I didn't do it justice

Can we just take a minute to talk about this boy and how it's his birthday? I think we will. 

Obviously this video was in order. 

I had started a post and it was sorta going great and then I woke up today and Mr. John Green pleasantly reminded me of Harry's birthday and I was like 'so long, old post. See you never.'
But yeah, Harry Potter's birthday. How old is he? 30 something? 34 is what JK Rowling recently announced on her newest short story that was released on Pottermore a couple weeks back. If you haven't read it, you should. It was magical and beautiful. Just like all of the other Harry Potter writing has been.

So yes, how shall I spend the day celebrating The Boy Who Lived not only in the books but in our hearts and minds? I will probably watch one of the movies with Mercy, make a butterbear of sorts, write fanfiction, talk in a British accent all day and pretend my name is Abbey Raign (my student who attends Hogwarts), play on Pottermore for the first time in months, and listen to Wizard Rock all day. Obviously, what else is there to do? How else can you fully begin to express your love for a book character? How can you even begin to show your appreciation for someone who means so much to you, and yet doesn't even exist?
Now, I know that there are people out there who don't like Harry. They're not allowed to read him, or they don't even have a want to get to know the story. Which is fine, to each their own. But I love Harry Potter. It's a book series that has consumed my mind, many times. Kept boredom at bay, and inspired many adventures. Mercy and I have had many fun evenings wandering around the back yard in our own version of Hogwarts and the wizarding world. Using the shed as Hagrid's hut, the garage as many different common rooms as well as Snape's potions classroom. The front porch was their favorite hangout spot, and the back porch doubled as the charms and the transfiguration classrooms. We created our own Marauders Map, we had a remembrall, and a cloak of invisibility. We got detentions, had homework, and so many Yule Balls. There were exchange students, werewolves, vampires, and so much more. We had created our own type of Hogwarts to satisfy our cravings for the stories to continue. We consumed ourselves with memorizing spells, potions, charms, and so many other things. We even played Quidditch. I was a keeper and I think Mercy was a seeker. So many fond memories.
Not only do I love the magical world and aspects of the story, but I love what the books stand for. Bravery, friendship, love, courage, wisdom, victories and defeats and staying true to yourself and the people you love through it all. How many modern day books express that? Well, how many express it in a truly terrific way? And I'm not going to get into the whole "witchcraft" part because... I strongly disagree and I'm not trying to make this a BE A HARRY POTTER FAN BECAUSE I AM AND I THINK IT'S MAGICAL SO YOU SHOULD TOO post. I'm really just trying to express how much I love these books.

So thank you and a very happy birthday to Jo Rowling who has blessed us with these books.
You're the bomb.com.
You're the brightest witch of your age
and you're loved by many.

Oh and also a very happy birthday to Neville Longbottom.
Master of the puberty spell.

you're adorable. and unforgettable, and secretly every body's favorite. letsbehonest 

Now, I know that this post probably doesn't do justice for the impact that Harry Potter has had on all of us, but... I'm not sure what else to say.

TOO MANY FEELINGS.
So I'll just be done.
Oh attention wee oo wee oo
Mercy and I aren't going to be here next week since we're going to be gone on vacation. And then the week after that, Laura and Rose are going to be gone... so we're going to have to figure something out... but there might not be any posting or weird posting orders for a couple weeks. But if we had some nice friendly guest posts *wink wink* that would be a really awesome solution to our problems.
Just comment, or email us, or tweet us, or send us fan mail on any of the Tumblr blogs that are on our 'Stalk Us' page.
K, I'm done for serious now.
<3 Grace
Gryffindor
7th Year

I logged out of tumblr to write this post, y'all should be impressed.

It's hump day!

Because it's Wednesday...did anyone get that reference?
No okay, moving along.

(Rose is going  to yell at Mercy, so get ready.)

Mercy, if you don't stop complaining about your posts, we will kick you out of the Foursome. You're posts are wonderful and we all love them, so just stop. Okay?

I'm going to reply to your posts now.

Grace: Your post was wonderful. It voiced all of the feelings I've been having lately, like that man voices Miss Piggy....I'm going to stop now....

Laura: I am not a porcupine. Have you ever seen those beasts run? I am clearly not a porcupine. You're post was great all the same. It made me think about being an adult which made me pray that I get raptured before that terrible event occurs.

Mercy: I loved your post! It was great reading about all the things that are going on in your life. It kind of made me feel like I was your stalker, which I would be if I lived closer to you.....I need stop.

Now on to other things.

I just finished the 4th season of Doctor Who this Friday because Laura wasn't home and mom was in Indiana and I had to and I hated it but I kind of loved it but it was really awful and I love Matt Smith already but I miss David Tennant and and and

Point being I've been a slight emotional wreck since that blasted day. Then on Sunday I finished The Great Gatsby which was pretty great, but as my emotions were already compromised I didn't actually find it sad, which makes almost no sense, but whatever. (Although I probably didn't find it sad because most
of the characters were really awful). My point is, I have been finishing things lately, which has made me think about how the Summer is almost over. Soon enough Laura will be at school, and Mary-Kate will be a real person, and John and I will be spending way to much time together. I've never liked endings ever since I was a little girl, endings are rarely happy and usually mean change. And lets just say that change and I aren't very well acquainted. I mean, my life changes obviously, but I generally go kicking and screaming, occasionally literally. I just wish I could go back to being 5 years old again. Back in the day of naps and apple juice and happiness. I mean, it's great that I can stay up late and drink coffee and all that jazz, but still. I just wish life could stay in a never ending circle of the same 5 events over and over and over. It would probably get boring and I would hate it and complain about it, but I always complain so nothing would be new. To paraphrase F. Scott Fitzgerald, so we would beat on boats against the currents borne back ceaselessly to the past.

I have/should bounce.

Grace, I'm looking forward to your post tomorrow! I'm sure it will be practically perfect in every way.

Gurl please. -Rose

I'M A SUPERNATURAL WOMAN (part two?)

Good morning gurls, it's Tuesday.

SPN ftw. 

