Hannah Galliosborn

“Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away ere break of day
To seek the pale enchanted gold” - JRR Tolkien

"Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He's gotta pick this one. He's got to. I don't see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there's not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.” - Linus

Picking our 24th pumpkin! This one grew inside their playhouse. Oh how I love this time of year. 🎃

“Mr. Beef” in Chicago, inspiration For “The Bear.”
beefchicago

These graduation pictures tell you everything you need to know about my readiness for summer to be over.

Beyond happy he happily skipped into class this week, but already missing my buddy.

BEAN Traveling

Our favorite had a birthday.

The 4th of July was unexpectedly cute this year.

"A thing of beauty is a joy for ever" - John Keats

I'm finally getting around to updating my photography websites, so have been looking through some on my photos. This shoot, and this couple had my heart. Since every couple is unique, every shoot should be, and this one was unforgettable.

Let's honor our mother.

Happy Earth Day!

🌎 ♥️

Easter came after a particularly grumpy week in our home, and the day itself wasn't all cute-in-our-Easter-outfits-moments. As we talked to our littles about the sacrifice of our Savior, it was hard to keep back heavy sighs of disappointment in how less than idyllic the past few days had been. It wasn't what I had envisioned for this important day.

I wished the teacher I had been, and example I had showed them was an ever patient mother, with endless energy. My offering to them instead this week was a parent who had occasion to apologize, then continued to try.

We would need to time-travel to see what our children need to learn from us. As an emotional health practitioner, often multiple sessions a day I see illustrated not just the inevitability, but importance of the fallibility of parents. It is painful to overcome mistakes that were made by those nature declares are assigned to keep us physically and emotionally safe, but they are imperative lessons to be learned from. It is also painful and humbling on the other side, to look at your own child and know there was something you should have done better.

The good news is we are designed to heal from all types of pain. Maybe the first-row seat my children had of my imperfections this week made me the best teacher of the power of repentance that the atonement allows. Because of our Savior's sacrifice, I can wake up tomorrow and try again. My children know I believe that. Maybe that will help them someday. I'm grateful to know my Heavenly Parents love my own children enough to provide a healer to replace what is broken, with wholeness.

Happy Easter 🪺

Christmas was magic and brought me home. I knew moving from Southern California to Northern Utah would be a hard transition once the weather grew colder, especially if there wasn't enough precipitation to keep the inversion at bay. The blessing and curse of being a photographer is I'm surrounded by preserved memories. Photos of our children playing barefoot in December, in my year-round vegetable garden have been bittersweet. I joke with Kit that if our kids ran around our yard in t-shirts and sundresses in December now, the authorities would be called.

Christmas was everything I needed to remind me why we're back. The ease in which we have been able to come and go to family and friend parties and participate in traditions from both my side, and Kit's has been magic. Seeing our kids play with their second cousins while we all sing Christmas carols is everything I love and want in a single moment.

During this winter break from school, both kids independently asked me to reach out to their 2 grandmothers who both live nearby, to see if they wanted to join for a walk. Time with family has become normal and expected to them. These relationships have grown stronger quickly.

Though we miss our California home, ward, community and weather... my heart is warm. Bring on the snow, and Happy New Year!

Photos Part 1

My gratitude in photos: an afternoon in the Uintas.

Thankful to walk without pain.
Thankful for beauty in all forms.
Thankful to be near family.
Thankful to be back home.

Life gives you plenty of time to do whatever you want to do if you stay in the present moment.

- Deepak Chopra

We had a hard time saying goodbye to Halloween around here. I remember on days like these of dressing up and gooey holiday crafts, looking at my mother and thinking, 'Growing up doesn't seem fun, being a child is better.' I felt badly for her and the other parents, as well as myself in the future. As a child I remember mourning my childhood, knowing it wouldn't last.

I mentioned this to my mother once. She assured me that motherhood was the most 'fun' she'd ever had. I thought that meant she'd forgotten what being a child was like. I was wrong. It is better BECAUSE you remember. You get to keep every joyful moment you experience. Halloween gets better, because I have more Halloweens inside of my. The child I mourned never left. It is a conscious choice to member the reality that she is still here. Every client I've ever had has heard me say, "We are made up of every day we've ever lived, as if all is in present time." To be 'At One,' is to be reconciled and aware of every age we've been. Every age is needed to balance and bring joy in the present. It isn't a surprise that the happiest, most grounded people are often described as childlike. On the flip side, show me an unhappy adult, and I'll show you a child who wasn't able in some capacity to be a child. Fortunately through innerchild work, regardless of our past, we can reconnect and achieve that wholeness.

This is one reason I urge against asking children what they want to be when they grow up, or too much about the future in general. They are themselves, now. They are full people with full lives, now. There's no waiting for 'real' life to start. Since starting preschool my 3 year-old daughter has been telling me excitedly every couple of days, "When I grow up I'm going to be a dancer, and sing!" I always reply, "That's wonderful. You are also a dancer and singer, now!" She is beginning to internalize the the harmful messaging that the purpose of her childhood is in preparation of something in the future. But this is her life, and it is happening now.

Let's make the coming holiday season a joy for the children around us, and also the child inside.

🌲🌲🌲