2014 retrospective.

It's hump day!

So last night after you guys left I was reading Blood of Olympus (put that in The Game), and I read this part about Piper, Annabeth, and Hazels epic abilities. First I was really proud of Rick Riordan for writing 3 strong female characters. I wouldn't consider myself a feminist but every time a female does something awesome I get really excited. Maybe I was a woman's rights leader in a past life. Or maybe I really am a feminist and I just don't know it. There's a lot of things I don't know about myself. For example, John told me a couple weeks ago that I'm a man. I always thought I was a woman, but I guess I'm wrong. Anyway, while I was thinking about Rick Riordan's strong females, I glanced at the Supernatural poster that you gurls gave me, and ever since then I can't help thinking of Piper, Annabeth, and Hazel, as Sam, Dean, and Cas.

I'm going to reply to your posts now.

Grace: You haven't posted in 2 weeks. But your post from 2 weeks ago was great. Also, I just wanted to tell you that you're like Idaho.

Laura: Your post was pretty beautiful. Like your face.

THIS GIF NEVER ENDS.

Mercy: I agree with you that New Years is kind of a stupid holiday. But it is also kind of not a stupid holiday. WHICH IS A PERFECT SEGUE INTO WHAT I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT, SO YOU GET A STAR!

So tomorrow is next year, right? It doesn't seem like that long ago that I was writing the first post of the new year, and now I'm writing the last. It's kind of funny how that worked. Well, it's not really funny, it's math, but whatever. Well, in the first post I wrote this year, I wrote 3 lists, which I'm sure you remember, because it was such a memorable post. (I'm kidding. I didn't even remember that I did that.) So I thought it would be kinda cool if I took those three lists, and rewrote them, in retrospect. The stuff that isn't in parentheses is the old list, and the stuff in parentheses is the new list.

Terrible things that can happen (but actually didn't).

1. The apocalypses. (That didn't happen).
2.  The plague. (Unless you count Ebola plague, it also didn't happen.)
3. Mercy could stop being a fangirl. (No).
4. Laura could start being stupid. (Well...)
5. Grace could become goth. (No).
6. More of my favorite bands could go on hiatus's. (No).
7. Canada. (No).
8. Turtle out break. (Thank God, no).
9. My life could become Little House on the Prairie. (No).

Terrible things that will happen (and did)

1. Laura will graduate and leave me to die. (Well, I'm not dead, but Laura did leave).
2. School will start again. (Unfortunately, school did start again. But, honestly, I like school so much more that I used to).
3. Turtles will continue to live. (Ew, yes).
4. Highschool students will still be stupid. (Yes. But I'd like to think I'm more tolerant of highschoolers than I used to be).
5. Jensen Ackles won't be married to me. (Yes).
6. I'll have to suffer through an entire season of Martha on Doctor Who. (Honestly, Martha wasn't that bad. She's certainly not as bad as Clara).

Fantastic things to look forward to this year (and did...kind of)

1. I'll get my own room....kinda. (Very kinda).
2. Mary-Kate will be home all the time! (Some of the time...)
3. Grace will get her apparition licence and come see me!!! (She got her permit...)
4. I HAVE A SUPERNATURAL CALENDER AND THEREFORE GET TO STARE AT SAM AND DEANS FACES FOR 13 MONTHS! (12 months actually...there are only 12 months in a year...that was a failure little Rose).
5. I only have 3 and a half years left of highschool! (Now I only have 2 and a half years left!)
6. The first annual foursomeaversary is coming up! (HOLY CRAP! THAT WAS WHEN SHANKO WAS BORN!)
7. We will write another round story. (We did. And it was beautiful).

I agree with Mercy (big surprise there) that New Years is kind of a stupid holiday. But, it's also a great time to look back at the behind you and realize what God has done for you. And to look at the year ahead of you and hope for the things He will do. Now parties, the ball dropping, resolutions and stupid jokes are stupid, but the actual reason we celebrate New Years are not. It all depends on your perspective. I'm excited for next year. Laura's going to get her licence. Grace is going to graduate high school. Mercy and I are turning 16. So gurls, lets raise our glasses (of nonachohlic beverages, because we're good Christian girls), to what God has in store for us in 2015, praising Him for what He did for us in 2014.

Well, I should probably go eat dinner. I think I'll schedule this post to post at 11:59 though, because Grace and I talked about doing that. Alright gurls, I hope 2015 will treat you well.

Gurl please. -Rosie.

i hate new years

good morning gurls, it's Tuesday.

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be posting today but imma do it anyway.

SOOOO i'm really upset that Christmas is like, at an end.