So recently I've actually been obsessed with Supernatural, and it's not like I've been watching it, but my internet friend Meredith is like OBSESSED WITH IT (thanks to me) and so now I always find myself pinning SPN stuff and yeah, Tumblr is like my Supernatural dealer, because even though I've only seen like 5 episodes, I know a lot of stuff because of Tumblr, so thanks Tumbly-tumb.

except Cas is actually my favorite

literally I've never even seen an episode with Cas in it, but I love him so much.
Plus MISHA COLLINS 

I don't think I ever told you this, but one time, Grace and I were deciding what to watch one night after the kids went to bed and mom was probably working, so I was like 'SUPERNATURAL' and Grace was like 'um no' and I was like 'but I'm a Supernatural woman' and then I started singing this song that literally the only line was 'I'm a Supernatural woman' but it had this ridiculously annoying tune and yeah know I'll just walk around the house singing it sometimes really randomly, and I've actually heard Lydia singing it, too, which is weird.... yeah. We're a weird family.

So I'm gonna reply to your posts now.

Rosie-

I LOVED your post, because it was so true and literal and I just love the way your write, plus there was a sufficient amount of GIF's, which made me happy and yeah. Your post was pretty much the bomb.com.

Grace- your post made me like 120758127587109351635 times more scared of growing up than I already am, so thank you very much for that one.
Besides that I thought it was nice. And sad. And scary.

Laura, I really loved your psot cuz it made me feel better after Grace's post, so yeah, thanks for that!

Okay, so I just have on quick thing to.. um.. post/talk about before I go into my post.

Listen to THIS and die from laughing.

Then, once you've come back to life, listen to THIS  and die from laughing again.
AH. I just can't. Tumblr is literally the best.


ANYWAY I had written out a really soppy blog post last night in a draft on my phone/a notebook, but then this morning I was like 'aaahahah that's cute.' and decided not to post it, cuz I'm not in a soppy mood right now.

So, I've been having a pretty good past couple of days. I got to hang out with Bailey over the weekend, and then Grace and I had a sleepover with Charlotte, and we prank-texted your brother (John) which did not work and but was really entertaining because it was like 11 at night and we were way too sleepy, and then tonight, our moms are out together, so basically we made a CRAP LOAD of no-bake cookies and are planning on a movie night, because Abigail is also out with her boyfriend, so it's just the kids home, wut wut.


SO YEAH basically that's what's been happening in my life, not that any of you care. And Grace already knows, so yep. #thatwaspointless.


Song thing time I guess.

9- A song that makes you hopeful.

Enough said(:



OKAY OKAY so I watch this youtuber named Superwoman, and sometimes she dresses up as her parents and oh my gosh, I love her so much so just watch this

This is my favorite one.



okay so I know this really sucks and stuff but I'm running out of time...

You know, I have no idea why I haven't been kicked out of the foursome yet, I'm so lazy, unproductive, write THE WORST blogposts and I only add drama. Y'all are crazy for keeping me.

my baby 

okay okay, bye bye now.

Rosie, I can't wait to read your beautiful bluntness tomorrow.

xoxo
Mercy
(with literally 30 seconds to spare)

The more I see the less I know.

Hello gurlies!

    Now that I have said my greetings, I'm going to jump right into it and reply to all of last week's posts:
    Mercy love! Thank you for understanding the big integrity crisis. I felt a lot better after reading your post, honestly. And I promise, despite developing the habit of saying "dammit" when I'm aggravated, I'm still the same thoughtful, inquisitive, sarcastic Siri I was before I dabbled in the murky waters of Adulthood.
    Yes, I just swore on OTAS. The world has made me rough, lords and ladies.
    Rosiepose- I give your post a 10 out of 10 for GIF usage, inspiration, and overall porcupine Rosieness. I feel like you would be a porcupine if you were an animal- pokey and habitual and eccentrically grumpy, but really fascinating and different at the same time.

It's you!

    Also, keep calm and write on. (:
    Grace-with-the-most-beautiful-face: I know you're scared. I am too. I have been fighting against adulthood like a screaming baby- I. Do. Not. Want. To. Grow. Up. And yet it has to happen, to everyone everywhere, and everyone everywhere is scared! Probably even more so than you. You have brains and manners and a heart willing and able to serve Jesus, and you are going to do so great.  I can't wait to see what this next year brings for you and your amazing gifts and talents. <33
    AND OUR FRIDAY POST. Our ideas for that post were spawned out of the greatest Facebook chat conversation ever had in our Fearsome Foursome thread. I want to reiterate what we said on Friday- if you're an avid reader of this blog, we would love for you to be a guest blogger! Let us know if you're interested, by email, comment, or Tumblr ask. Check out the 'Stalk Us' page above if you want to contact us about it! We would love to have your words alongside ours on OTAS.
    So, this is week 2 of Laura Takes On The Real World, and since I have to go study some salad recipes I'm going to make this short and sweet:
    Grownups are basically teenagers with wrinkles.
    The illusion of great maturity after high school graduation is somewhat of a myth.  Sure, you're a bit wiser and taller and can legally by cigarettes and alcohol, but on the inside there isn't much of a difference between 15 and 25. Adults are scared too, gurls. They're just better at keeping it in than most of us and our peers:

    Sometimes it's great when adults are like that, but sometimes it's a real pain in your gluteal muscles.
    And I'm coming to understand, the more I see the less I know. I just don't know everything, like I thought I used to. And it's scary, but at the same time it's okay because  nobody knows everything. In fact, I'd venture to  say that everyone knows nothing. Which is why we are all in desperate need of a Savior like Jesus.
   So, to conclude my rant on the capable facade of adulthood:
-adult acne. It's a thing.
-people are aggravatingly capable of creating drama like middle school girls, be they 14 or 40. Sorry, gurls, but it never ends
-the real world is only scary when you aren't in it.
-so many people strive -to fit in, to be the teachers pet- as they did and even more so than in high school
-grown ups are like, funny. My kind of funny, too- sarcastic and clever and a bit caustic
-most adults have been where you are and are willing to be supportive and encouraging to you in your situation, because they, unlike most of your contemporary friends, understand where you're coming from
-those-know-it-all teens you all hate? They will most likely become the know-it-alls everyone hates in Adult World. And they get worse, because not only do they think they have all the answers, they have their age to back up their entitlement to rightness, 500% of the time
    I get my first ever paycheck tomorrow. My mom's philosophy is that you have to spend your first paycheck on something special and extravagant- what do y'all think I should buy? Army green Toms? The 'on Wednesdays we wear pink' sweatshirt from Victoria's Secret? Or something else, magical and full of wonder? I'm definitely not spending the whole thing- I need to pay my phone bill, buy textbooks, and save for things like train tickets (!!!!!) and my CNA license. But, how crazy should I go with the most money I have ever had at once in my young life? It's a stressful excitement, this moneymaking business. God help me to be a smart steward of the funds He has given me.
    I hope this boring, adulthood post didn't put any of you to sleep. I'm just overwhelmed and excited and clueless in so many new ways, and I hope that, when the time comes for each of you to leave home, put on REAL pants, and step into the grownup world, you will remember that it's okay to be terrified, because everyone is. It's okay to cry, and have the occasional panic attack, and lose your appetite and hair due to abundant new stress. It happens to everyone, and if they can do it, then you can to. And you can emerge victorious by the grace of God.
    This reminds me of a song...

