Kick it off, Katie
by chuckofish
Since we have been on the subject of hymns lately, I will perk up your Wednesday with this rendition of What a Friend We Have in Jesus by The Purple Hulls. It has been recorded by everyone from Aretha Franklin to Alan Jackson to John Tesh (!), but I like this version.
The Purple Hulls are a band of siblings and that’s one reason their harmony is so great. They also do a nice instrumental version of Be Thou My Vision, which was always a favorite hymn of mine and which we sang in our school chapel (sans banjo).
(A hat tip to the wonderful Hay Quaker blog where I am always discovering new things, such as The Purple Hulls.)
And a special birthday shout out to the boy who turns 26 today!
He has always been a fine young man. This picture reminds us, to paraphrase the great Pete Townshend, that all the best cowboys have Chinese eyes.


Wonderful post and happy birthday to the boy!! But I have to correct your spelling. It’s Pete Townshend.
…and duly corrected. Mea culpa.
I just love that picture of Wheeler. I remember the day well — we were at Fort Ticonderoga, right?
He was quite the sweetie pie in his overalls and red sneakers.
That’s Fort Ticonderoga alright! Lauren was just poking fun at me last night about my squint. She’ll say, “open your eyes as wide as you can” and then we laugh and laugh…..
Those are some rockin’ siblings!
I know! I like them a lot.