I mean, i got amazing gifts no doubt, and saw alllll my family and we threw an awesome surprise party for my amazing mother, but i'm still upset it's all over. Christmas is my most favorite time of the year ever and i'm sad we have to wait a whole year for it to come again.

not to mention, i hate new years celebrations. they're pointless and stupid. there's a new year EVERY YEAR no need to celebrate the same stupid thing over and over again. everyone does the same thing every year- go to some stupid party, get drunk, scream and holler unnessicarily loudly when the ball drops, the make a bunch of STUPID AND OVERUSED new years jokes that AREN'T even funny, and then leave and go home and sleep. augh.
its all stupid to me.

okay well this has been a good rant.

now listen to Andrea Bocelli's version of my favorite song ever in the world.

now listen to this cover of the same song, but it's the best version because it's beautiful and wonderful and lovely. And she sings in english and french and it think it's just so beautiful, whether she can speak french or not.

Louis Armstrong's version is amazing as well. I'm just obsessed with this song.


okay well i gotta go. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU GURLS LATER TODAY! okay bye.

rosie, I'll hear from you tomorrow i guess????

*go away mercy!*

okay byeeeeeeeeeee.....

xoxo,
Mercy

Undaunted Radiance.

Happy Monday, boys and gurls!

Today actually is a happy Monday. Everyone's on Christmas break, home and happy and safe and sound. The sun came out this morning, and Rosie and I were able to attempt to take the Young's dog, Loki, for a walk without freezing our hands off from the expected December chill (except we thought Loki got abducted so we went to Dunkin instead). I saw Becca Monster for the first time since I left SHU after the bedlam that was finals week, and we caught up and laughed as though it hadn't been almost three weeks since we went from seeing each other all day, every day, to conversing solely through text messages. I found out that a good friend of mine will not have to transfer from Sacred Heart next semester, and I'm having a great hair day, and I'm on my third mug of coffee (in my new Jane Austen mug, since I'm the idiot who dropped her old one on her dorm's tile floor).
    We just saw you Ege gurls, less than forty-eight hours ago, and in less than twenty hours we shall see you again, and that fills my little soul with sunshine in the most wonderful, God-given way. Bob Goff, author of the lighthearted Love Does and amazing advocate for the needs of the less fortunate, once said, "God gives us friends to love so we'd remember how He feels about us." And as this crazy, altering, emotionally exhausting year draws to its close, I realize how true that has been to me, especially over these past 365 or so days.
    A lot of changes occurred for me in 2014. I graduated high school and moved on to the college of my dreams and began to finally pursue the nursing career I have been dreaming about for almost my entire life. I strengthened so many relationships just by saying goodbye and moving on into this current season of my life. I made new friends, a few of whom I can see myself being close with for the rest of our lives. I made friends with boys- I was never good at being friends with boys in high school, because I was so awkward and terrified, and the few guys I ever became close to wanted to date me, and I said no every time because that was just not where God wanted me. But now, I have all these funny, burly, laid-back friends, who are a) male and b) don't want to kiss me (well, not all of them don't want to kiss me...but that's a story for a future time when I know how I feel).
    Friendship is a gift from God. He totally knows what He's doing by putting certain people in your life at the right time, even when you have no idea what the heck He's doing. Like when I met Libby's roommate and she ended up becoming one of the best friends I've ever had, or when a boy rejected me and it made me face some demons I didn't even know existed, or when the senior I irritated when we first interacted ended up becoming someone really important to me. At first, I couldn't see why God gave me these people, but now I am starting to see why, and for that I am eternally grateful.
    2015 has so much potential. I used to struggle with not knowing what tomorrow holds, but now I am learning to accept, even anticipate, whatever surprises God has in store for the not-so-distant future. I am willing to face the unexpected with the undaunted radiance of Christ, hoping to become more like Him and honor Him in my decisions, thoughts and actions.
    I can't wait to see where 2015 takes the Foursome. I can only hope we all become braver and wiser and develop our hilarious senses of humor. Let's take on the New Year like the butt-kicking fothermuckers we are, ladies.

All my love,
Laura Grace <33

I just like to talk about Christmas

Hello! It's Thursday and I'm off work until next week and cookies have been baking. The Piano Guys version of Angel's We Have Heard on High is playing loudly, the prospects of shopping and Christmas parties fill this weekend and I have no reason to be anything but happy and content.

I enjoyed all of your posts from this past week. I definitely missed the regular posts in November so it's been super nice to read all your girls posts. 

Laura, it seems like your first semester was successful and despite some of the bad things that happened, it was a satisfactory couple months. 

Mercy, I've never had that feeling with a celebrity. Sorry. But I did enjoy your post. Most of the time I have that feeling of just needing to get my thoughts out of my head because they've been circling for so long that it's starting to hurt. I don't know if that's quite what you were thinking but whatever.

Rose, I'm so very glad you did conform and wrote a Christmas post because it was quite lovely and gave me that Christmas-y feeling:)

Christmas always makes me nostalgic for past years and so over the past month, I've been thinking back over Christmas and though it gives me that slightly sad/depressed feeling I get every time I start remembering, it's also terrific to remember past years and what happened. Last years youth group party was different and fun and sort of weird and some of my friends and I actually started fighting afterwards because of something that happened and it totally ended up being fine but it makes me want this weekend's party to be fantastic. I ordered a little black dress online and it fits me so well and we're going to find Mercy's dress tomorrow. And I need to buy new razors to shave my woolly mammoth legs. And maybe that was too much information but I don't care. Because these are the things that excite me. 