    One of my favorites.

another one of my favorites. And my Man Crush Monday.

    I am off to study lettuce proportions. Mercy, can't wait to hear from you tomorrow!
--Laura :)

ALERT ALERT WEE OO WEE OO!

Laura added this picture because she thinks it's beautiful.

Hello people of the internet it's Friday!

It feels really weird to write that.

Anyway, Rose here, the rest of the Foursome and I were talking via the Facebook (I hate when people put "the" in front of website names it just makes them sound old and southern) and we decided that since the  only weekday in which we don't post is Friday we're going to have a guest writer every Friday. And you, yes you staring at the screen, could be that writer, but someone else can explain how because I hate explaining things.

    <Ladies and gents, this is the part of the post in which Laura explains everything because her lovely friends and sister depend on her to be the adult, even though she's only been one for 6 months and 5 days. #mamabearprobs #halfwayto19>
    We, the great and illustrious Foursome, think that it would be a worthwhile adventure to have a guest writer every Friday, because:
    -It's somewhat awkward that Friday is the only weekday on which we don't post
    -We can't really add another member to the Foursome. We love our family, friends, and followers, but we were born into this sisterhood and there's no going back or adding onto what God had planned
    -It would be so interesting to have someone -a sibling, close friend, safe Internet buddy- write to us, giving feedback, advice, and a bit of a new twist on our usual weekly routine
    And so, amid our Facebook messaging conversation, the stickers and advice and Mary ClayClay, we thought, why not ask our amazing support system to contribute to our blog? If you're interested you can email, message, or comment and let us know as soon as possible! Contact us over aaalll the social media sites! Maybe what we can do is have you write a draft and email it to us (so we can post it, and monitor it for inapropro content, and not have to give out the password to our blog all over the place- we love you guys, but we respect our own privacy as much as anybody else's). Sounds good?

this is what I (Laura) look like in the winter when I eat too much Christmas candy and don't shave. You think I'm exaggerating but I assure you I am not.

(This is Grace) I'm super excited for this to happen. So you people better make it happen! And if you don't then we might just write really weird fan fictions about a certain couple on Fridays. Except that better not happen because I would leave the blog. 
But yeah, as Laura stated above, there isn't really any parameters on this thing. You've seen our posts. They get as weird and creepy as this guy 

so write about what you want. Don't try and make it sound pretty or poetic like Laura. Don't try and make it as musical and fun as Mercy's. Don't try to put as many GIFs in as Rosie does or rant that much... because it would sound too much like my posts on Thursday :} 
Just be yourself because I'm pretty sure that if you're still reading our blog, or have ever read our blog for more than 10 seconds, then you're pretty cool. 
Post random stories
weird GIFs and pictures
fanfiction (unless it ships any members of the foursome. we don't need any of that perverted "literature" on this website) 
basically anything that you want... as long as we approve :) 
but I think that's all I've got so Mercy, put any closing thoughts in


Okay so now I have nothing left to say... so yeah, basically just live by my dad's life rule- have fun, but not too much fun!! {i think that accurately describes what we're trying to say.} 

Don't feel offended if we don't pick you first for guest posting- I mean, I don't think we're going to get THOUSANDS of requests, but you never know- anyway, I'm sure everyone will get a chance to write, is what I'm saying. I mean, it's not like we're ending this blog any time soon.. {not that I know of, anyway... <.< } 

SO YEAH, I think that's everything!! 

Now listen to this song, because since Musical Mercy is writing, she must post a magically musical song. 

{↑ my musical bae ↑ } 

AANNND because of my lack of gif's of my forever Man Crush Monday in my post on Tuesday, here he is... 

my real life bae. 

OKAY OKAY I'm done I promise.

WE LOVE YOU ALL and we hope to get some emails soooooooonnn! byee
xoxo
The Foursome {which is Laura, Mercy, Rosie, Grace. In case you were confused. :) }

some random thoughts on life. oh and some Doctor Who

Hey gurls,

I'm so much better than how I was when I wrote last weeks post. Thank the good Lord Almighty. All your posts made me so thankful for you guys because I seriously don't know what I'd do if I didn't have you three. Everything isn't 100% but I'd say that it's about 80% better. I was having an overly emotional week last week and I honestly have no idea. I had a few good reasons to maybe be a little grumpy but I don't know why I reacted so out of character and unusual to stuff. Maybe it's like that personality stuff I was talking about a couple weeks ago. I've started to react to things differently. I've started actually saying GIF (not JIF... that's a kind of peanut butter) instead of G-I-F. I'm not sure why or when, but it happened. People and personalities are weird. 

ROSE- I started writing too. I mean, I've sorta always been writing something but I started writing something  new that I love. It may or may not be about this kid who lives down our street. I know that sounds really creepy and stalkerish... because it is. But in a completely innocent way. He's just so intriguing. I had to write some fanfiction about him. Also, your gifs were quite refreshing from last week and I found my newest favorite one. So here you go.

Mercy and Laura, your posts gave me some perspective into the struggles of being a person who actually leaves the house for involuntary social obligations. (because seriously, I only leave the house when I really want to see people.) One of my other friends posted something very similar on Facebook about how hard it is to keep up the same persona while at work that she has at home and at church and now the thought of getting a job is completely more terrifying than it was. 

