90/10

It's beginning to look a lot like springtime everywhere you go on BYU campus. 

But the biggest indicator of spring is not the daffodils, the robins, Daylight Savings, or even the warmer temperatures. 

It's the sheer amount of couples which have appeared overnight, holding hands all over campus, and lingering at apartment doorsteps. 

My apartment balcony has a great view--not only of the Y and Mount Timpanogos, but also of the building next-door . . . which is full of young, beautiful, single girls who are frequently asked out on dates. 

How do I know? Because I'll be doing homework or chatting with roommates with the blinds open and then unexpectedly see their doorstep scenes. 

And let me tell you, last night the doorstep scene in the building across the way from us got a little ridiculous. 

You wouldn't think that a Monday night would be such a popular date night. I didn't, either, but apparently I was wrong. I stumbled across at least three doorstep scenes. Three. On a Monday night. 

The weekends are even better. Like, you can pull up a lawn chair, pop up some popcorn, and you've got yourself a real-life chick flick. Ten of them, even. All in one night. 

Hey, if it sounds creepy it's because it is. 

*P.S. Name the movie this post title comes from and you can get a front-row seat this Friday night on our balcony to watch the show. I'll get the popcorn. 

Happy International Women's Day!

[Yes, I know that Google Doodle celebrated Women's Day yesterday, but it really is on March 8th.]

Last year I celebrated Women's Day for the first time in my life. It's not a holiday we celebrate in America, which I think is a shame, because it's a way to celebrate the goodness of all women in our lives--mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends--and the strength that women bring to the world.

I obviously have a lot to say on the subject of women and our strength, the potential we have to do good in the world, and the importance of using our voices . . . so much to say that it would be silly to put it all in one blog post. But this I do want to say today:

I believe their is power and strength in womanhood. I believe this even when opposing forces--from both men and, sometimes, women--tell me otherwise. Women are strong. We are strong and we are diversified, and there is strength in that diversity. We are strong because there is inherent strength in being women. We show strength when we give and when we love and choose to live deliberately. We are strong because we want to make a difference in the world; to make our corner of the world more refined, just, and beautiful . . . better than how we found it.

I will teach my girls that they are strong. That they are beautiful and powerful and good. I will teach them where true confidence and grace come from. I will teach them to love being a woman--and I will teach them to form strong, good, healthy relationships with men and boys. This is not a competition between men and women. We need unity. Because although both men and women are strong individually, we are stronger and better together. And I will teach my boys that a "strong woman" is not an oxymoron. I will teach them to seek out strong, confident, kind women and introduce them to heroines in life and in literature so that they know it is normal and good to have a strong woman for a classmate, a friend, a wife.

I believe all women are beautiful. That we are strong. And that we have voices to use and songs to sing.

So, to all of the women in my life who have been examples of strength, beauty, and grace to me . . . thank you. And to all the men in my life who have encouraged me to be a strong woman and to live my dreams, thank you for that, too.

Happy Women's Day!

Two Years Ago . . .

Two years ago today I entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I remember that day, very, very clearly.

I remember putting duct tape on my luggage, waiting for 11:30 am, when we would drive out of our garage--all of us, my entire family in our big, green van--to drop me off at the MTC.

I remember that my mom was crying--everyone was crying. My mom, dad, sisters, brothers . . . I was leaving, and, in many respects, it felt like I was going away and never coming back.

It was all so surreal.

I was dressed as a sister missionary, without my name tag. I felt vulnerable, out-of-place, but excited.

The drop-off was tearful, of course. The first missionary in our family, so no one knew what to expect. But I was ready and eager . . . even if I had no clue what I was doing. I followed my host sister as faithfully as a puppy, and was excited as a school-girl when I picked up my Russian books and finally got my missionary tag:

"CECTPA ARMKNECHT," it read. Sestra Armknecht. 

And then.

Then, I met these wonderful people:

(All I have is the goofy picture . . . but I think it's fitting. Still, if anyone wants to send me the picture where we look like nice and formal, you're more than welcome to.)

A group of ten. Six elders, four sisters, and then three amazing teachers. God knows who you need in your life. They say that who ends up in your district and the person who you get as your companion is a matter of logistics; of timing. 

I say that God is a master of logistics. He is a master at timing. 

And He knew that we needed each other. 

He knew the struggles we would face. The bonds we would form. The times when we would go absolutely crazy from being in the same room all day long. 

And He knew that we would end up loving each other. 

Memories flood back. Tuesday Devotionals. Sunday Firesides. Singing hymns in Russian for the first time--singing the words so slowly while our teachers laughed at us. Raising Ebenezers. Bouncy balls and letters from friends. Packages from girlfriends, cupcakes from moms. Singing in the General Conference choir. Listening as an elder gave his first priesthood blessing ever when I was in need of comfort. Feeling the sacredness of that moment. Testimony meetings. Teasing each other. Books. Gym time. 

You become a family through those moments. 

It's been an extraordinary two years. We're all back now. We've changed. Grown. I have yet to see all of them back, have yet to see just how we've all changed. 

But thank you for starting the journey with me. 

Thank you for being a part of my life. 

I'm forever grateful for your influence and friendship.