And yesterday we went to the Blough's house to make gingerbread houses and eat pizza and it was the essence of Christmas traditions. Our house somehow ended up being invaded by zombie snowmen, with a river of blood encircling the house that was actually live and ate things. Not sure how that happened, but why would you expect anything less from my siblings?  

But seriously, how can someone not enjoy Christmas? The decorations are beautiful (except maybe the saucy snowman down the street. "Draw me like one of your French girls, Santa") and the excitement is intoxicating. Calls of "Merry Christmas" from strangers at work always bring a smile to my face and you can't help but dance to the music. 

If you haven't found out yet, I could talk about this holiday for days on end. It really is the most wonderful time of the year.  

But even though I am capable of talking forever, I need to go put another sweater on, make myself some hot chocolate and spend some time with two of my favorite college freshmen who are home on break. 

We should Facetime this weekend please. 

<3 G

Rose conforms and write's a Christmas favorite's list.

It's hump day!

Well gurls, I'm going to reply to your posts before I do anything else. Okay?

Grace: Your post was wonderful. It made me want to watch some Christmas movies, in a ugly Christmas sweater, while stringing cranberries and popcorn, and singing the 12 Days of Christmas.

Laura: Your post was beautiful. It made me happy I'm not in college, because I don't need that kind of negativity in my life.

Mercy: Your post was incredibly relatable. Life is confusing. But you know what isn't confusing? Peanut butter. Peanut butter is just delicious. I need some right now actually. Excuse me.

I'm back. So I have a philosophical question: is peanut butter a liquid or a solid? And for that matter, what about butter? Or pudding? Okay I'm googling it. It's both apparently...moving on.

I'm trying to watch Supernatural and write this and I'm getting so distracted.

Anyway I feel as though I should be like everyone else and write a list of things I love about Christmas.

• Going to the Christmas tree farm in Hamden, nearly freezing to death on that incredibly windy hill and because Tom Backus will not, will not have a fake Christmas tree. It's sacrilegious.
• Christmas movies, especially Muppets Christmas Carol. Gonzo and Rizzo are so much like Laura and I, it's scary.
• The food, but mostly Yorkshire pudding. Oh my God, I'm nearly crying just thinking about it.
• Buying gifts.
• The candlelit service at church on Christmas eve. I mean, singing Joy to the World, while holding a candle and imagining accidentally lighting the entire church on fire? What could be more festive than that?
• Christmas music. 
• Laura coming home, even if it means my room is a disaster.
• Christmas break.
• The epic Christmas reading list I have been working my way through.

And last but definitely not least,

• Celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Because that's what this is all about. A little boy, born in a manger, on a quiet night in Bethlehem. A boy that one day became the man that died, so that we could live. AND GURLS, I HAVE A SONG FOR THIS!

Alright, I should bounce.

Can I just note that I posted this like minutes after midnight, because I had nothing else better to do? Do I get the over-achiever of the month award?

Alright Grace, I look forward to your Thorsday post! Until then. Gurl please. -Rose

this post is such a mess. I'M such a mess. also i don't capitalize anything.

Good evening gurls, it's Tuesday.


I loved all the Christmas posts, gurls! They made me so happy and festivey-feeling. Laura, I'm glad you're back to regular posting again :) I missed your whimsical way of writing.


anyway i really just need to talk right now so here goes nothing.

i'm sorry but this was necessary 

I'm in a strange mood today.
I want nothing and yet I want everything, and I currently hate boys, and I mean, i just got off my period so maybe that has something to do with this.. but I don't even know. I'm feeling so weird about feelings and stuff and I've been listening to a lot of The Head and The Heart, Hozier, Alex &Sierra, Twin Forks, Walk The Moon and other indie/folk music, which always puts me in thoughtful moods....... but i want to hit every boy i see.

I want to watch Harry Potter and spend the rest of my life listening to One Direction and augh.

isn't it weird how you can love someone so much that you hate them?? i don't even have a crush right now, but honest to goodness

i hate when a celebrity crush stop's being a crush and you actually love them like it's the weirdest feeling in the world because you feel so stupid but when someone means that much to you it's like you can't help it.

i hate when girls obsess over boys all the time
and they spend all their time thinking about boys and worrying about them and talking about them and stuff
like i dont even have a real life crush right now (just harry styles) but i still think about boys i mean sure i'm a girl i get that's what girls do and stuff
but like why muST YOU ALWAYS BE THINKING ABOUT THOSE DREADED CREATURES UGGHHGHKJDFH
i honestly only think about guys (besides one direction and stuff) when i'm around them like at church but thats literally it, i dont even think about boys when i'm at school like aint nobody got time for dat.


i just want to eat christmas cookies for the rest of my life

i am in SUCH a tumblr mood right now like how do i even explain it I DON't know what to do

speaking of tumblr, i am so proud of myself i totally made my tumblr look cool, like the timeline little picture thing when you scroll your mouse over someones icon, well mine is this gif

and it's beautiful and my icon is this Harry Potter one and it's wonderful and I made my one direction blog look cooler too and i love it so much tbh

ok i just found the perfect gif to explain my dog.

