SNL Lawrence Welk

best video ever made. :D

Love and Marriage.

Portrait of Jane Austen, reportedly drawn by her sister, Cassandra Austen

I hope that song is now stuck in every head that reads this title.

I've been reading Jane Austen novels lately, and I was reading a little about her background, and I came across this little quote from the novel "Mansfield Park"

"I pay very little regard... to what any young person says on the subject of marriage. If they profess a disinclination for it, I only set it down that they have not seen the right person."
--Jane Austen

Just to be clear, we don't know exactly what Jane Austen's personal views were on marriage because in her books, the characters have such different views it would be impossible for her to have all of those opinions. HOWEVER, we do know she did not believe in marriage without love because of what she wrote in a letter to her niece, Fanny Knight, who had asked for advice about a serious relationship. Austen told her that "having written so much on one side of the question, I shall now turn around & entreat you not to commit yourself farther, & not to think of accepting him unless you really do like him. Anything is to be preferred or endured rather than marrying without Affection".

I love that in the first quote it seems obvious she believes there's somebody out there for everyone (even if it is just her character's opinion). It seems optimism is rare when it comes to relationships. I'll be honest, I have a similar reaction when people give me negative opinions on marriage. I think my reaction is natural because of the church and because I know why we are here, and how necessary marriage is for the plan of happiness.

I decided today that I'm not going to be anxious about getting married. Although being a mom is all I've ever wanted to do, I decided I'm going to have a backup plan. I've been very selfish with my time and efforts thus far in my life, and I'm going to change.

(In cause you're gullible, she's being sarcastic in the following quote, taken from the novel "Sense and Sensibility")

“All I want in a man is someone who rides bravely, dances beautifully, sings with vigor, reads passionately, and whose taste agrees in every point with my own.”
—Jane Austen

Life FTW!!