Indeed a classic...Downton Abbey

"No one tells you about raising daughters. You think it'll be like Little Women, and instead they're at each others' throats."

~Cora, Countless of Grantham

Today I have to say that I am grateful for the internet, and for the ability that I have to be able to watch Downton Abbey on our mac. Due to a baptism and giving our full attention to both of our girls birthdays this past Sunday we missed the second episode. I love masterpiece theatre, and there are so many great shows on there. I have to say that this show has got to be my favorite of all time, and will be classified as a 'favorite classic' inside our movie drawer at home. I have a penchant for history, and I love watching anything that was filmed back in the 1800-1900's. If you like movies like "Titanic", "Pride and Prejudice", or anything that deals with war drama...this is your show to watch. 

This show is about a family of five who are waited on hand and foot by all of these servants.

The servants at Downton Abbey

 Although they live in luxury, they are also a humble family...all except this one daughter, Mary, in which she comes off as a bit of a snob. She is slowly beginning to show a little bit of humility. I still love her though! 

Lady Mary

They are all very cordial to all their servants, and I have to say that Anna, and  Mr. Bates are my favorites.  I sure hope that they will end up committing to each other no matter what resistance they face. 

The wonderful Mr. Bates, and lovely Anna

Like every other MP theatre classic...there always lies a mystery. The fact that this family has three daughters (just like me) gets me more enthralled in watching it. They all have totally different personalities, and each have a different view in life, and how to go about on living it. They also have the most fabulous clothes. Sometimes I wish I could live back in that era where life seemed so simple, and everyone showed modesty in the way that they dressed, as well as their mannerisms.

Sisters-Sybil, Mary, & Edith

Having an actress like Elizabeth McGovern play their mother (Cora) is wonderful! I haven't quite followed her acting career since I saw her in She's Having a Baby, and seeing her in Downton Abbey sure brings back fond memories of her in that movie.

The grandmother played by one of my most favorite actresses of all time, Maggie Smith has a spunky, and bold character. I love her dry sense of humor, and that imperious stare that she gives, much like her character in Harry Potter.

I love this show, and wish they had more than seven episodes. I even heard they might convert it into a movie. If you have ever watched MP theatre on PBS...this is the show to watch. I promise you'll get hooked. 

You still have time to watch Season one and the last two episodes of season two HERE.

Grandpa matthews

Great grandpa Matthews, Circa-September 2001

This picture sure brings back a lot of memories of when we lived out west. This picture was taken on the day the twin towers were hit. So many of us will always remember when and where we were on that day of infamy. Luckily we were in the comforts of grandpa's home in Washington state. This is the last picture that my girls took with him. Sierra was seven, and Lexie was 20 months old.

Sadly it will be the last...he passed away last night on a hospital bed in Arizona.

For the past few years he had been suffering a great deal with bone cancer that had spread throughout his body. Family and friends have been praying for him for the past two weeks for him to let go of this life, and to pass on to the next. Prayers were heard, and after he was given a priesthood blessing earlier this week by my father in law, the suffering ended, and the Lord carried him home last night.

When I first married into the Jorgensen family, I wanted to meet more of his family that lived outside of Utah. I still remember how I kept harassing Jon for us to visit his grandpa so that I can finally meet him and Billie. I am so grateful to have taken that step into getting to know them even if we only visited them once a year. We hold such fond memories, and I count my blessings for all of those opportunities we had in the time that we spent with them.

For the past 11 years I always sent them yearly updates of our family, and my girls enjoyed writing to them. We loved visiting their home in Ilwaco, and it gave us a chance to visit Portland, and Vancouver in B.C. There were two things that Jon and his grandpa had in common...the love for fishing and golfing, and one of Jon's wishes was to have gone out on the boat to fish with him, but that never happened. That's okay...we are extremely grateful for the memories that we have built with him. 

He will surely be missed. 

