A Hot Thursday Afternoon

As we were about to sit down for supper tonight the sky to the south began to grow darker. We began to hear rumbling in the distance and see flashes of lightning. The sky grew darker, the thunder louder, the lightning brighter, and Chico tried to get in the frount door. Then it slowly drifted to the southeast and it remained about 102 degrees at our house. Not a drop of rain here. Then the weatherman shared that the heat index was about 107. I don't need that information, thank you. It's HOT!
On another note, we found this plant growing behind the house. Any idea what it is? We figure GranPa might know.

Will on Mission Trip

Will has gone with GranMa and GranPa to Mississippi with their Church on mission trip. You can check out what they are doing by clicking here for the mission trip blog. Andy had left Sunday before last to go with our Church on mission trip to South Texas. But hurricane Dottie drove them home early last Tuesday.

Croak.

Last time I watered our garden I remembered at work the next day that I had forgotten to turn the water off. I had to call Lynne to run out and shut the water off. So now I set the alarm on my cell phone to remind me to go out and shut off the water. Last night as I was coming back from shutting the water off, I saw Chico was staring at his water bowl. When I got closer I saw this guy enjoying a swim. That's one way to keep cool in the Texas heat! I wish we had a pool.We found this site that lists all the frog and toad species in Texas to try and figure out what he is. We can't decide between Texas Toad and Woodhouse's Toad. Leave a comment and let us know what y'all think it is.UPDATE: I don't think it could be a Texas Toad because of the stripe up it's back. My new favorite is the Gulf Coast Toad.

My Math Dilemma

This is Lynne. My house is clean (thanks to Keisha), the dishes are done, all but two loads of laundry are done, all my have to do today list is done, and I am actually thinking about school. I learned not too long ago that I am going to have to teach math as part of my schedule this next year. I have avoided it as long as I can. I brought home the teacher math book in an effort to learn it and a friend (Lynn) loaned me her homeschool math book but the block in my brain continues. When it comes to anything beyond adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing (the last two being questionable) I draw a blank. People tell me that "I am not trying hard enough" or "I could if I just put more effort into it" or "Can't never could do anything". I have heard them all but it doesn't change the fact that I just don't understand math. It is that illusive foreign language that I can't seem to grasp. I can remember telephone numbers of people, places, etc after they are told to me one time. I do sudoku puzzles for relaxation. I can quickly add and subtract multiple numbers in my head. All of that has to do with numbers but when you throw in x, y, and z and tell me that I have to accept that this long drawn out process ends up with the letter actually being a number I get lost. (In fact as I type that last sentence out, I find myself drifting in my thoughts). In college, I took college algebra twice. The first time I made a 50 in the class so with determination that I was going to graduate no matter what I went after it a second time. I attended class every time, I had two tutors that gave up on me, Jeff even tried to tutor me (and I think if he hadn't quit tutoring me then we wouldn't have gotten married), and finally I begged the professor for a D in the class. When grades actually came out after graduation I discovered I had actually made a 20 in the class. It takes real talent to go from bad to worse in a class. Now I am faced with teaching special ed classes math lessons. Will the torture never end!!!! :) I guess I have put off my lessons for as long as I can so with a heavy heart I leave you so that I may attend to my math book. Thank goodness I am the teacher so I do have the answers not that it helps me to understand it. Have a glorious day!!!!! :)

The 4th of July

We had the annual 4th of July family reunion at our house again this year. We had a good crowd, about 45 people. Even one all the way from Georgia.There was lots of food and good conversation.

And a bunch of kids. Don't ask me who they all belong to.
Rex made his famous peppermint ice cream. It was Great's favorite and she always pestered him to make it.
We spread out in the house and on the porch. You could always hear a good story wherever you sat.
It was a great 4th celebration. As well as 2 birthdays and an anniversary! Later that night we had a group from Church come out and we shot off a few fireworks. We only set the pasture on fire once.