Terri Gillis Photography

Like a plant that starts up in showers and sunshine and does not know which has best helped it to grow, it is difficult to say whether the hard things or the pleasant things did me the most good. Lucy Larcom

I love the idea of gardening but I have to confess that once it’s set up and “growing” I don’t pay a lot of attention to it.  I have a multitude of excuses….I have to walk waaaaaayyyy down the dreadful  hill in our yard to where it is, I check on it occasionally;   I’m busy…it takes up too much time…I’m tired……I have a job….I have 4 kids (3 teenagers!!)….I have a lot of laundry to do…I’m hungry….if I have an extra hour I’m spending it at the pool, not tending a garden that will grow in spite of me.  I mean all it needs is light and water, right?  The sun shines during the day and the rain comes and goes, so we’re good, right?  Funny thing is….all the weeds in that garden only require sun and water as well.  Can you imagine this is how you tended a family….your marriage…..or your friendships….or your job?  How well can something really grow when you give it the minimal amount of attention it needs? I find it ironic that the best gardeners spend A LOT of time on their knees. I have this little foam pad that I pull out when I get to the dirty work….I pull out my fancy tools, my gloves, I really get my hands dirty (for ONE day). And then I just sit back and relax and wait for  the magic to happen. Can you imagine spending time on your knees just a few days a year in an effort to cultivate something which you hope will bring you a harvest?  AND the best part is how annoyed I get by those weed and rather than pull them up I just give up, call it a season. I’ll try again next year.  I’m a quitter in the garden department.  I would show you the leftovers of last years garden but am resisting out of pure embarrassment.

I love to visit the farmer’s market every Saturday and am alway envious of the size of their crops from week to week.  I know that when you plant it’s not that much and yet the harvest is enough to feed the whole town. Hmmmm…..are you still with me?  It’s the commitment the farmer’s have;  they’re dedicated to see the harvest, they need the harvest or the time and energy they put into the sowing would have been wasted had they not seen the fruits of their labor?  Is it really that simple?

I took this photo of a wildflower from our trip to Hawaii last fall.  We drove the road to Hana and stopped for a picnic lunch.  I had imagined we would be stopping in a lush spot with a breathtaking wild waterfall.  The spot was nice, it was warm and it was peaceful.  We are able to say “We had lunch in front of a waterfall”.  The waterfall was not amazing to me, but the flowers caught my attention.  So sweet, delicate, colorful, happy, beautiful, blooming and growing without being tended.  I noticed them. I’m suddenly  now aware of the beautiful things in my life that are surviving in spite of my lack of attention. Can you be thankful for God’s protection and provision and yet not step into motion to care for the garden you’ve been entrusted with?

So I’m inspired to do some mini-sessions specifically geared towards Mom’s & their kids.  Motherhood is TOUGH…I wear so many hats I swear I now have mixed personalities and I know I’m not alone.  SO to promote my mini sessions I put a call out on my facebook page for fans to nominate a “deserving Mom”  to model for our promo.  I’ll be honest, I’m not great at advertising/promotions/marketing. I hate it.  I could insert my long list of excuses right here but if you just refer to the garden excuses it’s about the same minus the hill.  But I did it and I’m overwhelmed by what I’ve learned about the women who were nominated.  I have 2 women with over 100 votes each and spent last night and the better part this morning reading their nominations and the flood of email I’ve received about these incredible, selfless women.  Committed to their lives, their families, circumstances & hard times that have been difficult and yet they have not only thrived but have left a harvest of beauty, grace, gentleness, love, joy, peace for  everyone on their paths.  I simply can’t choose one of them and will be so blessed by the opportunity to work with both of them!!

Nikki Pierce and Karrie Popa – I will be so honored to extend this to both of you!!   Two truly amazing, deserving women.

If you voted for Nikki or Karrie I know that a lot of you emailed me additional reasons why they were so deserving.  I am going to put together a small compilation of the emails that I’ve received.  Some people have chosen to remain anonymous and will, if you would consider writing them a note to me either personally or emailed  I would like to put together a blessing box for each of them. Contact me at gillisphoto@mac.com.  I can’t wait to add in my own of how I’ve already been blessed by them and we haven’t even met.

THANKS to everyone who participated – Stay tuned for their photos!!! I.Can’t.Wait.