с любовью,
Cестра Армкнехт

Playing Catch-Up

Will probably be the theme of this semester.

There have been so many times the past month where I have thought, "I should blog about that." Deep thoughts. Silly thoughts. All the things.

So today I'll be writing a few blog posts that I've been meaning to write. Finally.

Don't expect anything deep. Because sometimes my mind can only do so much.

But I have thoughts. And they must be shared and heard.

We'll start out with this video.

I have a lot to say about the protests in Kiev. But I think the most important thing is to remember that this is more than just a trade deal. It's about people. Culture. Identity.

I love these people. And what they are doing is so important. Part of me wants to take a plane out to Kiev and protest with them.





Love Ukraine. Love those people.

End of 2013 Adventures

Remember that time when I never upload pictures and I post about things three weeks after they happen? Yeah, I remember that time, too.

ANYWAY. Nicole came out to Utah again for a visit. While she was here, we had some great adventures. Like exploring the Ice Castles in Midway, Utah.

 Yes, I have seen Frozen. Yes, I was singing "Let it Go" the entire time. 

 So, so cool. 

 Now I am Lucy in Narnia. 

 Corridors of Ice. 

 I honestly don't know what I'm doing here. I think I was trying to pretend to be Anna or Elsa from Frozen, but I look like a fool. It's normal. 

Nicole and I also went up to Temple Square to see the lights. 

But my favorite part had to be finding the Russian light lanterns: 

It was hard to get the entire lantern. But it says loobov. That means "love" in Russian.

Svet. It means "light" in Russian. 

Love and light. 

Ice and snow. 

Friends and adventure. 

It all goes together. 

English Nerd

Sometimes when I'm in the library researching Louisa May Alcott, Goethe, Emerson, and Transcendentalism, I inadvertently stumble upon Emily Dickinson's Collected Works.

And then I open it up at random and find something beautiful:

"When Night is almost done--
And Sunrise grows so near
That we can touch the Spaces--
It's time to smooth the Hair--

And get the Dimples ready--
And wonder we could care
For that Old-faded Midnight
That frightened but an Hour."

Never fear, I am alive.

Even though school might eat my soul this semester.

I didn't even know it was possible to have so many research projects.

Ahhhhh.

Breathing. Just treading water. I can do it.

[repeat until I believe it.]

Good thing I have professors who have senses of humor.
I found this on my BYU Learning Suite announcement page for my 8:00 class a la "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie":

Announcements

You don’t want to take this class. It starts at 8:00 am.

If you take an 8 o’clock class, you will probably be late.

If you are late for class, you will miss announcements, explanations, assignments.

If you miss information, you will do poorly in class.

If you do poorly in class, you will not like the class.

If you do not like the class, you will look for someone to blame.

If you need someone to blame, you will blame me.

If you blame me for your failing the class, then you think I am responsible for you.

If you think I am responsible for you, then you think I am your mother.

If you think I am your mother, you will expect me to read you to sleep.

If I read you to sleep, I will read theory.

If I read theory, you will think and think.

If you think and think, you will stay awake all night.

If you stay awake all night, you will not wake up in the morning.

If you don’t wake up, you will be late for class.

If you are late for class, you will do poorly in class.

If you do poorly in class, you will lose your scholarship.

If you lose your scholarship, you will have to work an extra job.

If you work an extra job, you will stay up late to finish your homework.

If you stay up late, you will be late for class.

If you are late for class, you will do badly in class.

Don’t take this class.

If, despite my wise advice, you decide to take this class, it’s not my fault; it’s yours.

If, despite my wise advice, you decide to take this class, don’t be late.

But, I'm taking the class. Despite the friendly warning. Yay for English critical theory in the morning. 

ALSO. *Warning. Commentary on dating life at BYU coming up. If you don't want snarkiness, passive-aggressiveness, or cynicism, then you should probably do something else. Like make and eat brownie batter. You have been warned.*

Okay, but can anyone explain to me what it is with the overabundance of Lavender Browns running around BYU? 

And what is it with guys choosing Lavender Browns over Hermione Grangers? 

 Lavender Brown: cute, flirtatious, and fun . . . but also moody, needy, and a gossip girl. 

VS. 

Hermione Granger: smart, brave, and independent . . . but intense.

There's just a little frustration and angst over here (can you tell?)--but I'm not just speaking for myself. I've talked with other girls, too, and this is how many of them feel. Why are there so many incredible, incredible girls who are getting passed over for girls who just want to make out? (And I know that this is an over-generalization. And I know hormones are involved. And I know that this doesn't happen all of the time. And I refuse to believe that the good, smart guys just want someone who will make out with them. But still.) 

I mean, yeah, Hermione is hard-to-get, but that's the point, isn't it? She doesn't play hard-to-get. She is hard-to-get . . . because she's worth it. Not that Lavender Brown isn't a great person and not that she doesn't fight and not that she isn't brave . . . because she has great qualities, too. 

But really, guys? Dude. When you have the possibility of dating a Hermione (and when there are so many Hermiones at BYU), why would you go for Lavender Brown? 

Anyway. Rant over. For now. But if anyone can explain this to me, I would appreciate having a good, long conversation about it. Preferably over brownie batter.