Lexie with Billie & G. grandpa in Durango, CO-Spring 2000

We know that he is in a better place, and that he is looking down on us from heaven. He may not have met Chelsea and Noah in this mortal life, but I know that he is staring down at them from above, smiling. How grateful I am for the plan of salvation knowing that we will be able to see our loved ones again. 

Rest in peace grandpa...God be with you till we meet again.

A dark internet

Imagine a world without free knowledge.

So I tried looking up something on Wikipedia this morning, and all I got was this! A black screen that read:

For over a decade we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the US Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet. for 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia.

Really? Are y'all serious? 

A friend of mine also mentioned this on her blog, and she is not one bit happy about this. She is a pretty big deal on the internet and I know there are a lot of people that lean to her for support through her words.  Now that I have become more comfortable with the internet it feels weird seeing a black screen. I have to admit that since I've become attached to blogging, and know how convenient, easy, and FREE it is to have the internet...for some it may become the end of the world! Not for me. I would just have to get used to the way things were before we bought our computer, and became majorly exposed to the internet.

If I have to scrapbook more, hand write more letters, spend money on postage, printing photos, and sending them to family, and calling more...then I will. If I have to pull out the nostalgic thick encyclopedia's to look something up from the past then I will. If I have to buy the updated encyclopedia's then I will. It's sad to say this, but it seems as if all those things are becoming a thing of the past. I really don't want it to as I still do that from time to time (I do blog more though!)

I also noticed that more and more people are deleting their Facebook. I personally don't use it as much, and will only share my blog on it, and post pictures of family celebrations. It doesn't help when there are other networks opening up such as mylife.com, Path, and of course I think Twitter will always be around.

Since I've been blogging close to a year now I would definitely want to know who my followers are just in case the internet shut down. I know that there are those that I haven't even met who have let me know through the web that I have inspired them somehow. That would be the only reason why I wouldn't want the internet to be shutdown. It's been nice knowing that there are loyal followers out there, and people constantly visiting my blog. I'd hate to see those who are less fortunate pay to read someone's uplifting words of comfort.

If they did boycott the internet...look out! I know there will be a lot of angry people out there going through major withdrawal.  Let's hope that doesn't happen!

Other than that news, and putting in my own two cents worth of words...I think I can live without the internet. I would have to, but those of you who know me know I will reach out to you somehow, and I will find you!

After all, that's what we were all doing before the internet.

Inspirational thought

these made my day...flowers from the hubs.

"A little rain can straighten a flower stem. A little love can change a life." 

~Max Lucado (A Love Worth Giving)

Spiritual High for MLK

"1963 is not an end, but a beginning."

~Martin Luther King Jr.

In memory of Martin Luther King Jr. I would like to share his words of inspiration for the passion that he had for civil rights. My girls love reading this book in his memory, and each year as they get older they learn to really appreciate him, and all that he accomplished. So today I leave you with a reminder of this great man's words of courage, and hope. His words have gone down in history, and if you get a moment to listen to his speech, and I mean really listen up until the very end...it'll give you such a spiritual high to make you feel like you can accomplish anything.  It makes me want to shout out from the rooftops, and have more courage to do more good in this world. If he would have ever ran for president, I know many would have voted for him. His dream of ending racial segregation will never be forgotten, and I will always be grateful to him. 

It doesn't even matter what color I am, or in which generation I was born in.

"In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst of freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force."

I have a dream today! 

"I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification"--one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers."

 I have a dream today! 

"With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, knowing that we will be free one day."

Let freedom ring!

"And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: 

Free at last! Free at last! 

Thank God almighty, we are free at last!"

Three very special birthdays

Alexandra & Chelsea,

You two share a birthday with someone very special. Someone who advanced the civil rights to end racial segregation. Someone who had a dream that everyone would be equal, and who would unite all races. Someone who wasn't afraid to speak his mind, who had a big heart on love, was very strong willed, and who stood tall in many areas of his young life that was cut too short. He never lost sight of the importance in this world when it came to unity, and was big on serving. Ya'll have books about him on your bookshelf, and every year people all over the world celebrate his memory. Y'all read about the story of his life both at school, and at home each passing year. 

