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Storyteller. Grace Dweller.

I’m Jennifer — wife of an Iowa farmer, mom to two girls, new book author. I believe in you, because I believe in Jesus. You matter to Him, and you matter to me. more »

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46

Saturday 5th January 2013

I’m Going to Live in an Abbey Someday

Eat your heart out, Downton Abbey:

 

Kylemore Abbey

 

I am smitten by the PBS program, Downton Abbey. Season Three begins Sunday night. But I am even more smitten with the fact that one day, I get to live in an Abbey above all Abbeys, with the King above all Kings.

And everyone will have a place at the table, and we’ll all be clothed in righteousness, and there will only be one Who deserves the title, “My Lord.”

(But I do hope we can talk in cool British accents.) :)

 

Raise your hand in the comments if you’re a Downton Abbey fan!

(PHOTO: We went to Ireland in 2006 with the Dukes family. This is Kylemore Abbey, which — like Downton Abbey — had its own stories of romance and courage and sadness and intrigue.  Kylemore is now home to a community of nuns of the Benedictine Order.)

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Categories: Heaven, Through The Lens Collection, True That

Comments

  1. Megan Willome

    Me! Me! Although I just got into it. Watched the first two seasons in four days. Working on a column for next month that I assume I won’t finish until after the premiere tomorrow night.

    So wish we could be watching together tomorrow night!

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      Scott and I were late to the party, too. We’ve tried to spread out watching the episodes over the last couple of months. This takes serious restraint.

      Would be so much fun to watch it with you, Megan!

      Reply
  5. alisa

    I’ve already watched the third season. You are in for some surprises! Yes, we will all be like Mary in our Father’s house – beautiful, loved and full of adventure!!! I hope you enjoy the new series :)

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      Can I schedule a lunch date with you, if I don’t ever meet you this side? And can we talk to each other in Queen’s English?

      Reply
  7. Ashley Haupt

    Yep. Both me and my husband. Tried to watch “Upstairs Downstairs” to fill in, but I thought it was a poor man’s substitute. The main characters don’t have the same moral fiber. ;)

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      Hey Ashley … I was wondering about “Upstairs Downstairs.” I’d heard about it, but nothing specific. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  8. Glynn

    My wife and I have been fans from the begnning. We even got to see episode one of the third season – it started in the UK on our last Sunday in London (vacation).

    Free John Bates!

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      Glynn … I was reading A Light Shining tonight (I know, I’m the slowest reader ever) … And I was seriously wondering what Michael’s accent is like? :)

      Reply
  11. Kathy

    CANNOT wait!!!…..Jan.6 has been on my calendar for months!….watched seasons 1 and 2 over to tide me over!…..I knew I liked you, Jennifer !

    Reply
  12. Kris

    Love that image!! Wow! We are Downton fans here (the hubs too) and true confession: I wanted to be a nun and still dream about a quiet retreat in a monastery or Abbey.

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      Thanks, Kris! Kylemore Abbey is amazing. I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. I think my jaw was dragging along the floor the whole time.

      Reply
  13. Pam

    Sure am!! Love your title on this one…

    Did you see HGTV did a program on the real Downton Abbey, the owners, etc? I watched it last night, but it may be repeated… It was called something like “castles on TV.”

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      Oh, … no I hadn’t heard about that, Pam. Interesting! It’s amazing to me to think that people lived in this way. Wouldn’t it be something to dress up like you’re going to prom, just to have dinner with your family? I like me sweatpants too much. :)

      Reply
      • Pam

        Yes… and so interesting to see how they still try to carry it on to some degree. Some of the top part of the home is falling in disrepair, so the program being filmed there is helping them to keep up with it all. (Example… they just purchased a $10,000 gorgeous carpet… I THINK that was for the library… So beyond our normal realm, but beautiful in light of your analogy…) They also had pictures of how the home really was opened up for medical help during the war, etc. Very interesting.

        Reply
  15. Jean Wise

    When we were in England in October we got to watch one of the new episodes so i have a hint on what is coming. shhhh no spoilers. but can’t wait to see the entire season 3. love the photo you did on this post by the way!

