creation

Thou Art My Hiding Place and My Shield; I Hope in Thy Word.

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

I have just finished reading this book. I picked it up the night before last and just finished it this morning. (putting aside the four other books that I am still trying to finish.) This story took me on a journey through the life of a woman, from the time she first went to school to the 80th year of her life. Not only does she tell of her experiences in Haarlem, Holland, but of the experiences of those close to her, and around her.
I caught a greater view of what it is to serve others. It is an amazing book. It makes me want to pray more, serve more, love more, give more, and not be so worried about myself.

I like This Picture

Embrace Your Girly-ness!

As you probably know, I like to share my thoughts and opinions on this blog. Hopefully this isn't offensive to everyone out there. Not long ago women in our country started fighting to be equal. We fought for our right to vote, and our right to wear pants, and our right to ride horses one leg on each side, and we fought to be authors and EQUAL to men. I believe that was all great! I believe that was a good thing that our female ancestors did for us. *thank you Ladies!
But there is one thing I don't want women to forget, we have natural gifts that shouldn't be abandoned. I believe there is a sweetness that should radiate from every women. How wonderful the world would be if women were more content with being ... well women. We have a great capacity to LOVE, to nurture, and to give. The POINT of this blogg was to encourage women to wear skirts more often! Not just at church, but when you are watering your garden! Slip on your flip-flops, a t-shirt and a pink flower-printed skirt. I believe that doing this will naturally fill you with being sweeter, kinder, and more lively.
One challenge that I came to face last year was, I realized that I don't love my legs, I thought they are too 'fair' too 'white' too... too.. too.. all these things that I thought were horrible! But actually that doesn't matter. But actually I wasn't going to let that keep me from feeling wonderful. Skirts are fun! Skirts are girly! and Skirts are sweet! Try it out! Go buy a Girly Skirt and play princess.
good luck girls!
Lesa

Relax!

Doesn't This Picture Make you Melt!? What a beautiful, lovely, relaxing place! This picture inspired this blog.
The Importance of pampering!

Stress.about.com says:

Many of us have so many responsibilities in life that we forget to take care of ourselves. And while it’s hard to prioritize something like taking a bath when you have so many other priorities in life, self care is an important aspect of stress management. A massage, soak in the tub or other forms of pampering revitalize you inside and out. And taking time out to treat your body like the temple it is has other benefits.

When You are able to give to yourself, you are then able to be there for others! Imagine how it would be if you took the time for yourself to write in your journal, or get a massage, or meditate in the setting sun on the beach! Do It! Take yourself out on a date. Use creative energy! Do Journal Therapy. If you need to forgive someone, start in a pampering state, write a long letter that expresses everything you ever wanted to say to that person and than "releasing" by burning it or casting it into the sea. By destroying the paper, you release all you were holding onto. I think pampering should make you a better peron. I believe it is a theraputic and energizing to your spirit, body and mind. Try it! do it! Have fun with it!
RELAX.

Lesa

Cleaning Out the Old

Moving Month is Here!

After throwing out an old couch and over six bags of old stuff, we are clear to pack up our things and move to Heber. Last night, I realized how much I have that isn't being used. So I've made an agreement to myself: Either love it or leave it! Immediately I knew what I wasn't in-love with anymore, and that went out. And then there were some things that I really felt I could love again (it was just like I forgot I had it).
Then there were things like that "ROXY" zip-up sweather that is so in style. But the brown color didn't lift my spirits when I wore it... So that went out too. It felt really great to get rid of all that STUFF.
I have a feeling that we will be much happier and Lighter in our new residence!
Packing up all the things that I love the most was really exciting. I am excited to move to Heber, I am excited for Chad and I to move forward in our life-journey, I am excited for new possibilities and opportunities! Wish Us Luck!
-Chad & Lesa

Look In the Mirror!

The world is your mirror. It was about two years ago that I was trying to help a friend clean out the junk in his room in preperation to going on his mission.
"What about these car sterio speakers? .. They look broken, this is garbage right?"
It was pretty obvious by the expression that came over his face that this was not an option. Old papers, letters, ticket stubs, boxes, electric wires, car parts, and plain old garbage FILLED his room. Hardly a place to step, we worked for hours trying to fill boxes and clear out his room. After many attempts to convince him that he didn't need to hold onto so much of this stuff, I got frusterated! I almost cried. Why was HIS stuff triggering me so much?? This isn't mine! Why did I care so much about his junk??
After pondering my feelings, and being trained to seperate ME from other people, I realized that all his junk (and how it was triggering me almost to tears) was only a reflection of my 'internal' junk that I was un-willing to throw out! In that moment in time I was realizing some things about myself! Sometimes it is a challenge to look at yourself and see your role in a situation.
How do you know if you need to look inside yourself? If you are over-reacting to a situation or conversation (or whatever it may be) you need to look at why this is triggering you so much! It is almost like you need to use your very logical mind (without the feelings involved) to be a third party in the situation and analyse if you are reacting to something that isn't really there!! It is possible that you are making the situation way bigger than it actually is. That is because our past emotions are usually involved with present time, causing a filter to make things look like they are one way... when they really aren't!
have a great day! Strive for enlightenment!
Lesa

Feng Shui

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a better feeling in your home. I remember my favorite bedroom (in all my single years of moving around) was one that I didn't have any clutter! (I left almost all of my things at my parent's house while I was living in Salt Lake City.) I can say my room was always clean. I didn't have anything that I didn't use often. My bedroom was really simple with only the few things that meant a lot to me. Like my favorite picture of Christ, and my favorite scented candle. It gave me a great place to meditate and be in my sacred place. It was really cozy feeling!