Millie literally IS Doug

okay and also listen to this song that I'm obsessed with.

okay well i have to go now. i'll just leave you with this little thing that i saw on twitter and explains my entire life right now

How many boys changed your life?

sorry this was a giant hot mess. that's just how I am today. I'm sorry.

Rosie, I'll hear from you tomorrow.


xoxo,
Mercy

In Which Laura Returns And Summarizes Her Hectic Life

Girlies I'm back!

Hello again friends!

JarPad is especially excited that I've come out of hiding.

    I came out of finals in one piece, only a little worse for the wear. And let me just say that all of your additions to the Round Story were lovely- Gracie, your ending was beautiful as always.
    The posts from last week put me in a festive mood, and so I'm going to copy everyone else and make a list of everything I love about Christmas:
1. Mom's baking. All of it.
2. Our crazy Italian nativity scene that spreads out from under our tree and across our little living room
3. Lovers kissing under the mistletoe
4. Christmas movies (White Christmas, The Holiday, It's a Wonderful Life, The Grinch, to name my favorites!)
5. Red cups from Starbucks. Hashtag white gurl probs.
6. Christmas cards and letters from loved ones.
7. New York City in December :)
8. SNOW.
9. Dressing up and eating ravioli on Christmas Eve.
10. "Let It Snow" by the always fabulous John Green.
11. The midnight candlelit service at church that welcomes Jesus into the world!
12. Picking out gifts for my favorite people.
13. The post-Christmas-Ege-Backus-get-together.
14. Family pictures on the stairs before we go to open presents on Christmas morning.
15. Christmas lights :)
16. Picking out and decorating the tree.
    These past couple of weeks have been extremely stressful, yet fun at the same time. There were finals and hysteria and late-night study sessions in empty classrooms and discreet corners of the library.There were also friends whose shoulders I could cry on and cuddle with at the end of a long day. There were ukulele jam sessions (yes, I have a uke, his name is John Green and I am learning to play Down In The Valley on him) and philosophical talks and sock-sliding Olympics in empty hallways. There was laughter shared over dinners in the cafeteria and in-depth discussions about bowel obstructions with my fellow nursing students. Then, there were goodbyes, as we all packed up and drove off to our various divisions of the tri-state area for a well-deserved winter break. And I know that come January I'll eagerly anticipate seeing those people whose friendships became real as my first semester of college drew to its necessary close.
    I just can't believe it's over- was I only there for a semester? It feels as if years have passed since that cloudy day in August when I sat nervously in the backseat of our decrepit minivan, surrounded by everything I owned in the world, my stomach churning as my parents drove me down streets I had made my own to the University I hadn't meant to fall in love with.
    I was so young, four months ago. I've experienced everything I missed for the first eighteen years of my life- peer pressure, tough professors, getting lost on the way to class, holding hands with a boy who thinks you're lovely. And how have I changed? I'm a little less afraid to swear. I know how to time manage. I went to counseling, and I feel like I can more adequately cope with everything wrong that wars within me.
    And yet, I am still me. I'm still the mom friend. I've still never been to a party (and don't plan on ever going, Lord Jesus protect me). I've still never kissed a boy. I'm still terrified of giving my heart away. I still put up a Berlin Wall between myself and any man who could possibly love me. I'm still my sassy, sarcastic self, only now I am more than okay with who I am.
    I did a few of those great and terrible things I dreamed of doing. I ran a 5K. I talked to a therapist. I passed my finals. I sang a duet at an open mic. I told someone wonderful how I felt about them. I grew in my relationship with God.
    God put me at Sacred Heart for a reason, and for that I am forever grateful. And now that I am home I can take a step back, breathe, recharge for what's to come next semester.
    I can't wait.
Mercy, I'll hear from you tomorrow!
--Laura :)

15 Festive Favorites

Hello lovely ladies! I'm so happy to be back to regular posting as are all of you, so I won't reiterate what everyone else has already said. I'm also so happy it's December. There's something about this month that is just simply beautiful. Also, Jason Mraz's 'Winter Wonderland' is beautiful. You should go listen to it. 
So in the spirit of this month and getting ready for Christmas, I'm going to list my 15 Festive Favorites. Something that I maybe stole off youtube but we're gonna pretend I didn't. 