(Now begins the part where Mercy and Rose groan because I'll probably end up sounding a lot like Laura always does.) 

So next Wednesday, my beautiful mother is taking me to go take the permit test and hopefully I'll be able to pass and next time I post, I will be an officially permitted driver. Which is really scary. Because I'm about 10 times smaller than any car I would have an opportunity to drive. Also, I have a really hard time with critical thinking so the fact that every time I step into a car I suddenly have to spend the whole time making rational, smart, quick, decisions is truly terrifying.

this is what my driving adventures will turn out to be

 I'm also hoping to get a job before the new school year starts and that's also terrifying. I really hate social interaction with strangers and the fact that probably every job I could get is basically that the whole time, is really keeping me from actually going out and getting a job. Basically, all those posts that Laura wrote about how scary growing up is, I've come to a new appreciation for. Yeah, I always knew it wouldn't be easy. I just didn't realize that when it finally came down to it, I'd be a fearful little girl who isn't sure she wants to do this. I've been wanting to get in the front seat of a car since I was about 10. I remember talking to Mercy about it and she said she never wanted to learn how to drive because of all the accidents and I thought she was being a just a tad bit panicked and I couldn't really wrap my head around never wanting to learn how to drive. But now that my chance has come, I sorta understand. I have this feeling that not going to be able to do it. Like, I'm physically not going to be able to learn how to drive. And that's not where it ends. I have this fear of getting a job like I mentioned above, but I'm also scared of not being able to find a college to go to. What if I still don't know what I want to study at the end of my gap year. What if I end up staying at home forever because my mom needs me to be there for her? There are so many unknowns ahead of me and it's really nerve wracking. Life is just so uncertain all the time and sometimes I don't like to handle it.

Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard

Coldplay understands me. And that really does sum things up pretty nicely. I always knew that growing up was going to be hard and scary... I just didn't realize that it would be this hard and scary. And I know that I have more coming for me and I'm not even 17 yet (less than a month!!) but it doesn't mean that it's so nice and easy. 

But now that I've got that off my chest, Laura you said something in your post... 

(and I quote)  "This is just a thought, but I'm also glad that you're going into your senior year and everything is going to get awesome and stressful and you'll want to cry and laugh and have a blast before closing the curtain on your high school career." (end quote)

And I've been thinking about this for awhile (like since the seniors graduating youth group night) and I'm really sad that it's senior year already. People always say that high school is terrible and in ways it is. Kids can be terrible and things are always changing and you're not always sure about things and school just keeps getting harder. But I've been gifted with very pleasant high school years. They've been so much fun (and also stressful) and I'm really sad that I only have one more year left. I feel like in the past year, I've gown so much closer to some ridiculously cool people and it's sad that I only have one year left with them. And some of them are already gone. Some of them just graduated which is sad and it means that this really is my final year. But it's going to be great. And year it's going to be sad but it's going to be just as awesome. 

So I guess the point of this rambley long thing would be, growing up sucks in many ways. It's frighting and nerve wracking and I hate it. And at the same time, there are so many good things and so many fun people and fun times just waiting to happen and be there. And I guess, in the end, the good times will always out weigh anything bad. 

Remind you of a certain Doctor Who quote? 

I'll leave you with that. 

Until next time

<3

Grace

No! Jimmy protested! (That was for Mercy).

It's hump day!

Oh my goodness I'm almost to Tens regeneration and I can't

I'd just like to formally apologize for my post last week. It is a prime example of the things VBS does to me.  Spending 5 mornings of my life with 25 rowdy 1st graders can turn a person into someone else. If VBS taught me nothing, it was that I definitely want to teach middle school. Anyway, since my post last week sucked I'm going to try to make this one not suck. But first I'm going to reply to your posts.

Grace: Your writing is so wonderful. You should just John Steinbeck your life and travel around the country with your dog and write a book named Travels With Millie, or you could not do that. Why do I feel like no one got that reference? Anyway, I'm been thinking a lot this week, and I just want to take this time to say, I think you're the most loving person I know. What I mean is, most people in this world don't really like something they just hate the opposite, like they don't actually know what the Republican party stands for they just like to hate the Democrats, but not you. You just love things, and in loving them hate the opposite, but you seem to focus on loving rather than hating and I really appreciate that.

Laura: You need to stop talking about how you're an adult because you're not allowed to be. Remember that time when you tried to drown me? Well ever since that emotionally scaring experience, you've been stuck as a homicidal 9 for me, AND YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO CHANGE OKAY? YOU DON'T HAVE A JOB YOU'RE JUST SPENDING ALL YOUR TIME WITH SALLY! AND SALLY IS THE BLONDE SALLY NONE OF THIS "BRUNET SALLY WHO KNOWS THINGS" CRAP! JUST STOP. Okay?

I'll be the first to admit that that was not okay.

Mercy:  Your post was wonderful. It made me miss you. As I mentioned before, I've been thinking a lot this week, and I realized that I miss your stupid face and you need to come live at my house until school starts because I can't. I just can't. Also, when I read the first part of you post and I thought is was Grace's post for some reason. I just keep getting my days mixed up. It's like

Do you understand what I'm getting at? Also, I appreciate how you used the Taco Tuesday gif again.

Anyway, onwards and upwards to what I was going to post about.

I've been writing a lot lately. No, not Shanko! The Musical, although I do need to finish that. I've been writing something far less weird (because lets be honest here, is there anything more weird than Shanko! The Musical?). I've been writing something else. It's not quite anything, but it's definitely something. And it may very well never be anything, but it's still fun to write. I haven't written like this since I was 10 and I was writing Percy Jackson fan fiction...which was...let's not talk about that, my point is I'm writing something. I also feel like I'm not making any sense.

On a completely unrelated subject, why is falling in love always connected to the heart? The heart is an organ that pumps blood to the entire body, I don't see what that has to do with love. Your heart cannot process emotions, therefore cannot love. When someone breaks up with you they don't "break your heart" because you would literally be dead. They may have hurt your feelings, but your heart is likely fully functional. The only occasion where this statement is accurate, would be if someone where to break up with you and stab you through the chest. Unless this is the case, this statement is inaccurate. My point is, saying love comes from the heart is like saying thoughts come from the kidneys. The world in which we live is filled with nonsense!

I have to go, BUT FIRST.

