To my children entering the world of adulthood –  I recently wondered what I haven’t taught you.  So here’s my non-exhaustive list of things I want you to know. 

1. Be as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove {Matthew 10:16}. Use common sense when dealing with people, institutions, and situations.  When in doubt, trust your gut.
2. Don’t use a Pampered Chef stone on an open flame. It will break.
3. Cleaning up after yourself right away will save you a lot of dread of doing bigger jobs later.
4. Don’t give out your personal information to anyone unless you need to for business, professional, or personal reasons.
5. Disable the GPS tracking on your smartphone when you finally can afford one on your own since we have deprived you of this luxury.
6. Be kind to everyone but you don’t have to be their friend if they are not healthy or appropriate to be in a relationship with you.
7. You can buy potatoes, beans, corn and tomatoes in a store. Not everyone has a garden.
8. Pay your bills on time and don’t carry credit card debt.
9. Watch for hidden fees in business transactions. You don’t need “all the extras.”
10. If it’s too good to be true, it is. Unless it’s answer to a specific prayer and you’ve checked it out with God first.
11. Pray every day and be in God’s word as often as you can.
12. Consult with God about your daily decisions.
13. If it doesn’t feel right, wait, or don’t do it.
14. Don’t buy meat from Walmart.
15. First impressions really do matter.
16. Budget for your necessities first and make sure you can pay for them. Get necessary debt paid off as soon as possible.
17. Stay away from people with bad pick-up lines.  Or good pick-up lines unless you want to have sex with them.
18. Don’t have sex with anyone with consulting God first. He does have something to say about it. If you’re serious about your relationship with Him, you can’t ignore this area.
19. Open the door for others.
20. Don’t be afraid to take risks.
21. Don’t take stupid risks. Have common sense {see #1)
22. Build relationships with your siblings. You have relationships with them for life. See them as adults, not as who they were as kids. Don’t hold grudges.
23. Find a church you feel comfortable in, but don’t stay away until you find “the right one.”
24. Keep in touch with your grandparents.
25. Don’t say display anything on Twitter or Facebook you wouldn’t want a future boss, spouse, or mother-in-law to see.
26. Don’t throw credit card receipts or statements with personal information in the trash no matter where you live.
27. Don’t get into a car with a stranger.
28. If you can’t find a job, McDonalds is always hiring.
29. Marriage is hard work. Don’t think you can change anybody but yourself.
30. Extend grace to others.
31. Don’t judge people who were not raised like you.
32. Don’t expect your future spouse to be like me or your dad. 
33. Earn your way in life but give to others and graciously receive when something is given to you.
34. Air-dry any clothes you don’t want to shrink or look worn.
35. Clothes pins can be found at a hardware store.
36. You can’t microwave anything with metal.
37. You need to brown a roast before putting it in the oven or crockpot.
38. Kids are cute but don’t have them before you are ready to give up your time and energy to someone else.
39. Worship God no matter what the circumstance.
40. Cheap food is not always the healthiest.
41. You need life insurance, car insurance, and renter’s or home-owner’s insurance.
42. Be cautious when walking in dark hallways. Park under lights in a parking lot at night.
43. Be generous with kind words as long as they are genuine.
44. Don’t order things from TV advertisements.
45. Cheap is not always better.
46. Expensive is not always quality.
47. Go to a doctor when you think you need to.
48. You can learn to do just about anything. Most of what your dad and I know we didn’t know when we were your age.
49. Don’t be afraid to try new things.
50. Your way is not the only way.

That’s all for now. I love you,

Mom