I just finished reading the Karen Kingsbury book entitled, "Learning". I'm going to put a rather long excerpt from the book that I really liked and thought was a good explanation of what sins are worst. The scene is a Bible study that some performers on Broadway are attending, led by the lead character in the book, Bailey.

"...People talk about whether gay is okay or not." She gave Bailey a pointed look. "What do you think?"
Bailey knew she was being tested, but she was no longer afraid. She would let the Bible talk, and with a deep breath she searched out a few verses on homosexuality. She read them, trying not to wince at the harsh way they probably sounded to the dancers seated in the circle. The test was intense, but God was with her.
"This is what the Bible says in First Timothy..." She read the section of Scripture that dealt with groups of people who were considered lawbreakers and rebels... ungodly, unholy and irreligious. "People who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers, the sexually immoral, those practicing homosexuality, slave traders, liars and perjurers...and for whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine..."
The list felt exhausting, and as Bailey reached the end of the verse she caught the defeat on Gerald's face. "So gay people are listed right there with murderers?"
"And liars." The answer came too quickly for Bailey to take credit for it. "See, Gerald...God doesn't have something against people who struggle with homosexuality. We all struggle with one of those sins, and no sin struggle is worse than another. All God asks is that we keep struggling-especially since Jesus died to set us free from our sin struggles. Whatever the sin."
Anger flashed in Gerald's eyes. "But I was born this way, Bailey...don't tell me God would make me this way and then doom me to a life of sinning."
Bailey didn't blink, didn't look away. "We're all born with some kind of bent toward sin." Her words were kind, her response slow and even. They were listening...when they might've gotten up and walked away, they were definitely listening. "I fight against pride...wanting everyone to like me and ignoring God's voice over my own."
She turned to another section of scripture and read from Proverbs 8. "See, here God says He hates pride. He hates it." She lowered the Bible to her lap. "That means I need to ask God's help every day so I don't let my own pride win. Every day."
The circle was quiet, her castmates taking in this possibility. Bailey pressed on, her tone gentle and kind. "God doesn't want me to say, 'Oh well ... I'm prideful. I was born this way, and I'm going to stay this way.' "
Gerald hugged his knees to his chest, his eyes less defensive than before. "Same with liars ... or murderers?"
"Exactly." Bailey felt like she was on a tightrope. One wrong word or tone or glance and the group would leave and never come back. But God was holding her up, and so she continued. "The person who kills isn't supposed to say,'I'm a killer ... God made me this way, so therefore it's okay if I kill.' And the liar isn't supposed to say, 'I struggle with lying, so I'm going to stop struggling and go ahead and lie. I'm a liar ... God made me this way.' " She paused, and in their eyes she could see that what she was saying made sense. She pressed on. "It's the same for people who sleep together and aren't married. That kind of sexual sin is in the same category. We're all going to struggle with one of these ... but we're not supposed to give up and say the fight is over. Does that make sense?" She hesitated, letting the thought sink in. "See ... God loves all of us, whatever our struggles. He knows life is hard for us ... so He promises to be with us, and asks us to come together like this. To encourage each other and keep fighting against whatever sin has a hold on us."
For a long time none of them said anything. Bailey noticed that tears had fallen from Gerald's eyes. He used his shoulder to wipe at them and after a while he nodded. "Thanks ... I guess ... I never looked at it that way."
"Christians haven't done a great job with the topic." Bailey understood this better now than ever before. "We've either been judgemental and critical, like homosexual sin is the worst sin ... or we've been too complacent. Using the banner of love as a way to excuse sin - when God clearly has an opinion about it. We fear we'll offend, so we veer from the truth."
"Wow ..." Gerald lowered his legs. He looked at the girls and then at Bailey. "That makes complete sense." He looked lost in thought for a moment. "I might struggle with this all my life ... but the point is I have to keep fighting. Like the liar or alcoholic or whatever."
"Exactly." Bailey felt her heart rate return to normal. She took a deep breath. "There's hope for all people ... whatever they battle."

Taken from "Learning" by Karen Kingbury, pgs.234-236

Down in the Berry Patch

Tuesday was a MOPS go to the farm day. I invited Kari, Betsy, and all the grandkids, but Kari and her kids had VBS this week so they couldn't go. Betsy and Seth were able to go and met me at the farm for a fun time of picking strawberries. Unfortunately, some of the activities that we had been told we'd do, didn't happen and the tour leader was 45 minutes late getting to us, so that was disappointing, but we had a good time anyway, once we got going! Seth got his own little container to fill while Betsy and I worked on filling the larger flat

There were lots of nice berries to pick and I put a lot of the berries I picked in Seth's container, then he would take it and dump it into Betsy's. Of course, a lot of them made their way into his mouth also! He didn't seem to care what color they were, red, orange or green, he ate them all and said they were good!
After we got back on the trolley to take us back to the barn, a man gave Seth one of his largest berries and tried to get Seth to hold it up, so I could take a picture of it. Seth didn't think berries were to take pictures of, they are for eating, so it wasn't long before it was in his mouth.
Seth eating the big strawberry.
One of the boys in our group, thought his strawberry looked like a cherry.
Some of our group waiting in line at the barn to get the strawberries weighed.