Best. Gif. Ever.

Grace, I'm so excited for your post tomorrow, I'm sure it will be

I'm not ready. This is not okay.

Fair thee well young maidens!

Gurl please. -Rosie.

I don't know

Good morning, gurls, it's Tuesday.

So um.
I'm currently really sleepy and exhausted, because I had a busy day yesterday- a good day, but busy. Not like hectic, just like... I dunno.
We (me, Grace, mom, Ethan, Lydia Ege, and Joy and Joshua Kinsky) all went out to Barkhamsted lake for the day, where I got extremely sunburned, but had a good time, then we came home, ordered pizza and ate that, then awaited Abigail's boyfriend, Anton, to arrive, which he did at precisely 8 o'clock, bringing us paper bags full of goodies (pretzels covered in some sort of toffee-flavored coating, and delicious chocolate-caramel chews) and then we all proceeded to the out-of-doors and sat around the small bonfire Ethan and Joshua had made, where we ate s'mores and asked some ridiculous, and also though-provoking Would You Rather's.
It was all very fun, even though I got marshmallow and melty chocolate all over my hands and face and legs, right after I'd taken a shower, and even though the fire was small and Millie was eating rocks and nearly choking on them (it's okay, she didn't die.)
We laughed and had fun and it felt like summertime and we stayed up late watching Brain Games (after the fire) and Joy and Joshua got to sleepover and yeah.

I guess socializing isn't too bad sometimes.

I don't even know why I just told all of that, maybe because I have no clue what I'm posting about but oh well.

Grace- your post last week was truthful and emotional (surprise!) and I really liked it, and I want you to know that if any of your friends stop talking to you or are just being mean, then just forget them because they don't deserve to have someone as amazing as you in their life and just ignore you. That's stupid and selfish of them.

Rosie- I don't even know what happened with your post... I don't even know if you actually talked about anything... there were like, no GIF's. And no ranting. I was extremely thrown-off.

Laura- I thought your post yesterday was adorable- I know you're going to do amazingly at your new job and in school and- gurl. you are just gonna go far in life, trust me. You're amazing. The end.

I totally get where you're coming from though, when you say that you don't know if you're being the same person around the people at work that you around the people at home or church or whatever.
Because I struggle with that too- I feel like I act so differently around my friends at school then I do with my friends at church, or my family.
I never thought I would care about what other people thought of me, but I really do. I want so much the approval of my friends at school that I do things and say things that seem to be "cool" in the now, or whatever.
And yeah, I still do things and my friends will be like 'what the heck' and I'm like 'sorry not sorry.'
But it's so hard for me to freely express my faith at school because it's just so not normal and not a lot of kids I know there have a faith like me.
But then it's cool, cuz I have friends who are atheist or something, and they know about my faith and they have no problem with it (looks at Grace and mouth's 'YOU.')  but it's weird because even though most of my friends know about my faith and are really accepting about it (that is why I go to the best school in the world because all of my friends are so non-judgmental, it's amazing) I still act so differently around them just so I can fit it.

IDENTITY CRISES' ARE REAL.

Okay I'm not really in a mood to go any deeper than that, so yeah.

Basically, I guess I could use accountability too? That would be grand.

I LIKE REALLY HAVE TO PEE.


Okay so this post was really short and I'm sorry but I'm starting to like stray from my train of thought..... I'm so tired....

OH SONG THING.

8- A song that reminds you of your "first love."

I don't like those suspicious quotation marks....

BUT SO UM I'm just gonna go with my first crush and do this song..

Yeah. I had a serious crush on David Cook when he was on American Idol. I was so embarrassed by it, too... But Grace totally knew about it. Sister's always know these things.

ANYWAY that's all I have for today...

Gurls, I love you and I'll talk to you next week- and ROSIE I can't wait for you post tomorrow, it better be gify.

xoxo,
Mercy

In which I use a lot of Mr. Darcy GIFs but this post has almost nothing to do with Pride & Prejudice

Hay gurls hayyy!

such a cute, artsy thing to say.

    I feel like this past week has gone on for a thousand years. Between VBS, orientation and training for my job, I have actually been busy. I remember weeping to my mom at the end of the school year about how all my friends were too busy to hang out with me and I wasn't doing anything remotely productive. Fast forward three months, and I have learned the hard lesson that is: be careful what you wish for.
    Ladies, you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admired and loved your posts from last week.

*plot twist* in which my Man Crush Monday is not Jared Padalecki 

(Matthew McFadyen is cute as Darcy, but the one and only Colin Firth at least gets his lines right)

    Mercy- thank you for describing exactly how all of us have felt, at one time or another, about a fictional or famous guy. I had this giant crush on Legolas when I was 7 (when I also couldn't remember if mustaches went over your nose or under your nose;) and I was super embarrassed about it, only to find out that Rosie had a thing for him, and Miss Megan as well. And since Rosie and Miss Megan are two of the most sensible and level-headed nerds I know, I learned not to be ashamed. Feelings like that are 500% natural, and if you didn't feel that way at some point in your life you would be a cactus.
    Rosie- with all due respect, your post was so short and devoid of GIFs and not like your usual masterpieces that I don't even remember what it was about. I'm sorry. Take this as the "your family is garbage, you're garbage, but I'm a condescending rich boy and I'll marry you" part of Mr. Darcy's proposal.
 

and now you look at me like this (IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE THE FACE NO?)

    Graaaaace- your post. Just...agh. I love the eloquence with which you write, the raw honesty you use to express your feelings. I hope you feel better now, and that all the texting we did about THAT boy on Thursday sincerely helped. I'm glad we can talk about things like that and it isn't weird. This is just a thought, but I'm also glad that you're going into your senior year and everything is going to get awesome and stressful and you'll want to cry and laugh and have a blast before closing the curtain on your high school career. You are going to do beautifully, as always. I believe in and and am praying for you :)

    So, I have a job. A real job. Not babysitting or helping Mom cater a friend's wedding or mowing my neighbor's lawn. A job where I have to wear a uniform (that's at least three sizes too big) and get paid good money to make high quality cuisine. A job where I am one of the youngest, smallest people in the kitchen. A job that will help me get through at least my first year of college and fund my CNA training next summer.

