Day 1

Today marked the beginning of my 15-day juice fast. It went well, I am not hungry and all I've eaton today is kale, spinach, carrots, a half a cucumber, an apple, and some celery... who knew!! It is definitely a taste that takes some getting used to but I think after a few days it will taste like cheesecake (okay maybe that's a stretch). So, a successful first day. Here's the 14 more!

Juice to "produce" a Healthy Lifestyle!

This morning I stopped by Whole Foods to stock up on fresh fruits and veggies. This should last me three days and then I'll head back again. This ensures I am juicing the freshest produce possible.

Isn't it pretty? Here it is before in all it's luscious colorful glory!

Tune in Monday to see what it looks like in juice form. Yummy!

The Reboost!

August 1st, I will embark on a journey and a new adventure. A path that is untrodden by my foot steps and a total mystery. I Samantha Morrow, for the first time ever am doing a juice fast. That may not sound like much, but it is a trek I am very excited to embark upon. A few weeks ago, I watched a documentary called "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" (charming isn't it?) It was a very educational story of a man's journey to a healthy life free of an illness he has suffered from for years. I have watched countless documentaries on health, exercise etc... but this one stood out to me. Along this mans journey he touched others and not only impacted lives but drastically changed them. I won't tell you anymore, you just need to watch it (it is streaming on Netflix instant play btw).

Now, I myself am not suffering from any illness per-se, but I do need to change my eating habits and what better way to start than a 15 day reboost/cleanse. It is called a "fast" but I am not fasting at all. I will be juicing only raw (uncooked), organic fruits and vegetables. The purpose of this is to cleanse my system and reboot my body.

This is not a one time diet and then back to the life of a fast food french fry eater (although they are tasty). I am making a lifestyle change. It is time I take care of this body I've been given.

So, stayed tuned as I update you on my journey as well as share with you my favorite recipes!

P.S. Thank you Jose for giving me the final kick in the pants I needed to do this!

Rekindling an Old Flame

I recently started piano lessons after an almost ten year hiatus. I play the guitar and enjoy it but my musical instrument of choice has always been the piano. I still read music well and can sight read laissez faire, but other than that I'm basically starting over. I played the "Midnight Waltz" six times today. It is a very simple piece intended to help a beginner pianist learn to play with both hands in multiple time signatures. It has definitely been a humbling experience and I have loved every minute of it! My primary goal in doing this is to be able to write my own songs. I have several in my head and would love to get them onto paper.

Stay tuned for samples of Sammy originals!

My Trek

September 1st I am embarking on a journey. This journey is unlike any I have traveled. This journey is one of community, relationships, beauty, challenge, peace, rest, discovery, growth and glory.

My journey will begin in my white- slightly beat up- Toyota Corolla as I drive from Woodstock, GA to New Jersey where I have the pleasure of photographing a friends wedding. Ruth is not just any friend. She is one of those friends who comes into your life for a brief moment but forever changes it. We met on a missions trip to Ecuador in 2003, and over the course of two weeks knew each other better than most friends do in a lifetime.

On September 7th, I will meet up with a crew of incredibles: Scott- a talented, big-hearted, visionary, Krissy- a genuine, beautiful, artist, Emerson- a bundle of joy, cute as a bug's butt, lovable toddler, Rachel- an adorable, gifted young lady (whom I'm quite sure we will be kindred spirits) and Britton- a funny, young gentleman, I have only briefly met but am positive is splendid.

From Niagara Falls, ON, to wherever the road leads us... we will travel, commune, share, laugh, grow and see what there is to see- all while living out of a backpack.

My hope for this journey is to experience community, grow in my relationship with Father, and live a simple life.

Please check back for updates as I prepare to leave and stories of my journey.

This song by Brendan James keeps running through my head.

I want to walk through this doorway
I want to open my mind
I want to pledge my allegiance to all I can find.
I want a car that will crash through the barriers
to a road no one knows.
I want to feel less control,
want to bend and I want to land far from home.

The revolution of the earth around the sun
is the perfect lesson of how it should be.
So if i cannot learn
to journey and return,
to never rest till I've seen all I can see...

I want to learn a completely new language,
one I don't understand.
I want to help someone lost, someone helpless,
with the strength of my hand.
I want to come to the base of a statue built
before they counted the years,
and there i'll fall with my face in my hands and cry
and feel their hope in my tears.

The revolution of the earth around the sun
is the perfect lesson of how it should be.
So if I cannot learn,
to journey and return,
to never rest till I've seen all I can see...

Train rides and pastures colliding...
colors and customs i've never seen...
I know I, yes I know I,
I know I will stumble
but time is precious my friend.

I want to know where the stength of a person lies,
in their past or their future.
Is it in the way that they hurt or they love themselves
or is it all an illusion?
I want to crawl from this skin that i'm painted in...
Body, please let it give.
I want to find the creator of all good things
and ask what it means to live.

My Guitar

Today for the first time in months I picked up my guitar. I had forgotten how much I love to write. For me, playing the guitar is an avenue for my thoughts. It is a porthole into the depths of my heart where I store my most sacred fears. While playing I began to realize what I was really feeling about life. I had no idea this is how I felt.

These are the lyrics I wrote:

You look outside your window and imagine what could be

A world where you’re in it and you’re free. You see the children laughing and you dream of the day...

someone comes and finds you, helps you put your fears behind you.

You hope and wait pray. But until that day...you stay.

The days go by and you forget to dream.

Somehow nothing matters but this false reality.

You settle for the existence of a two demential world and the lies you keep telling yourself about the outside world.

You wait for the day someone comes knocking at your door.

They come to take you back to what you knew.

A life filled with color and a heart filled with song. But most of all the person that used to be you.

But too afraid to make a move you sit and wait and pray...

That someday you will see the light but until that day... you stay.

Despite the lies, the tale that has been spun; you know deep down who you are that this battle’s been won.

You know it doesn't matter what is thrown your way. There is hope and peace and true love... and it’s here to stay.

Confirmation

This morning I awoke with a potpourri of emotions. Today I am leaving Barbados and returning home. 

I am down because I have fallen in love with these precious people here and cannot imagine not seeing them now regularly. These brothers and sisters of mine have a dear place in my heart and I will deeply miss them. 

I am confused...I came here thinking I would be returning in January for an extended stay but through these last few days Father has shown me it is not His timing. I was so certain and had begun planning my life accordingly. It's funny isn't how we hear one thing from Father and then take off running with it. 

I am excited... I have not a clue what to expect in this next phase of my life but I am certain it will be glorious because Christ is guiding me. 

I am at peace... While I may not be coming back as I had expected, I am certain I will be back in some way. I have met a dear sister Emily and have struck up quite a lovely relationship with her. This morning we went to grab a coffee and I was so encouraged by her. 

These last two weeks have been filled with an abundance of blessings and things I will never be able to describe, but I will step onto the plane today at peace and rejoicing for the journey and dialogue I have had with Father. My hope in His perfect will and unobtainable mystery has been strengthened and I rejoice in the knowledge I cannot comprehend Him.