1. Festive food this is really hard to answer since I like food a lot. Obviously festive desserts are amazing. I really enjoy the ham and pineapple sauce that we have at Christmas, but everything is good. Except that weird green jello that sometimes shows up on the tables. I know lots of people like it, but I don't even know what it is... so I have a hard time accepting it.

2. Reindeer I don't really know their personality types, but as far as names go... I really like Blitzen. Yeah I'd probably say Blitzen. Also his name goes last so that means he's the underdog.

3. Day of Christmas (as in the song) I always kind of liked the 11th day with the pipers piping because I never really understood that and it just sounded cool to me. But the thought of lords a leaping is also sorta cool and weird. 

4. Song ooh this is also pretty tough. I very much enjoy Elvis' Blue Christmas but I do enjoy them all. As far as religious Christmas carols go, Oh Holy Night is definitely my favorite. I think it does an amazing job of capturing the epicness of what we're celebrating. 

5. Present One of the best presents I ever got was definitely my first guitar. I also remember that Christmas very vividly. For various reasons (heheh sorry Mercy) 

6. Film Ooh I really love Holiday Inn and Muppet's Christmas Carol. Though White Christmas has crept up the list this year. And Christmas in Connecticut is great. Also It's A Wonderful Life. But definitely Holiday Inn and Muppets.

7. Cracker toy I don't know what this means

8. Cracker joke I don't know what this means either

9. Decoration I love lights everywhere. Especially when we're driving around at night and counting them all. They just look very nice

10. Candle scent It's not a candle, but we have a car freshener which is like Christmas Spirit or something and it smells like white chocolate peppermint covered pretzels. Makes me drool.

11. Christmas TV Ad not the M&M one. I like the new Coke one out this year though. It's pretty decent.

12. Tradition putting up the Christmas tree is always one of my favorites. Harry Connicks Christmas concert will never get old.

13. Place to spend Christmas At home with all my siblings. And even though it's crazy, and stressful, the day that we go over to my grandparents house for relative presents is always really fun and it's definitely a tradition worth keeping

14. Fact Um.... we're going to go with the fact that Santa has the naughty and nice lists tattooed on his forearms. 

15. Snowman accessory I like when snowmen have pipes. Like real pipes that you could actually smoke. Mercy remember  that one time when I decided to dress like a snowman for the day? I was in all white and I think I painted my face. I put on a hat and scarf and took one of dads pipes to hold in my mouth. Well I got a sore throat and felt like a terrible person because I was too little to be smoking. Such a weirdo.

I want to hear y'all's 15 Festive Favorites because.... we don't have a very long time until this holiday season is over. I love you guys lots. I hope all of you know that. Also... we need to convince our mothers that we need to have a visit sometime in the new year before Laura and Mercy go back to school. Laura, stay strong while finals is happening. Rose, stay cute until next time we see each other. Mercy, stay awesome, I guess. 

<3 G 

In which I try to end this post like 5 times before I actually do.

It's hump day!

Although The Round Story 2.0, was incredibly fun to write, I'm very happy that I can write a regular post once again.  I'm going to reply to your posts now.

Grace: You did an amazing job ending the round story. Thank you!

Laura: Your post this week was short it was almost as thought it never happened, because it didn't ever actually happen.

Mercy: Your post was long in that it was longer that Laura's, and short in that it was short. But I loved it. It gave my heart a warm, fuzzy, yuletide feeling. ALSO WE NEED TO FANGIRL ABOUT FOUR VERY SOON LEST I EXPLODE!

Well gurls, we all know what is two weeks from tomorrow: the day in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ (even though December 25th isn't actually the day Christ was born, it's just the day we celebrate it). I consider myself to be fairly excited about Christmas. I'm nowhere near as excited as I was back when I was small-ish and cute, but that's a given. I mean, no one except for children love Christmas a children do. I realize that that was a very obvious statement, but whatever. I believe this Christmas is going to be a fun one.

I cannot think of anything else to post about....so...I'm going to end it here.

Well, actually, the freaking Round Story was freaking beautiful and think we all deserve a hand for making it so freaking wonderful.

Okay, so I think I'm done. This post was short and lame, so sorry. To put it metaphorically, my brain is like a chicken that was once young and spry and jogging (can chickens jog?) around the little coop on it's little, spindly legs, but then it was murdered by an wicked cruel farm owner, named High School, and turned into crunchy scary greasy fried chicken, by a fry cook at KFC named Algebra. Do you see what I'm trying to say? No probably, not I'm not even sure what I'm trying to say anymore! High school is supposed to be the best years of your life right? WRONG. Not only is school boring and overly complicated, but you have to deal with the children your age who are all idjits. I just !@#$%^&*()(*&^%$#@!@#$^&*(*& Also can we just talk about reconstruction for a second? It was a good idea, that failed miserably. Do I really have to learn it? Anyway, I should bounce.

Actually, I just watched Guardians of the Galaxy last night, and it was amazing. If you haven't seen it, you need to it was hilarious. And weird. Like everything I love in this world.