    But, I think I like this job already. I have my third day of training later (hence why I am writing this now) and I'm a little excited to be back in the cramped kitchen, cheek to cheek (and not in the way you think) with my fellow line cooks, learning skills only taught at the finest culinary schools in the country. My coworkers are really, really nice- approximately none of them are creepy, and they all have wonderful senses of humor that make the hours we spend cooking go by a bit faster. My only doubts are in myself- how in the world did I, a teeny tiny church kid fresh out of high school with only a little experience in restaurant work, land a job at what is probably the fastest growing fine dining chain in the world? By the grace of God. I only hope I may learn quickly and prove myself worthy of the excellence He has called me to.

    Basically-

    Pros of working for the Cheesecake Factory:

    -making above minimum wage at a place that is 1.7 miles from home and 1.4 miles from school

    -learning some mad cooking skills that will come in handy later on in life

    -learning time management and multitasking skills that will definitely come in handy as a nurse

    -working with a hilarious group of people who seem to sincerely care about and respect one another

    -working with so many Hispanic people that my Spanish will no doubt improve 

    -employee's discount on the amazing food (hello, Freshmen Fifteen. You come in the form of cheesecake and stuffed pizza bread)

    However-

    Cons of working for the Cheesecake Factory:

    -juggling a job and 18 credits my first semester of college. What was I thinking?

    -doubts in my own qualifications for this amazing opportunity

    -being already labeled as "the good girl" (the girls I work with want to take me out clubbing because apparently I'm very innocent. Ahaha)

    -WORKING WITH THESE TWIN GUYS AND I CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME TELL THEM APART. It's like the VanDine's at THP all over again

    I guess you could say I love my job. My only real worry is in my own integrity- am I the same person at work that I am at home that I am at church that I will be in college this fall? God has been convicting me of that lately, as I branch out away from home and the friends I've known since birth. To be honest, until now it's never been hard for me to be who I am wherever I go. But now, I'm halfway to nineteen (yesterday was my half birthday!). An adult. I am pretty much responsible for everything I do. So what's stopping me from doing what I want and being who I want to be?

    Perhaps I'm crazy, but I feel obligated to be my real and honest and self wherever I go- the hard-working intellectual with a sarcastic sense of humor and deep love and respect for my fellow people. The person I was created to be, although tragically I do not always live up to her. So, do you think you gurls could hold me accountable? Keep me real and aware of any time I'm being two-faced and uncooperative? I would appreciate that immensely.

    Well, that's all I have for today! I highly recommend y'all swing by the Cheesecake Factory sometime soon, to eat the wonderful food (prepared by me) and have a good time. Mercy, I don't really know what you will have to say in reply to this post, but whatever it is I can't wait to read it tomorrow.

one final P&P GIF because Elizabeth and Darcy are just adorable

--Laura :)

I guess I'm just trying to deal with something new

aw gurls, I found a cute Thursday picture! I had to wade through all the ugly ones and all the 'Thirsty Thursday' disturbing pictures.. but I found one. And now I feel special and part of the cool kids club. 

Laura, your post was quite beautiful. Though I hate how almost every white Christian girl throws out the "I'm married to Jesus" line (or something like that), the way that you did it made me stop and think about it again and I immensely liked it. Something about your writing just makes me want to agree with whatever you say. 

but then Mercy came on Tuesday throwing out exactly how I've been feeling and suddenly I was believing everything that she said. The power of good writing. It's strong. 

ROSE. that is all

So on Monday, after I had read Laura's post, I was sitting on my bed and I started to write in my journal, to you gurls, and this is what spilled forth.

_________________________________________________________________________________

it is Monday evening. I'm sitting on my bed in the quiet dusk. rain trickles down the windows and the fan spins lazily and only the prettiest kpop is allowed to float through my headphones. Gurls, I'm so peaceful right now. I have been since THP, but it seems to have all settled on me right now. I don't know if it is because the business of the past 2 weeks is gone. or the fact that I spent yesterday night with some cool people who I usually don't talk with. or maybe the fact that I've finally realized that we're in the heart of summer. or maybe it's because, like Laura said, God has given me a new found confidence and I'm using it to live my life peacefully and how I want. Guys, I don't want to ever go back to the middle school/early high school years when I thought any guy who looked at me was flirting and so I never made eye contact. never mind actually opening my mouth to talk. or when I never voiced an opinion or initiated anything. when social anxiety was always lurking there whenever I left the house. Yeah I'm still quiet and shy and get overwhelmed, scared, and confused easily. But I'm working on getting over it. 

_________________________________________________________________

So that's how I was feeling on Monday, well come Tuesday and Wednesday and I'm filled with sudden doubts and fears and not because of strangers or new circumstances like I usually feel. Suddenly talking to my family and friends has become something that I'm questioning. I can't send a text without kicking myself for what I said. I feel like a total... loser? for even starting a conversation and I feel like everyone is looking at me and judging me. I don't know. I was laying in bed last night. And I'd had long confusing conversations with a couple different people from youth group and we were trying to figure out carpooling and movie times and it put me in a really bad mood. And suddenly I didn't want to see them anyone. I wanted to turn my phone off, shut my bedroom door, and hide under my covers reading Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (a fantastically funny book which should be read by y'all because I'm sure you'd all love it). So I'm thinking about all of this and feeling like crap and then I started thinking about my post and I'm like.... as soon as I decide to look this confidence in the face and realize it and start living it, I'm attacked with this social anxiety in completely new ways that I've never experienced before. yep... thanks for that. But then I called out to God and I'm just like "this is not from you." and I turned my attention from how bad I was feeling to prayer. And I prayed for the people that I thought I had been annoying and stupid for talking to. And this morning I do feel incredibly better. I did decide to not go to the movies for various reasons but in the back of my mind, I know that I'm rather relieved. Not that I don't like my friends... but what if they don't like me? I don't know. I guess I'm being stupid and insecure but I guess I'll get over it. I just get tired of people constantly changing their mind about me. Ever get those people who you think everything's all good and your friendship is pretty good, and then suddenly they seem really distant? That's sort of been happening with a couple different people. Or suddenly they seem to act really different around you or suddenly they have a new group of friends and I tend to just stand there for a long time, questioning myself. 