    Reply
  17. floyd

    I’ve never heard of it… I have heard of Abbey Road by the Beatles. Does that count?

    I’ll have to check it out.

    Reply
    • Lynn Morrissey

      Floyd, you need to get with the program. Even my husband watches Downton, which is saying a lot! We even do Dowton Abbey dinners. Such fun.
      Lynn

      Reply
  20. Christie

    Yes, looking forward to season 3. I had forgotten about beautiful Kylemore. I was there ten years ago. I’d love to go back!

    Reply
  22. Amy Sue

    I got on the D.A. wagon late but managed to watch the previous 2 seasons and I’m so excited about season 3 which starts in 12 minutes!

    Reply
  23. Stephani

    Hi Jennifer! I just wanted to let you know I took a “Y” photo on my recent Christmas camping trip just for you! I saw the “Y” and said to my husband, “My blog friend Jennifer sees Y’s everywhere”, and I explained the Yahweh connection! I told him I had to get a picture of it. Anyway, I took the photos and I plan to show them to you. I will either do a post or put it on Instagram! Anyway, just thought you’d like to know!

    Reply
  24. Lynn Morrissey

    Jennifer, if you’re read our Christmas newsletter, you know we are Downton fans. We host Downton Dinners at our house, and that will start next week, because we were at our cabin this weekend. But we did get to see the premiere upon our return home. Next week, we’ll have a Downton Dress-Up dinner. I’m dressing upstaris! :-) Michael ALWAYS dresses downstairs (unless he has to wear a suit to work or to usher at church). Anyway, this is just a fun way to get together for some great conversation and fun British drama. We’ve been to the British Isles three times, and we, too, loved Ireland. It’s a little bit of heaven on earth……..but can you imagine the new heavens and the new earth?! Thank you for reminding us that the best is yet to come.
    So glad your daddy is so much better!
    Love
    lynn

    Reply
  25. Sue Awes

    Me too, Jennifer – hubby and I have been waiting a year for last night – Love the exquisite details of the period – especially watching the young women freed of the corsets of their mothers :) And I agree; Free Mr. Bates!

    Reply
  26. Jillie

    Hi Jennifer…Sadly, I didn’t get into the series from the get-go, but it seems everyone around me here in Canada is talking about the series. My daughter-in-law asked for the first two seasons for Christmas. Now that she has them, I asked if I might borrow them to get caught up. She loves the show so much, she said she wasn’t sure she even wanted to lend them out. I hope she’s only kidding. I too, love British accents! I’m one of those people who ‘picks up’ accents really easily, and often ‘speak English’ here at home and when I’m with my friends. They get a kick out of my accents.
    Even more, I look forward to my own ‘Devon Abbey’ when I cross over that Jordan into The Promised Land! How wonderful! How Marvellous!
    Love, Jillie Devon

    Reply
    • Lynn Morrissey

      Love that. Your own Devon Abbey! Have you read Heaven by Randy Alcorn? I think it’s a good book. I don’t agree w/ it all, but it’s though-provoking and really gets us to concentrate on the new earth. Glory!

      Reply
  27. Judy

    Love, love, love Downton Abbey. I just watched the beginning of season 3 last night. Thanks for the analogy to Heaven — what a great thought for the day!

    Reply
  28. Joanne Norton

    Well, you made me laugh. I often think of the “house” in heaven. Abbey would be OK, but anything created by Him for me would be all that counts.

    AND when I watched the show last night, the reality in their lives … and heading into ours in so many ways … helps us turn to focus on Him not the everyday world.

    Good thinking. Good sharing. Blessings to you and yours. [And some British accents are really nice, and some are thoroughly un-understandable. When Dave and I were in the London area needing directions to a site, we couldn't understand a word. Eventually, we did find someone who could tell us in a "hearable" manner. Whew!]

    Reply
  29. Lori

    Oh yes, big time fan. So happy that it’s back…loved the first episode with Shirley MacLaine but I wished the wedding scene was longer, I wanted to see more of that! Lori

    Reply
  30. Dayna DeLaVergne

    We LOVE Downton Abbey! So happy to have it back each week…especially now that The Voice is done. Thanks for the great reminder of the Abbey we’ll all get to live in!

    Reply

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