Also I may or may not be becoming a Star Wars nerd.

OKAY GOODBYE FOR REAL THIS TIME! -Rosie.

i like lists

Good morning gurls,

AHHHH it feels really good to say that again.

The Round Story 2.0 was great, it was beautiful and it was one of the best round stories the world as ever seen- but I really missed blogging-blogging.

so here we are! yay.

so today, right now, I am listening to Walk The Moon's new album (Talking Is Hard) on Spotify and it's beautiful and wonderful and I LOVE THEM SO MUCH OMG.

But oh boy now I just found out that Twin Forks are on Spotify and oh boy I gotta listen to them now guuughghjasdkasdfasjdkfhwueoifulacnvfo

while we're on the topic of music, Taylor Swift's new album, 1989 is beautiful and magical and wonderful and sparkly and AMAZING AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH THANK YOU TAYLOR except it's not on Spotify which is dumb but we got it from Jonathan so that's awesome.

and also I'm not even gonna stART WITH FOUR BECAUSE IF I DO I WILL SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST (but apparently combust isn't a word??)

Okay so today I'm just gonna talk about how much I love Christmas time.

this was necessary 

it's just so beautiful and wonderful and so I've complied a list of my favorite things about Christmas:

-Jesus. obviously.

-Presents

-Christmas trees!!!

-Christmas lights

-Christmas sweaters

-hot coco with a peppermint stick

-snow

-cardamom bread

-alcohol 

-wrapping presents

-wrapping paper

-wrapping

-wrap

-wra

-wr

-w

-what

-CHRISTMAS MUSIC OMG I ALMOST FORGOT AJKSHDKJASHDKJHSADKJFSHD i love christmas music

-guess who's out of time

-me


SORRY THIS WAS LAME AND SHORT FOR THE FIRST REGULAR POST BUT WHATEVER.

Rosie, I'll see you tomorrow.

xoxo,
Mercy

This is the end

"Wait!" Said Samuel. "Because you saved me...."

"...I offer you my eternal friendship and protection. From now on, whenever you need protection on your travels, just call me up and I swear to you safe travels." Jane gave him a smile while Uncle Chris looked on with more than slight jealousy.

its okay. I love you more than JarPad

"You are more than kind now that you're back to being yourself." Jane said. "But I think Chris has got my back for the moment. Though I'm sure we'll call you when we're traveling by pirate ship." They then climbed into their car and away they flew. As their car disappeared over the horizon, everyone on board stood in silence. Scurvy Steve Dreadbeard was thinking of the rum in the lower deck that had been spilled during Jane and Samuel's epic fight. Pepper thought back to when they innocently left port, thinking it was going to be smooth sailing to deliver the cargo. No one expected to bump into a pirate ship, live though the attack, take down a feared pirate who was actually a demon, and then be saved by strangers in a magical flying machine. Byron hugged Miranda and enjoyed the moment of safety and sanity. Miranda thought about what Samuel had said and what she would be dealing with back at home. And of course, Samuel was grateful that he had been saved, tragically of course, but saved.

Cabin boy James lifted his hand towards the sky in a final farewell to the disappeared strangers and then turned towards the rest of the crew. "Are we going to prepare to land?" he asked timidly. 

"Of course we are, boy." Pepper said also turning from the skyline and towards land. 

*******

Miranda sat in the bow of the Snarfing Charley, gazing dreamily starboard and thinking bitter sweetly over the past couple weeks. They had been very surprising and as much as she needed to get back home, she knew she'd miss her adventures and the odd friends she'd made so quickly. Adventures never go the way you're hoping or assuming they're gonna go and maybe not even when you think they're going to, but I guess that's what makes them exciting.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Samuel asked, approaching quietly. 

"Oh! No, of course not. Just trying to stay out of they way while the crew does their sailing thing." 

"Ah, yes. Good thinking. I offered to help, but no one seems to be quite looking directly at me, so I decided to stop." He let out an awkward chuckle. 

"I'm sure they'll adjust themselves after some time. I'm sure you can't blame them." Miranda said, making sure to look him straight in the eye. She seemed to actually be more comfortable with him now, despite what had just happened. 

"Yes, I'm sure you're right. Thank you, Miranda." He smiled.

