Our oldest turns seven today. She's been so excellent in learning to tell time, she received her first wristwatch. Happy Birthday, Sweetie. You've got to love the "Princess Crown" Cake from the party on Saturday.

Fans of old movies and salad dressing will be mourning for the next few days. Actor, racer, entrepreneur Paul Newman has succumbed to a long battle with cancer. Remembered for roles in movies starting in the 1950s. One of my favorite roles from Paul was in Cool Hand Luke, especially the egg scene.

Paul also wowed his fans by active involvement in stock car racing, then he offered up "Newman's Own" in our grocery aisle. Good-bye to a true Renaissance man. (Read an obituary here.)

I haven't linked a good quiz in a long while. Hope you enjoy this one (tipped to me at Taran's place):

I could survive for 1 minute, 22 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

Saturday was a really enjoyable time for the family. We went with some friends from church to Carmi, Illinois to enjoy the Baptist Children's Home and Family Services' (BCHFS) annual Family Fun Day and Quilt Auction. The kids enjoyed all the booths and clowns and such, as well as several turns at the slid on the playground. My mom donated a quilt (at my request), and it performed well--not as well as I thought it should, but it was in there with the rest of them.

Sunday morning I woke up sounding like Barry White. The mallady included sore throat, and progressed as the day went on. Preaching in both Sunday morning and evening services didn't help any, so that by the time the evening service was over I had almost no voice at all. One of my kindly church members suggested a cure for me:

Two parts rum
One part honey
One part lemon juice

If this does not work in two days, do away with the honey and lemon juice.

I figured that this kind of remedy would certainly work, and if it didn't I wouldn't care anyway.

Have a good day.

--Speechless in Mulberry Grove

Q: What is a pirate's favorite fruit?

A: Arrrrrnges, ye scurvy knave.

"Hey, Barnacle Bill, let's get something to eat. Where do you want to go?"

"I'm thinkin' Arrrrrrrby's!"

You only have one day to prepare for Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19, 2008). So, I thought I'd share some basics from the guys who brought us this festive time.

Ahoy! - "Hello!"

Avast! - Stop and give attention. It can be used in a sense of surprise, "Whoa! Get a load of that!" which today makes it more of a "Check it out" or "No way!" or "Get off!"

Aye! - "Why yes, I agree most heartily with everything you just said or did."

Aye aye! - "I'll get right on that sir, as soon as my break is over."

Arrr! - This one is often confused with arrrgh, which is of course the sound you make when you sit on a belaying pin. "Arrr!" can mean, variously, "yes," "I agree," "I'm happy," "I'm enjoying this beer," "My team is going to win it all," "I saw that television show, it sucked!" and "That was a clever remark you or I just made." And those are just a few of the myriad possibilities of Arrr!

As an aside--since TLAP Day falls on a Friday this year, why not consider an extended weekend celebration.

I struggled to put a category on this album offered by the family praise group iPrayz. This collection features the voices of three members of the group. Husband and wife Eric and Jennifer Hagen and Amy Propst (whose husband Perry has worked as the groups worship painter and technical director) almost deliver a sound that is country with hints of bluegrass, but not really either of those. I was introduced to the group at a recent meeting hosted by our church. Live they show just as much enthusiasm for the music and the message as you hear on the CD.

Featured on this album is a mix of excellent new worship songs penned by Amy and Eric and sometimes coupled with some of the great old hymns of the faith. The title cut is a fine example of the voicing and the message of the group. Their arrangement of Fanny J. Crosby's old standard "Blessed Assurance" is top-notch.

You can order this from iPrayz's website or from Amazon.com. You won't be disappointed.

I rate this album with 4 out of 5 discs.