covered in her lacy bonnet, I felt like I was holding a sweet little piece of Heavenly bliss. As baby #10 of this noisy imperfect but happy family, our little one is loved and held so often, completely adored.

“She’s a sweet baby,” I replied … “We try not to give her a reason to cry. Someone is always around to cuddle her…”

And so this is true. So many arms, so many little mothers, so many people wanting to hold our sweet baby.

“Where do you put her when you have things to do?” another person asked me, one afternoon when we were gathered in my kitchen for tea. She had — no doubt — looked around and noticed no baby carriers, baby seats or chairs, other than the old wooden high chair nestled in the corner of the kitchen.

“We just hold her!” I replied, smiling.

A few weeks spent in Africa during the early years of marriage made an impression on me – I noticed the mothers just held their babies. There were very few strollers, no bouncy chairs, just loving arms … and I noticed their babies are happier, held more, content and cuddled always by loving arms. The absence of fancy car seats, bumbo chairs and “super saucers” did not seem detrimental in any way … in fact, it was just the opposite. These little babies were just tied to their mommas or older sisters and they were content and happy …

It was later in my motherhood years I read about how damaging a baby seat can be to a little one (if left in the seat for long periods of time) – so since then, we have always had ready arms, loving sisters and a momma willing to hold the littlest one.

I also read this, which opened my eyes to a new way of mothering. You can also read this article to echo my thoughts.

I suppose I am old school – or new school? – in my ideas of mothering babies. I have been told I am spoiling my babies, that I hold them too much, that they should cry more.

“It’s healthy for them to cry,” said one relative, much to my dismay, while visiting one Sunday afternoon.

Well, I firmly disagree!

If there was a lesson I could teach younger mothers in their new parenting journey is that time truly does slip through your fingers – enjoy those hours of rocking and holding and cuddling your little one. The best cradle is the mother’s arms. Your first year with your baby is so very important – it bonds you and your child together. Do not be discouraged by the hours you spend holding your baby – it is all worth it.

I suppose this is where I an a grandma in my thoughts … as Edgar Guest (my favourite poet) wrote in his following poem.

“They’re letting him cry!” said the grandmother gray;
“They’re letting him cry, and they’ve sent me away.
They’re raising that baby on schedules and things;
They won’t have a cradle that teeters and swings;
They won’t let me rock him to sleep on my knee,
And his father and mother won’t listen to me.

“That husband and father just laughed in my face
When I called their neglect of the child a disgrace.
‘The very idea,’ I said in my rage,
‘His mother was rocked every day at his age.
Hour after hour in my arms she would lie —
No baby of mine was permitted to cry!”

“I suppose I know nothing of babies at all!
I’ve only had four of my own that were small;
I’ve only rocked four on these knees which they spurn,
And now from my guidance and counsel they turn.
They’re training the baby. Well, take it from me,
The best place to train one is right on your knee.

“It wasn’t my practice to sit calmly by
And go on with my sewing and just let them cry.
I fed when they hungered and not by the clock,
And I never begrudged the long hours I’d rock.
These new fangled-notions were wiser, they say —
As if you could better a grandmother’s way!”

Babies

by Gigi

25 comments