"Anytime, Samuel." She smiled back. Just then Byron approached them. He hesitantly smiled at Samuel.
"Miranda, do you know how we plan on getting home? This is only the first stop of the Snarfing Charlies trip."
"Oh I hadn't really thought about it." Miranda had never traveled out of her own home town. "Samuel, you know this area. You should also know other captains here,. Which would be your suggestion?" They both turned towards him but were surprised to see him looking straight ahead, unblinking, the blood draining from his face.
"Señor Edoardo Enrico." He whispered.
"What?" Both Miranda and Byron asked. 
"Señor Edoardo Enrico. He's.... he's expecting me. And you." He looked up at Miranda. "I...er, the monster inside me, promised to bring you to him. He plans to have you for his own." Samuel sat down next to Miranda. Byron kicked the floor boards and ran his hands through his hair. 
"We'll figure this out. Don't worry, Miranda. We'll figure this out." 
"Yes. But how? When I don't show up with you, he'll have every guard out for me and her. And I'm sure the stories of me being possessed won't stay silent for long which will leave the Snarfing Charlie being hunt. 
"Then we mustn't tell anyone where we are going. Or when. Or how!" Miranda jumped up. 
"We'll figure it out." Byron said again putting an arm around Miranda's waist.
"Together." Samuel said putting one of his arms around her shoulders. Miranda looked at them both. 
"Why of course we will. No one, not even the Prince of Spain, will take the most feared sword fighter on the seven seas to be their wife." And she smiled. 

Will our feisty Miranda and her boys stay safe from the Prince of Spain? Maybe. But now is not the time to tell that part of the story. We might tell it at some point. I'm a bit sad that it's over, but I had a wonderful November telling this story with the rest of the foursome. Thanks to you gurls for being okay going another week because I wasn't able to finish last Friday. I'm excited for regular posting next week so Laura, no pressure but I'm counting on something spectacular <3 G

I also thought there was going to be an exorcism.

 Uncle Chris said, looking over at the now *PLOT TWIST* magically repaired flying car.

"Actually," Said Jane, after thinking for a second, "We can't leave yet. I have something to say." Jane grabbed a crate full of banana's a duped them overboard. She turned the crate upside down and stood on it. "LISTEN UP!" She shouted.
Everyone stopped there merriment and turned towards her.
"Thank you. A man has just died. Albeit a bad man, but a man just the same. And you're celebrating? Where is your humanity? Samuel Manchester was possessed. He did not commit his evil acts of his own volition. When you reach shore you will have a proper burial for him. You will give the respect in death, that you deprived him of in life." Said Jane authoritatively.
"And, why may I ask should we listen to you?" Asked Miranda.
"Okay, listen Ms. Sassypants, all I'm saying is that someone just died and you need to stop being happy about death because that's creepy and wrong."
"Well, you killed him." Miranda pointed out.
"Actually, no she didn't." Said, *PLOT TWIST* Samuel Manchester, walking up from the lower decks. Everyone stood frozen in shock. Then they all gasped loudly and over dramatically, like they were in a soap opera. Examples of what I mean are below.

"This novice did not kill me. She killed the demon inside of me." The was a collective "Oh" from everyone present.
"But you're still as evil as you were before?" Asked Pepper.
"Let me tell you a story." Everyone sat around Samuel in a half circle, like kindergartners. 
"Ten years ago," Started Samuel.
"Aw, I thought this was going to be a once upon a time story, I like those best." Said James. Scurvy Steve shushed him sharply.
"Go on." Said Steve.
"Once upon a time," Began Samuel again.
"Oh! It is a once upon a time story!" Said James excitedly. Steve shushed him again.
"When I was 17 years old, I left my mother and father's house to become a sailor. My father was a duke and I was fed up with aristocracy, so I went to the local shipyard and asked around. However my problem was, no one would take me seriously because they thought I was a silly little rich boy who wanted to play sailor. I ended up being turned down by every ship in port that day. So I tried again the next day, because I was too prideful to go home and tell my father I had failed. I was turned down again, so I tried again, and was turned down again. It soon became a game for all of the sailors who came to our town to play. They laughed at me a called me horrid names. I became very angry. I was so engulfed in my anger, in fact, that my own anger turned into a demon that possessed me. Soon enough I did the unthinkable: I set fire to every ship on harbor one night. The only ship that survived the blaze was the Isabella. I climbed aboard the ship and killed it's crew and captain. Then I sailed all around the world collecting treasure and a new crew filled with horrible criminals. And that was my life until I came aboard the Snarfing Charley. It was not until that novice stabbed me that I finally saw through my anger. Now that I know what I created, I must face it with as much integrity as I can muster." 
James started clapping, then everyone slowly joined in.

"On behalf, of the Snarfing Charley, I would like to formally apologize for our treatment of you." Said Steve. "Also at this time I would like to offer the lady Miranda the position of captain, because I can't seem to stop fainting at important moments."
"What about Pepper?" Asked Miranda.
"Oh, I never wan'ed to be the cap'n miss. I just like bein' the firs' mate." Said Pepper.
Miranda thought about it for a second, then she came to a conclusion.
"I don't want to be the captain quite yet." She said. "After hearing Samuel's story, I think I need to go home and resolve the whole mess I created."
"Well, Chris, I think we can leave now." Said Jane.
"Wait!" Said Samuel. "Because you saved me...."

TO BE CONCLUDED?