But you know what? I really don't want to think about this anymore. Because whatever has been making me question every friendship and every conversation I've ever had, can just go away. And I'm going to put up a bunch of Fearsome Foursome pins and Tumblr posts because I love you gurls. 

Sorry about this post. I wasn't expecting it come out this way. I'm just feeling really tired and worn out and I want to go finish my second book for the day and listen to some music... probably k-pop. I decided last night that it is a truth of the universe that k-pop will always put me in a better mood. 

I think that will be my music motto. Hope you guys have a beautiful weekend and we should fit in a phone call. <333 Grace

I wrote this when I was tired and kind of high on coffee I had 5 hours ago. It's not my fault I swear.

It's hump day!

Actually, it's Tuesday, because it's VBS week and I figured I had better post after the amazing nap I just took because I actually feel like, rested so I can write a post that actually makes like, sense.

Can I just say, all the posts written by you ladies last week were quite fantastical, and I am proud to be part of a group of such amazing writers, and more importantly, amazing sisters in Christ.

Also, Laura's post on Monday was, as always, wonderful and thought provoking. And, can I just say Laurabeth, sometimes I feel as though you write like Jane Austen. You're snarky and beautiful style is similar to dear old Jane's.  Sometimes I also feel like I write like an unclassy crappy Dickens. I just use a bunch of words and say a bunch of unnecessary things in order to support my family.

Mercy, sometimes I believe we truly are twins and we were just switched at birth. You just feel the things I feel but you actually express them.

So I just started reading As You Like It, and can I just say, I really do like it. No pun intended. Well, actually the pun was kind of intended, but that's the way it usually is when people use that phrase. It's literally almost as overly used as literally. Like I literally mean that literally.

As I said before, it's VBS week. I'm helping out with the 1st grade, and all of the kids in my class are adorable and really well behaved and I'm going to adopt all of them because they're just awesome. I also have all of the songs stuck in my head.

Did it really happen?

Tell me 

Can it be?

Did it really happen?

It's so bad.

I hate it.

But I love it.

But I hate it.

But I can't make up my mind.

Agency D3

Discover, decide, defend

Agency D3

I finished Pride and Prejudice.

I just ate an egg role.

This post sucked. It also doesn't have any gifs. Blame it on my insane lack of sleep. Grace, I'm so excited for your Thorsday post tomorrow! I'm sure it will be only half as beautiful as your face though.

Gurl please. -Rose.

The most embarrassing confession of my life..

Good morning gurls, it's Tuesday.

UM so I started this post as a draft on my phone last night cuz I, like, really needed to write it and I was in this weird mood, like I was having writing withdrawals, and I was shaking, and I'm pretty sure sure that's what it's like when you're on cocaine, but ANYWAY-
I couldn't use the internet and my phone was the closest thing so I started typing furiously because I HAD TO GET ALL THESE STUPID GIRLY THOUGHTS OUT OF MY HEAD!!!

But first, I remembered something a few days ago... I never did my song-challenge thing last week. So I have to do two today. Not that any of you probably care, but whatever..

SO number 6 was..

A song that reminds you of a best friend..
Well....

7- A song that reminds you of the past summer..
 PFFT easy

Grace, remember when this song and the two Cher Lloyd songs were like the Sisterhood theme songs?? Yep. Last summer was pretty epic.

OKAAYY back to my girly thoughts....

*Warning- contains extreme stupidity and use of the word 'like' 10000000000000 too many times*
*There's also probably a lot of typo's but Mercy was too lazy and overwhelmed to go back and check*
*Proceed with caution*

So like this thing happened after Ed's new album came out...
WELL actually this pretty much started when T. Swizzle's RED album came out, so yeah I guess this has been going on a while, but I guess it just struck me really hard when Ed's album came out... Ya know, leave it to music to go and make you feel all EMOTIONAL EVERYWHERE.  Gosh.

OH WAIT- I loved all your posts last week about THP, they were beautiful, and Laura's post from yesterday was also lovely, and my post is kinda like her's, but more opposite, ah well.
But I've had this in my head for a few weeks and I knew I wanted to post about it today, so it's not like I got this off Laura's post or anything, it just turned out like this. Weird.

Anywaaaayy....
So, like, I've pretty much only been "in love" (take this all with a grain of salt, please, I'm begging you, I wrote this last night at 10:30) with one actual, real-life, breathing, living on earth person like, once.
I mean, I've had plenty of crushes, but THIS PERSON was totally different. I just want to MARRY them.
Like, just thinking about them makes me sooo happy and it's the best feeling ever.
AAANNNDD It's really (really, really,) stupid because I know it's not ACTUALLY true love or anything it's really, just a really, really, REALLY bad obsession and it's really bad because this person does not love Jesus (as far as I know, and I know a lot. AND I've never spoken to them in real life, or seen them... in person...)
AND OKAY I'M BEING COMPLETELY SERIOUS AND THIS IS WHY THIS POST IS RIDICULOUS AND GIRLY AND STUPID BECAUSE IT'S FREAKING EMBARRASSING THAT I AM ACTUALLY LIKE SMITTEN WITH A CELEBRITY OKAY (but I mean, they're real people, too, right?)
aaaannnddd since I'm too young to want an actual REAL relationship with anyone, celebrity crushes are all I have left, and THIS IS WHAT FREAKIN HAPPENS AUGH!!! Curse you, attractive British men....

But like, even if this guy I'm so in love with just met me and fell in love with me (*sobs*) and asked me out I'd be like "Ummmm, wait five years boy I am TOO YOUNG!" like no lie, I'd probably faint before I could say that, but then after I woke up, I'd tell him, and I STILL don't want a relationship at such a young age, so I wouldn't go out with him right away- so it's okay. Don't get worried.

ANYWAY this post isn't supposed to be about my super mega foxy awesome hot crush on a celebrity...
It's supposed to just be about how I am very much in love with love.
Like... I listen to Ed Sheeran songs (e.g- Photograph, Shirtsleeves, Tenerife Sea, Thinking Out Loud..) and I'm like BAWLING all like "I WANT A RELATIONSHIP LIKE THAAATT!" and then I start thinking about how no one is ever going to love me and I'm going to end up as an obese cat lady who never gets a handsome husband who snuggles with her and watches Netflix and makes me homemade mac and cheese because who is actually ever gonna be attracted to me, the overly-emotional girl with messy hair and too much acne on my face and I get really depresses and it's SO STUPID because OBVIOUSLY Jesus has someone for me (or maybe not...) and I shouldn't worry but I always do anyways and it's like I want to grow up too fast so that I can find my future husband and have an amazing relationship, but I am actually terrified of growing up and sooooo basically I'm going to die of indecision and contradictory.