Annika's Teddy Bear Picnic Dance

Here's the video I took at the dress rehersal a couple of hours before the actual performance. Don't worry if you can't spot Annika at first, I couldn't either, but eventually I found her and was able to focus in on her.

Annika's First Dance Program

Get ready for lots of pictures of Annika getting ready for her first dance program! Step 1 - Get the costume on.
Step 2 - Wet down her hair, so it can be put into a little bun. Also, add lots of stuff to her hair to get it to stay in the bun.
Step 3 - Hair is in the bun.
Step 4 - Add the bow to her hair and smile for the camera.
Step 5 - Make a funny face for the camera.
Step 6 - Put some lipstick on her lips.
Step 7 - Put some other make-up on her.
Step 8 - A couple of hours before the program, go to a last dress rehearsal, the only time pictures or videos can be taken.
Step 9 - Pose for some pictures with her best friend, Riley.
Step 10 - Find another place to pose for pictures
Step 11 - Go back home, wait for time for the program, pull the tights up as far as they will go, and put more stuff on the hair that escaped from the bun.

Step 12 - Go to the program and watch her dance her little heart out! She did such a good job!

Week in Texas - Part 7

Seth really loved digging in the sand. This was our last visit to the beach by our rental house.
Ken and Todd tried out the boogie boards, but didn't have much luck in catching a wave.
Seth had better luck in catching a Papa to pull him through the waves, like he was on a sled.
Chillin' on the boogie board.
Thursday evening we played a card game and finished off the chocolate covered strawberries from the wedding.
Friday, our last day in Galveston, we went to a different beach. This beach was called a family friendly beach and had less seaweed on it than the other beach. (Although it must be noted that our last day at the other beach, we discovered someone had scooped up all the nasty seaweed along the beach, so it was better also.) We spent the whole day on the beach, both in and out of the water. We built a castle with a moat for Seth, which he insisted had to be kept filled with water.
This beach was a lot more crowded, as you can see from the number of umbrellas. Ken and I rented one with a couple of chairs, so the shade, plus lots of sunscreen kept us from burning. Todd and Betsy thought they had put plenty of sunscreen on, but found out later that it hadn't been enough and both of them got pretty badly burned that day. The seagulls tended to hover over any area where people had food, I even saw some in unattended picnic spots getting into anything left lying around, wrappers, containers, etc. in hopes of finding some food.
On our way to lunch, Seth spotted this guy and his child throwing food to the gulls, so he went over and asked for some food to throw also. There's no shyness in him at all! He managed to get a bite of a cookie from a man at the airport in Seattle and on our return trip, he went up to a lady in Houston, asked what she was doing and was rewarded with another food snack that she had been eating.
Seth's swimming pool, that we also had to keep filled with water.

Week in Texas - Part 6

Thursday morning everyone but the Washington Voelkers, left Galveston to head home. We decided to spend part of the day at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. There were a lot of fun things to see and do. Ken and Seth are standing in front of an Apollo capsule. We saw a movie about the space program that had enough rockets taking off in it that Seth stayed pretty interested in it.
After lunch we went on a tram that took us on a tour of different buildings around the space center.
This is the historic mission control center. Notice the red phone for emergency communications on the desk!
Someone is getting tired!
This is called a spidernaut and may be used to maintain the space station in the future. Remember, you saw it here first!
The end of a mock-up of the space shuttle that is used for the astronauts to practice maneuvers in.
Ken and Seth standing at the end of a Saturn V rocket. It is huge!
The front of the Saturn V.
Seth conked out on the way home!

Week in Texas - Part 6

On our way to the acquarium after being dropped off by the gentlemen below, so we wouldn't have to walk so far in the heat.
Catching up with the crowd.
Looking in the pool at the starfish.
Seth and the octopus. It was one of the first octopus I had ever seen moving around instead of sitting like a lump on a rock.
Baby seahorses, another first for me. They were so cute!
Don't look now, but there's a shark swimming towards you!
Ken's protected from the shark!

Week in Texas - Part 5

Todd trying on Seth's hat.
Ken trying to be a statue.
Carol trying to show Meagan something.
Flowers trying to survive the Texas heat.
Todd, Betsy and Seth trying to find the way below decks.
Seth trying to see in the submarine.
Ken trying to talk to the captain.
A destroyer trying to be restored.
Mike and Meagan trying to get away from the rest of the family.