As you already know...that someone was Martin Luther King Jr. 

For the past 12 years combined you two have resembled all of his characteristics, and I believe that is why y'all were both born on his birthday. You both are very strong willed, and are not afraid to use your voice. Especially you Chelsea! You two have the chance to wish upon something so great in your life that you'll hope it'll come true. The best part of living this life is that you can dream anytime, and anywhere. Dreams are what make our life interesting, and sometimes those dreams become your life. I don't ever want any of you to give up on your wishes, or on your dreams. 

This year both of you celebrate special birthdays, and I consider them lucky.

Lucky because...

Alexandra you are now 12 and in one year will officially be a teenager! Yikes! 

You are very mature for 12, and I know you will be so valuable to the young women at church. 

Your musical talent in violin is by far getting better and better each week. 

You've been getting straight A's since Kindergarten...keep that up!

 You are a doer, and have such a talent in being creative with art, and in writing stories.

I hope this year is the best one yet! Make it grand, make it great, make it unforgettable!

 Celebrate each living waking day as if it's your birthday! 

Don't ever let anyone or anything bring you down. 

Being a tween won't be easy. It'll be a year of physical changes, and challenges. 

Hopefully not an attitude change, but a good one. 

Like your older sister...you are such a great example to Chelsea, and a big help with Noah.

Chelsea, Chelsea...you truly are something and I believe this is the year for you...

LUCKY SEVEN!

You are the cream of the crop. Every boy in your first grade class picks on you because they like you. Every little girl wants to be your best friend. 

You can be a little sassy, but are learning that sassy is okay when there is no disobedience involved. 

You are a great reader, and love music. 

You love to dance, and want to be a part of everyone's conversation. 

You can watch Mary Poppins, and  Harry Potter all day on a Saturday! 

You have a way of touching people's hearts. Even the adults. They love you! We all love you! 

You have a beautiful side that will equal out to that spunky side, and it's all good.

Have a great birthday, and keep waking up each day with a smile, and making those around you happy! Company included! 

Happy Birthday my beautiful girls, & NEVER give up on your BIG dreams! 

XO-

mom

A Work of art

'Art is a very personal thing, and the only thing that matters is whether you like it or not.' 

A cubism face replica of Picasso 

and I love all of these pieces!

another replica of Picasso

This is an Ankh which is the egyptian sign for life. 

By:Alexandra Jorgensen

 Thank you for peeking!

A Toddler, toothpaste, and a toothbrush

Noah LOVES brushing his teeth! He can brush them more that three times a day if I let him. I think he likes the taste of toothpaste! He does brush pretty good on his own. 

Okay...so the stool is still not tall enough, hence standing on the toilet!

  Brush away son!

He's holding on to his little yellow cup, and rinsing his toothbrush...

and drinking some water so he can get to his favorite part which is swishing the water back and forth in his mouth, and then he spits it out. 

Unfortunately I couldn't take a picture of him swishing or spitting, because I have to hold him while he does that.
 Like I said...the stool is still not high enough for him!

Winter without snow

I'm sorry but winter is not winter without any snow, and I feel as if I'm living back in Texas or North Carolina. 

I have been itching for a snow fall for quite sometime now, and now that the sun has been out for the past week...I'm not sure I want it anymore. I feel it'll ruin the forwardness to Spring. After looking at the ten day forecast on the weather channel app I honestly don't think we are getting any snow this so called winter. I don't mind the cold weather, and it's probably a good thing my family and I are not die hard skiers, or snowboarders otherwise we'd be going stir crazy! Still...it would be nice if get some moisture that actually turns into snow.