THIS POST IS SO SCATTERED AUGH.

Basically my girly, teenage emotions are getting in the way of me being a strong independent young woman who don't need no man because I am actually becoming one of those girls who thinks they need a boyfriend to survive and NO I don't think I need a boyfriend to survive, but I REALLY WANT A CUTE, ED SHEERAN SONG RELATIONSHIP.

AUGH.

I'm sorry you all had to deal with this hoooottt mess, this is just what I'm currently battling with.... aksjdhkgjashgeouthawkdjfahskjdghawik;dfjashfkgl.
GIRLY EMOTIONS SUCK.

Here listen to this song I'm obsessed with by this singer I'm obsessed with...

Sam Smith. I am in love with his voice.

Rosie, my sunshine, I can't wait to read your beautifully sassy post tomorrow.

DFTBA everyone, don't be a whiny girl like me.
xoxo
Mercy the emotional hott mess of a gurl.

P.s- ThecelebrityisHarryStylesoops

\

p.p.s- I don't know why I actually thought posting this was a good idea I am such an idiot. 

This heavenly wedding is all I am waiting for.

    Today is beautiful. Day one of Vacation Bible School at my church is over and done with, and it's already been a blast.
Agency D3 day 1 recap:
Number of songs sung: 12
Music classes taught by yours truly: 3
Breaks: 2.5
Band members who dropped out last minute: 1
Cups of coffee: 2
High fives from children: 37427
Kids I want to steal: 130
    I love being on the music team. There isn't a single person in the VBS band that I dislike. I love being sarcastic and laughing with Andre, complaining with Canaan about bad music and slow wifi, Josh photobombing all the pictures I take, yelling at everyone with Jenny because Jerry is a very nice team leader but far too quiet, pastor Jake being crazy up in the sound booth while we rehearse, and leading opening rally worship with Annabanana. Today was a hectic yet fun Monday. I came home from church, went on a fantastic run, had a delicious lunch with Daddy and Rosie (which she made herself), took a shower, and now I'm sitting out on the back porch in my SHU sweats with a glass of water for my ailing vocal cords, listening to pretty worship music and the birds trilling from the vegetable garden.

    ^^Throwback to Hartford! This song just came on my Spotify playlist. I freaking miss everyone and everything pertaining to THP. Our posts last week were so soothing, cathartic, revitalizing; to read and to write. That week changed my life. Seriously. Ever since I came back from Hartford I've been much less anxious. I nailed a job interview because of this newfound freedom from my old self that has brought me so much joy and competence (I start training for the Cheesecake Factory this weekend!). As I drove about the gray-green Connecticut countryside with Miss Megan yesterday, she -my dear friend of over ten years and too many awkward middle school pictures- turned to me and said "You know, I don't know what it is, but over this last year or so you've just gained that much more confidence. It's really awesome."
    I know what it is. It's God. He has delivered me, a long journey that started about this time last year and climaxed at The Hartford Project. And I know I'm not there yet. I won't be there until my body gives out and my soul soars to rest on high in the unspeakable joy of the lavish embrace of Jesus.

When we arrive at eternity's shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we'll sing
You're beautiful

    This heavenly wedding is all I am waiting for.

    I mean, (not to rabbit trail) I can't wait for my own wedding too. You have all been privy to my discussions, opinions, and dilemmas with boys, particularly in the last week or so. You know I will probably one day marry. I have felt that call to romance from Jesus. But, you know what I learned from THP? If our marriages are meant to symbolize the marriage of Christ and His Church, the bride, then any man who crosses my path without Godly intentions ain't worth it. I also learned that my theory on how opposites attract could be wrong. I could very well put up with someone as sarcastic, friendly, and passionate about glorifying God as I am, for the rest of my earthly days. It's weird, but that's what I learned from Hartford. I know to look for a guy who loves Jesus more than he loves me and isn't afraid to come out and say he's attracted to me. I know I can think all I want about finding this guy someday, but I will stumble upon him when I least expect it.

    I have been given free reign from my parents over the dating kingdom since I turned eighteen, six months ago. And in these past months I have actually become less awkward around guys- maybe because the pressure of parental control is off. But I have actual guy friends for the first time in forever. How come I haven't dated, then? How come today, when a certain  male member of the worship team (who we will call Caucasian Citrus, for discretion and nickname purposes) put his arm around me and told me he thought everything about me was cute, I roughly twirled out of his embrace and cried "Not in church, young man!"? Because God hasn't introduced me to my future husband yet. He hasn't told me who he is, whether I know him already (THE HORROR) or I won't meet him for twenty years. It's all in God's hands, and I will do just fine until I meet the one my soul craves. I wait on God's word to take action. None of this archaic waiting by my window with a yearning face, hoping to see Prince Charming ride in on a white horse. The only Prince I wait on is Jesus, my first love, who may use my broken life in whatever way He adoringly chooses.

    So, I have brought you gurls up to date on my life. Sorry for this somewhat mushy post- sometimes I have these profound, moving thoughts, and all I can do to stop them from screaming out my ears is share them with the other three-quarters of the Foursome on this here blog.

    OH! And Annie's home! She surprised all of us but mom this time on Friday night. This whole surprising-most-of-us-when-she-comes-home-gig of hers has become quite routine.

    Also, anticipate a change in posting order come autumn. I got my college schedule last week (!!!!!) and my Mondays are as packed as a New York Subway car, complete with an early morning philosophy lecture, healthcare math, and a three-hour nursing anatomy lab at 6:30PM. Maybe I can start a draft after Grace posts on Thursdays and work on it over the weekend? That would work marvelously for my poor overworked soul.

    Anywhoozles, thank you for reading, Internet and the Foursome! Mercy, my lovely lil French croissant, I can't wait to read your post tomorrow. My Tuesdays are forever brightened by your feisty take on life and love and why we were created.

--Laura :)