Grace, have fun finishing this tomorrow, if you can. I tried to fix as much as I could. -Rose

I thought there was gonna be an exorcism or somethin' but okay..

in the end-

Sassy Novice ended up making a jab at Samuel Manchester and her blade went straight through his stomach. A gasp escaped the mans lips as crimson liquid laced its way out across his white shirt, and he stumbled back, hitting the wall of the ship.

The Sassy Novice let her hand slip away from the sword and she looked down, crossing herself and saying a quick prayer.

Sliding down the wall, Samuel's eye rolled into the back of his head as a last breath escaped between his parted lips, before the air was cut off all together.

Sassy Novice went over to the dead man and slid his eyelids shut.

"Jane.." Christopher started, but the Novice silenced him with a wave of her hand.

"I'll take the- the body somewhere else..." Bryon muttered and Miranda and Pepper went to help him.

Sassy Novice let out a long sigh as she took the sword Bryon carefully handed to her and set it down somewhere safe.

"Darling, are you alright?" Christopher asked, going over the Novice.

Jane nodded, "Yes, yes, I'll be fine," she said softly, shaking her head and not making eye-contact with the love-struck man.

"Are.... are you sure?" he asked gently.

Sassy Novice shrugged, "Yes, I suppose... Lets just get above deck.. I need some fresh air," she says softly.

Chris nodded and followed the Novice up the steps, and just as they were emerging into the bright sunlight, a loud voice called, "LAND HO!"

Sassy Novice looked around and saw that things above deck seemed lighter and happier- everyone seemed pleased to hear that Mr. Manchester had died.

Voices shouted and called out to each other, laughter could be heard and there was even some singing going on.

The excitement from the death of Samuel and the spotting of the land seemed to be almost too much for the crew- they were positively bursting with elation.

Miranda came over to Sassy Novice and Uncle Christopher and thanked them both for their services.

"I was only listening to watch I heard from The Man Upstairs," Sassy Novice said almost a little too lightheartedly.

"Well, anyway, I suppose we should be going..." Uncle Chris said, looking over at the now *PLOT TWIST* magically repaired flying car.

this has nothing to do with the story but idk i just really love it and it's piratey so here ya go

to be continued. 


sorry this was really lame and didn't add much to the plot/ending of the story but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. 
Rosie, I know you'll write something amazing tomorrow. 

xoxo,
Mercy

Dang nab it, Gracie.

I was all ready to write a normal post this week, but in my foolishness I didn't check OTAS all week (#collegeprobs) and here I am, adding onto this wonderful story, an addition that will no doubt suck since I have a rehearsal in 50 minutes that I have to get to. But, here goes nothing:

     Samuel Manchester's wicked grin faltered as he saw the intensity with which Jane stared into the black abyss that had become his eyes.

"So, he breathed, "You know who I am?"
    Jane stared fearlessly back. "Yes. I believe I do. And I believe I was sent here at this very time to destroy you." Again she directed her sassy gaze heavenward. "The Lord works in mysterious ways, doesn't He?"
    Chris stared at this oddly intriguing woman, with her fireball wit that coexisted inside her tiny body with her resilient faith, and he fell furthermore in love with her- for not only did her soul sing the very same song as his, her faith inspired him to ask all the right questions about his existence and that of a Higher Being.

I know I just got all Christian-romance-novellish on you guys, but who wouldn't want Tommy Hiddles to look at them in this way?

    "Well then," Samuel Manchester snarled in a deep, dark voice that was not his own, "Let's settle this like adults."
    Jane nodded bravely, although her knees knocked and her lip trembled. "Let me arm myself." She turned, and Chris grabbed her by the arm. "Dearest, why are you doing this?" he asked, his voice rising and falling with emotion like the ocean they were currently stranded in. "Isn't there a better way?"
    Jane looked not into his eyes. Rather, she stared at the ceiling and said, "Sometimes a Higher Power calls us to do what we can't bring ourselves to do alone."
    "Jane, dearest, don't you think God calls you to make...other decisions...that would affect your ability to do other things?"
    "I don't know-"
    "You know exactly what I mean," Chris hissed earnestly, his eyes full of the dreams he had for him and this remarkable woman.
    Jane turned away. "Sometimes-sometimes God calls us to make choices that are unbearable, because in the long run, His plan is worth it. Or sometimes, He calls us to wait on His timing."
    Chris took her hand. "Haven't you waited long enough?"
    Jane bit her lip. "I don't know," she whispered, "I just really don't know. What I do know," she continued, the sassy fire coming back into her dark eyes, "Is that if I don't kick this demon's a$$, we'll be stuck on this bloody vessel for much longer than anticipated."
    Jane crossed herself, saying a small prayer for the profanity that had just crossed her lips, and picked up a blade.
    The fight was quick and dynamic. Jane turned out to be a fantastic swordswoman, and her and Samuel Manchester were evenly matched. In the end-

TO BE CONTINUED.

Gurls, this is all I've got. Mercy, I trust you to make this story even more awesome on the morrow!
--Laura :)