I just finished my last layout for the freestyle week in my Digi in Deeper class.
Freestyle is not my style! It is much too much for me. And you can tell with these layouts, I had to tone it down a bit as I went along. But I learned some fun tricks, so it was worth it.
This class was in February, but as always, I am w-aa-y behind. That is one thing I love about the classes with Jessica Sprague-you have access to your class forever!
Now, it is on to "shabby and ornate”.
Before
After
I keep trying to get my camera to do things it can’t-so I gave up and learned how to do it in photoshop! 
I learned some new tricks
This is a picture we took of an old church we found in Maui
Before
After-I was able to straighten it, remove the shadow on the wall, remove the light pole and make it look more like a vintage photo
And I just liked the door—so I did that too.
Another attempt on a picture that Melanie took
Before 
After
I really fall somewhere in between Percy and Annabeth. I totally agree that pride is fatal. There is plenty of proof of that in the scriptures. Like Percy, I think if I controlled the world, it would be a mess. Actually, that is being to humble. It would be a disaster. Thankfully it is out of the question. But like Annabeth, there are things in my own world I want “done differently”. And if I am not mistaken, that is the definition of pride—my will not Thine be done. That is NOT who I want to be, yet I say and have said many times in my life. “I don’t want to do it this way!” “Why can’t it be this way?” And I argue about it, and hurt about it and cry about it for too long. Most of the time, like a typical two year old, after my temper tantrum, I realize what I really need to do. I ask for Heaven’s help and the strength to endure and to overcome. But the time that has been wasted can’t be replaced. I have to take down walls that should have never been built. The first thing I should do is run to Him, but not to “change His mind”. But to find peace and assurance that the gospel is the answer.
But that was like reading the last chapter of the book! This isn’t a mystery novel, so I am sure that you have figured out that I have been in the temper tantrum phase. I see a road ahead that might be bad and I have been refusing to budge. Afraid to move, because I don’t want to go down that road. Yet, it isn’t even my choice. So dumb. Anyway, I am trying to manage that and still function with the spirit…ahem…and trick question…how do you think that is working out for me? I feel like I am treading with all my might to stay afloat, and I am getting worn out. Sound about right?
Yesterday, it was all I could do to not pound my fists on the floor, in another attempt to change my world. I felt so heavy laden. By the time night came around I was brought to tears for all the pain and suffering I see around me. And there is so little I can do—offer a listening ear, a hug or a prayer. It felt like so little. I decided that it must be the sign of the times, the end has got to be near, because Satan is working overtime. And not just on me. There are so many good people enduring really hard trials. And just really weird things happening too. It just seems like there is more to it than just “normal life”
And I felt sorry for me too.
Anyway, I go to the scriptures this morning and the plan is to study some more of the references I have for pride. I turn to 1Peter 5:5 and it is okay, but I read on. Verse 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 casting all your care upon him for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (no kidding) 9, 10 But the god of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Ahh. Yes. I think about the meaning of perfect, stablish, strengthen and settle. I want those things, I need to focus on those things. I go online to see if there are any talks that reference 1Peter 5. I found some great things said by John Taylor.
“I know that as other men we have our trials, afflictions, sorrows, and privations. We meet with difficulties; we have to contend with the world, with the powers of darkness, with the corruptions of men, and a variety of evils; yet at the same time through these things we have to be made perfect.”
And this one I especially love. “It is necessary that we should know our own weaknesses, and the weaknesses of our fellow men; our own strength as well as the strength of others; and comprehend our true position before God, angels, and men; that we may be inclined to treat all with due respect, and not to over value our own wisdom or strength, nor depreciate it, nor that of others; but put our trust in the living God, and follow after him, and realise that we are his children, and that he is our Father, and that our dependence is upon him, and that every blessing we receive flows from his beneficent hand. “
Good, huh? Yep, the gospel has all the answers. Everything is found in the Plan of Salvation.
I go back to view more references and I laughed out loud. Elder Uchtdorf “Pride and the Priesthood”
I think I felt the door hit me in the behind on that one.
I am really not a big fan of either of these! Although my husband loves hummus. Just saying.
These paragraphs from Percy Jackson and the Olympians (book 2) “The Sea Monsters” really come from somewhere after the beginning of this story, so let me catch you up.
A funny thing has been happening to me and just this morning, it came full circle. I know the journey is not over and I will many more circles in my future. But today there was something special about how it all came together and I want to get it out of my head and on paper. So I can remember it and continue to learn from it and so can my posterity—hopefully!
A few days ago, actually more like a few weeks ago I read Elder Uchtdorf’s talk in general conference “Pride in the Priesthood”. It was answer to prayer. I read it and just felt my need for it. It reminded me so much of President Benson’s talk on pride—and how much I knew I needed that one too. An interesting side note, well I think it is interesting, is that I had a conversation with a friend and what she remembered about that talk was that he said it was ok to put “proud” back in our vocabulary. And when she said that I thought, well, she obviously didn’t NEED to hear about pride like I did. It just confirmed to me that it truly was an answer for me.
So back to me…just kidding. You know, I am writing about pride so if I make a joke…never mind.
I decided right then and there that I would stop trying to be in denial about my pride issues. Hello. My name is Danette and I am prideful. I hate thinking it, but it is true.
My first decision was that I would make studying about pride a part of my scripture study. AND I asked the Lord for help in recognizing when I was being prideful, which really came to mean “reacting in pride”, for me.
Whoa!
I wasn’t prepared for the things that came to mind. For the MANY opportunities the Lord gave me to clearly see all the work that needed to be done! (ha!)Sometimes I saw it ahead of time like coming to door and I was able to just not go in. I had time to say to myself “don’t react in pride” and I would make a better choice. Other times I saw it after I walked right through and the door shut behind me and I had to ask for forgiveness.
And all that is still a work in progress. I am trying to just be more…careful. And using Elder Scott’s words: “we become what we want to be by being what we want to become each day”.
So what does Percy Jackson have to do with all this? Well, several days after Elder Uchtdorf’s words, I read those above paragraphs and thought. Uh oh.
I think it is a whole lot harder to watch your children grow up in this wheat and tares world than it was to grow up in this wheat and tares world. 
At least when it is about me, I have some control. I am in charge of the choices. Now, the only thing I can do is watch, and pray. And where did all those tares come from? There hasn’t always been this many has there? I certainly see more now than I did when they were little.
I toggle between the hope I feel that this is the Lord’s plan, and He is all knowing, all powerful. If He designed it than all is well. And the doubt I feel when I wonder, did I do enough, give them enough, to grow strong and straight.
So, it is obvious right? I try to stay away from thinking about “I” and just keep praying to HIM!
**photo taken by http://www.flickr.com/photos/skettie/
I combined two printables that I thought were cute…you can find them here http://rebeccacooper.blogspot.com/2011/03/rainbow-printable.html and here http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/2011/02/button-rainbow-printable.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeDifferentactNormal+%28Be+Different...Act+Normal%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
