peace | Sam from Amsterdam

After changing in the car on our way to Chicago we finally arrived into one of my favorite cities! Met up with Tawny, Natalie’s BFF, who I hadn’t seen since the great days of Western Texas College. Tawny and her fun new Chicago friends waited for us at the restaurant until 10. We were ready for a little night out in our cute little outfits, but by the time we downed our Chicago deep dish pizza our old lazy butts were exhausted! Since we hadn’t calculated in the time difference we didn’t get to our hotel until 3am! And props to Natalie for booking the hotel! Super fancy! We drove up to the Notre Dame Campus and are staying at the varsity hotel or something. Full of Notre dame football memorabilia. Man I wish I had brought an alabama shirt. Can you imagine the tears that have been shed in this hotel? 😉

This morning after a short 4 hours of rest we jumped up to head to our first show in Waterloo, Indiana. Cute tiny little town. We played our 2 shows and headed back to our fancy hotel. On our way back we saw Amish people again! I’m so interested in their lifestyle. Natalie thinks I act like I’m at the zoo, trying to take pictures while they plow their fields with horses strung in front of their buggies. I just can’t help it! It’s so strange to me that people live like that in this day and age.

Of course we had to stop at a little touristy amish gift shop and get some dessert. After all we had just done 2 shows! We’d burned plenty of calories right? Still, since its national running day, I wanted to go for a run on the Notre Dame Campus. I dragged poor Natalie along in my crazy fitness obsession. We ran 2,5 miles on campus and were amazed! What a beautiful college! So well kept and they literally have everything! Even a running trail by the water!

After our run we walked around on campus and decided to do some yoga.

We were so proud of our handstands! After a few pictures we met some Kenyans who were runners too! I’m sure they were about my level.. You know 8 minute miles? 😉

Yeah we did get some strange looks in case you’re wondering. Do we care? No, at least we’re not crazy enough to spend 47000 per semester! OMG! Our wtc degrees will do just fine!

But what a beautiful area this is! Everything so well kept. After eating our left over pizza and some much needed red wine we’re gonna jump into bed and get ready for some more crazy fun at the libraries tomorrow. So thankful I got to go on this little tour. Natalie really works so hard to get these shows going , and it’s good to see the smiles on the little kids faces as she works her magic.

ROLL TIDE!

It’s Mother’s Day! And just like the last 5 years, I’m not with my mom to celebrate. I don’t get to give her a big hug and make her breakfast in bed like she deserves. I selfishly chose to start my adult life 6000 miles away.

My mom raised me and my sister good. Of course we didn’t always listen and take her advise, if I did I would be a doctor right now and not some broke musician 😉

Me and my mom always had a special bond. I never got to that age where I was embarressed of giving my mom a hug in front of other kids or any of those stupid things kids get embarressed off. I never had many fights with my mom as a teenager, she was always the one I could turn to. When Anything fun or dramatic would happen at school, I would ride my bike home as fast as I could to tell my mom about it.

When me and my sister were in elementary she and my dad wanted her to stay home so that we’d never be alone or be “key kids.” As they call it in holland. That means that at a young age you have the key to your house and you’re just home alone until your parents get home from work. We were lucky that my dad made enough money by himself that my parents were able to work things out that way, since nowadays for many families that’s impossible.

Every morning my mom would wake us up and then fix us breakfast. Once we got downstairs, breakfast was on the table and while we ate she would do our hair. Coming back on break she’d be ready for us with lunch fixed and happy to see us. After lunch she’d get us to to do a little bit of school work. I don’t know what we would have done without her there. Dad would’ve made us tomato sandwiches daily haha! (That’s his specialty)

When my mom and dad had a rough patch in their marriage, she could’ve easily given up, and left. She would’ve had the world on her side and nobody would blame her. But she chose the harder route. My parents worked out their issues. My mom is loyal, and when my parents got married they made a commitment to each other for life. My mom has taught me so much about forgiveness and to look at the most important things in life. While I had posters of movie stars in my room, I should’ve just looked at my mom, she is the only role model I needed.

When you’re a kid you don’t realize how good, or bad you have it. You think everyone lives the exact same way as you do. Now as an adult I realize I had it extremely good growing up. I have the BEST parents ❤️

My mom was our everything growing up, our teacher, our coach, our alarm clock, our detective, our caretaker and our best friend. Thank you mom, for having made me the person I’m proud to be today.