i realize...

that it has been nearly three months since my last post. i don't know why this seems to happen around this time of year. I just got too far behind and didn't know where to start...you can ignore christmas, new years, the new semester, valentines day. and ignore all of the minor everyday things that go on in my life. at least for right now. i might post a few pictures later.

but this couldn't wait.

(we're really gangster)

i have the cutest little brothers in the world. A few months ago i got a letter from home that said Haydn wanted to marry me. Keep in mind he is five years old and doesn't quite have a complete understanding on marriage. What he does know is that you marry someone you love and you get to live with them forever. Obviously that means his cool older sister, right? When Hunter was younger he wanted to marry my mom. Now that he is a little older, he's moved on. But Haydn is still dreaming. Dialogue from earlier:

Mom: What if Hanna gets married to Chris?

Haydn: No! I want to marry her. Tell Chris he can't.

Mom: Are you getting her a ring?

Haydn: I want to get her a ring, but i don't know where they are...!

love it. i will be interested to see if he finds any rings.

happy.

photo taken by lindsey redfern

baby, it's cold outside.

i'm a little upset because the "embedding has been disabled by request" for every single youtube video of the zooey deschanel version of baby, it's cold outside. random. for those of you who haven't heard it, listen to it here. i love it. for a few reasons.

reason number one.

zooey deschanel. for female celebrity crushes. she's in my top three. (the other two being amanda bynes and rachel mcadams. of course). she is adorable. i know she doesn't have the most amazing voice, but i love the edge to it. somebody once told me i sounded like her when singing. i about died. if only.

reason number two.

when it comes to christmas music (aside from choral music like oh, holy night sung by josh groban or david archuleta) i love the classics. none of those cheesy covers that you hear in almost every store. i like it old school style. you know-- dean martin, frank sinatra, michael buble, etc. i could listen to them all night long snuggled on the couch with some hot cocoa. "baby, it's cold outside," definitely fits into this category.

reason number three.

it's from elf. i mean c'mon. great movie.

since i couldn't post zooey's version. watch this. it's pretty funny.

happy december.

i'm back in icy, snowy utah. i miss the beautiful fall leaves in virginia. and the people there too. obviously. but i am excited for winter because that means christmas is closer. i can't wait to see my family and be in california. i miss them. it's only two weeks and a day. i can do it. i won't get any sleep until the 17th. but i can do it.

thanksgiving. it was amazing. sorry, i only have phone pictures.

he wore my huge soccer jersey.

we found this ancient picture from a youth dance. hahaha

i am done waiting.

i waited 8 months while he was at BYU during my senior year of high school.

i waited six months for him to leave on his mission--because he broke his ankle and couldn't leave when he was called.

i waited 2 years while he served the Lord in Mexico.

during those two years i waited MONTHS at a time to receive letters because the mail situation was less than desirable.

i waited an extra month for him to get back in the United States--because he extended.

i've waited ANOTHER three weeks for Thanksgiving Break--because I can't afford to leave school and i wanted to give him a few weeks of transition time.

folks. the time has come. in a little over 24 hours i will be getting on a plane. that plane will take me to Atlanta, where i will get on another plane. and that plane will take me to Virginia. where chris redfern will be waiting for me.

Even though things have been off and on during each of these waiting periods. even though we have spent a lot of time apart and have a lot to catch up on. even though after all this i still have to wait another month and a half for him to come back to BYU. even though i can't promise what will or will not come out of all of this. one thing is for sure. tomorrow night. TOMORROW NIGHT. i will be reunited with one of my very very best friends. and no matter what happens, i will always love this boy. because he knows me better than most people ever will and his faith in me has given me motivation to be a better person.

i could pee my pants i'm so excited.

(this is us as babies)

more.

lately i've been having an overwhelming desire to change the world.

i want to make a difference.

there is so much more to life than the world portrays. my time would be better spent if i focused less on myself and more on others.