It's been raining since last night which might be a good sign for expected snow, but I don't think that's going to happen. My husband has been feeling groggy, and is disliking this rain. He says it feel like we're heading towards spring already.This weather has been very abnormal, and it just doesn't feel like winter. My sister calls it "La Nina" or global warming. I have to agree. I was watching the movie, "The Day after Tomorrow", and living so close to the eastern seaboard, I sure hope the cause of having a seismic shift on the earth's atmosphere doesn't cause us to have an ice age. I really don't think that will happen in our lifetime, but it could. Can you seriously imagine having snow in Mexico?

We have just been enjoying what mother nature has been giving us and taking it all in. It feels odd not using the shovel as much, and as much as the girls like taking turns shoveling snow off the sidewalk...they have accepted that it's probably not going to be used again. We used it one time last week when it snowed early one morning, and by noon it was all gone. That reminded me of our first year living in North Carolina when it snowed a little in 2006, and it all melted by noon! It was bizarre that they were hit with a bunch of snow in 2010. So not normal for the Carolinas.

I count my blessings for at least getting some moisture, and how mother nature keeps God's earth alive and well. That's what keeps this part of the country so green. We tend to be a spoiled universe and I want to appreciate each day that comes with the weather it brings. As long as me, or anyone in my family don't fall ill due to the temperatures dropping up and down...I'll tolerate this rainy/sunny non-winter weather anytime.

Unity, a blessing, and a chance to do it right

And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another. 

Mosiah 18:21

My house is not the perfect house, nor are my kids, nor am I. What I do know to be perfect is the church I attend, and the only person I know to be perfect is Jesus Christ. So often we forget and take for granted how much we can learn from the Lord. The things we can do. How easily it is to wake up in the morning to read a chapter or even just a verse from the scriptures. How easy it is to pick up the phone instead of screening your calls when someone is in need of help. How easy it can be to love everyone unconditionally, be a friend, and listen to those who need someone to vent to. It can be trite sometimes to serve so many people at once, but the end result is the best...you feel good inside knowing you helped someone. 

 Besides my family, there is one thing in my life that I have treasured since receiving it in 2002, and I don't share it with just anyone because it is something valuable to me. And that thing is...

My patriarchal blessing.

 I make an effort to read it every day. I have a copy of it in my journal, my scriptures, and my wallet. There is one sentence in my blessing that is so true, and I feel the need to share it with you. 

It is written that "I will never grow weary in doing good." 

I love that. So far it continues to be true. For the past nine and a half years I have looked back at all the things I have done in my life, and in all the wards we have lived in. I have to admit it has been a challenge in my ward here in New Jersey because there are so many in need, and so few who will help. Whatever their reasons may be... I am learning to not worry about it if others want to help or not, and only worry about what I can do. My husband works ten hour days, will come home close to 10pm on some evenings, and will wake up at 4:30am everyday to teach seminary. He has been doing that for four years now, and never once have I heard him complain about helping others. He has even done service at 11pm at night. The fact of the matter is that I am going to try my best to serve not only those in my congregation, but my neighbors, new friends that I have made in local stores, and my family...without any hesitation or complaining. 

It's a new year and I want it to be full of elation and energy...not depression or sadness. I see my kids on how easy they let things go when others have wronged them. When they themselves as siblings have hurt one another through actions or words. They all have huge hearts, and have learned to respect each other. They are the perfect example to me of resilience. They try so hard in avoiding the negative resistance that they face at school, in the world, and yes...even in our own ward. 

They are reminders to me that having fun is a great way to release tension. 

They are the ones who keep me going when life gets tough. 

 There are times when I do grow weary, and how easy it can be to take sleep for granted.  After a long evening of being at the church last night due to a meeting and helping a sister in need, I literally fell into my bed last night with my little boy. Cuddling with him while my husband was preparing for his seminary lesson was something that I really needed. See...I'm not perfect. It's natural to grow tired after doing something good, but to not grow weary in 'wanting' to do good.

 I feel so blessed to have that blessing in my life, because each day when I read it...it gives me the chance to do it right, and the strength to be better. 

 And I want to be better.

Inspirational thought

Boston, Massachusetts  temple

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of...throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. 

He intends to come and live in it Himself.

~C.S. Lewis