This book is easy reading. Some of the subjects at random: "Having Clutter Can Keep You in the Past." "Clutter and Feng Shui Symbology" "Having Clutter Can Cost You Financially" "Clutter Can Depress You"

This book is only $10.95. I believe It can change the way that you feel in your home, and how others feel. Have a great, clutter-free day!

oxox Lesa

The Cottage of My Dreams

There is a day that you might come to my home. This is what I hope you will feel while you are there.
Today (in the future) you are coming over for dinner in my new home. As you drive up, the first thing that catches your eye is how welcoming the front porch is. The way that it wraps around the house seems to say "come sit and stay a while." You notice how white the painted railing is, and how the house itself glows with a soft yellow. The windows glow with a warm inner light that makes you wonder, "What fun is going on in there?"
As you approch the front door you can't help but look around at the view that the setting sun is offering.
Hopefully dinner is filling and warm and healthy, My children are happy and are very interested in getting to know you! They ask you questions about your favorite things as they dish out desert in little decorative bowls. As you tell us about yourself, you feel very listened to and special in what you have to say. You feel like you could stay forever. There is a feeling of bliss, love, order, and willingness in this home. Everyone is happy to help and assist eachother in their tasks.
As the night closes and you are on your way to your own home, you imagine creating your house with the same peace that you felt in our home. And you will do that, and others will feel it in your home as well. The inspiration will continue in perfect harmony and together we will make this world more peaceful in each home. I can't wait for that dinner together!
oxox The Bowers Family.

The Power of Now

"I cannot tell you any spiritual truth that deep within you don't know already. All I can do is remind you of what you have forgotten." The Power of Now -- Ekhart Toll

Pondering My Goals

This year is the year of the RAT. This year is full of transformation and opportunity on a world-wide level. My goals for this month are as follows:

* Pamper yourself with at least two massages this month. This will help you relax even more as you are going through this transitional time in your life.

* Get the clutter out! This month as you are planning on moving, clear out all the clothes, toys, odds and ends that you haven't used or don't need anymore. This will make for a calming environment and less work when it comes down to clean ups.

* Find your joy from within you. Don't depend on Chad or your circumstances to create joy in your life. Be full of joy and more joy will come to you. (like energy attracts like energy)

* Be Grateful .. Write in your Gratitude Journal everyday.

The Secret of feeling good

The Secret is a movie of the law of attraction (like energy attracts like energy). Basically the LoA explains that everything in this whole world comes down to an energy and a frequency. (our thoughts, our bodies, and the earth and everything on it has energy and frequency) SO feeling good attracts that same frequency to you! good vibes attract more good vibs! And so whatever you focus on becomes BIGGER in your life, in your experience it is greater than what you aren't focused on. I have seen this movie several times, and every time I learn something new.

My new goal is to be happy anywhere I am. To create the joy from with in me, instead of determining my joy off of what is happening around me. This, I believe, will make a powerful difference in my life. Another thing is that when I do get down or angry or sad, I'm not going to just try to cover it up with happiness. I will acknowledge my feelings and express my sadness so it can be released and happiness can take residence again. Emotions buried alive never die (great book)
I challenge all my readers to do the same thing. To watch the secret online for 4.99 you can go to http://www.thesecret.tv/
Or you can buy the dvd online too at the same site.
This movie is made to make you believe it is a magic kind of thing. But we are all doing it, all the time! If you can do it consciencly you can change your life. Or just change the things you want to change. like being happier daily.
xoxo
lesa

9 months

It has been 9 months since the happiest day of my life. I think that every married woman likes to look back at the day that she got married and see that everything went the way she dreamed. I'm sure that if you had taken a picture of my aura that day, it would have been beaming tremendously.
SO nine months later to the day, is the day that Gordan B Hinkley is having his funeral, the day that I don't have to work, and the day after the night I had my first 'being naked in public' dream. phew.. what a day. It has gone by really fast. We had learned a lot from eachother, and learned how to live with eachother in our one room apartment. (no escape!) It has been really interesting, and I have grown so much since that May-Day. "for the may-day is a great day.." Jethro Tull
Here are some of the things I have learned about Chad and life since May 2, 2007:

He knows how to make things right when they are not. He likes faery tales. and he has a tinkerbell pillow. He is totally excited about being a dad someday. And he knows how to wash dishes when asked. (cool huh) I really love being married to Chad. The best is yet to come! I'm am enjoying this journey!

lesa

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Bridget, Lena, Carmen, and Tibby are all charaters to one of the best 'girl' movies ever made. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a lovely story of how these best friends stayed together during their first summer apart. Lena travels to Greece; Carmen to her dad's house; Tibby stays in their hometown; and Bridget goes to Mexico. It's a wonderful story of sisterhood. I highly recommend it. xoxo lesa

(Above are my "sisters")

Thinking of Summer...

It must be true what they say; Time Flies When Your Having Fun. Because during the summer you never think it is going to end! And suddenly summer is over before you thought it had actually begun. During the winter, like right now, the craving for summer fills my mind; It is particualarly strong during cold mornings of scraping ice from my windsheild.
The reason I post this particualar picture is because of the warm memories it brings. I felt like Lori from the musical "Oklahoma" as I pranced in this orchard. Wearing skirts and t shirts and sandels. Never having to worry about having a coat! This is pure freedom.
HUM.. but than what happens towards August? It seems like you wish for a meadow of untouched snow! Right? You miss it. You miss hot chocolate and Christmas Carols. Is it our human nature wanting variety? or is it simply because we aren't truely grateful for what we have now, in the present?
This summer I am going to truely soak up the sun as much as possible. Bowers have their family reunion (5 days of camping) And I have a goal to make a list of things I want to do to fully embrace summer season. One I've already decided is to have a picnic twice a month! It was one of my favorite memories from last summer, and so I'm going to make sure I get enough of it in this year. xoxo

Lesa