Things I've learned lately - revisited

I was reading some of my old posts and was cracking up at how some of the "things I've learned lately" in March I'm still learning. The red is the updated version.

• No one in my house knows how to flush the toilet after having a BM. This one hasn't changed.
• Eric likes to sleep in on Saturday mornings...not clean (he is a little grumpy if he cleans). No one likes to clean on Saturday mornings and it turns into a big yelling fest.
• Having a clean house isn't in the bible. (THANKS JAMIE) Actually, I've been thinking about this one and really, did they have as much junk as we have now??? It didn't need to be in the bible. I'd have been better off anyway in bible times because there weren't all these people who knew every kind of germ out there sharing it with us. I would've enjoyed the lack of knowledge.
• I shouldn't worry about the state of my house if it prevents me from hosting someone. Unless it breaks health codes, then I should probably just visit with them on the driveway.
• Having people stop by is a blessing...even if the house is trashed. No one stops by much. Guess they think I'm too busy cleaning.
• Having four kids means I learn four times more about different personalities and how to interact with them and how to love them. And how to break up fights and how to listen long enough to a cry to know if it's real or drama.
• God loves a cheerful giver. It's also about motive.
• Open dialogue with my kids about sex is important. Tell them sex is a good thing, not a negative thing. (THANKS VONI) And then don't forget to tell them that their friends don't need to know these things unless their parents talk to them about it.
• My son shouldn't answer the phone anymore. Everyone thinks he's me. He stopped answering the phone. I think he was tired of talking to telemarketers.
• Lucy should NOT have alone time unless she's asleep. This one still holds true. And even then, you never know how long she'll stay asleep so she shouldn't be left unattended.
• Little girls start talking about boyfriends when they are 4. They need all the daddy time they can get.
• Some people like me because I'm me. I don't have to prove to them I'm worth it. But a good batch of cinnamon rolls or butterhorns and jam don't really hurt either.
• Reading 7 books at one time is overwhelming. I still haven't learned.
• Make a deadline when starting a quilt. Hmmm...I'm pleading the 5th on this one.
• Screaming isn't always in agony. Unfortunately, there's more screaming without the agony going on here. We are not a quiet place. They like to hear their voices.
• My kids were born to be loud. Someday God will use it for His glory.
• The people who sit in front and behind us in church might always be annoyed with our kids. God loves my loud kids anyway (even when Lucy puts her feet on the seat in front of her and makes their head bob). We've learned to go to Saturday night church where kidzone happens while we go to church.
• Kids are sinful and don't know any better until I teach them what's right. And I'm not the best example. I'm sinful and sometimes that sin blinds me from KNOWING what's right. How can I expect them to get it?
• My husband needs time to unwind when he comes in from work. His day is more stressful than mine. We fixed this one by keeping him at work until everyone's in bed.
• Sex is good any time of day (Whoa! Just thought I'd throw that in there to see if you're still with me!) No comment. I'm afraid my mom might read this.
• Some people are good at faking that they are Christians. You never really know. Ask Eric how good he was at it. Pray for everyone I come in contact with. This one still rings true for me.
• 75 gallon water heaters are made to be fully used up. Cold rinsing is better for my conditioner anyway. Alex learned that from her body book.
• Grounding Jake from reading is really hard. This is now the only form of grounding that works though.
• My mom still does a good job of taking care of me when I'm sick. She can handle the whole package (four kids to get to bed for me!). I've learned my mom lives too far away...especially today.
• Real friends are friends you can go for months or a year without seeing and you can pick up where you left off. Real friends are close by too.
• There are too many kinds of foreign beers.
• Dessert wine is really good. Too much of it isn't.
• No one reads long blogs. The internet is too fast and someone else has one with pictures and few words.
• AND...the most important thing I've learned lately: My kids are watching everything I say and do. I'm their biggest example (OH SH*T!). Start praying for them now.