Greetings from the Recovering Coughers....

Well, we are usually a pretty healthy family. Sure we have a few typical colds a year but we also have a few, usually effective remedies. :) Now for the sad news. Two weeks ago, we began coming down with colds, each of we children in turn. Just when we seemed to be getting well, I relapsed with a case of bacterial conjuctivis. What does this conjunct-iv-funny word mean? Why, inflammation of the conjunctiva...basically, I had a really nasty eye infection - red, mucus emitting eyes. Then Krista had a relapse, Janna got a cough, and I played for my piano adjudication though I wasn't well (red, mucus emitting, puffy, eyes). Sarah got the infamous cough the I'm still trying to get over, and the next day I went to the eye doctor and got antibiotics for my red, mucus emitting, puffy, weeping, eyes. Krista went to the doctor and - surprise - she has pneumonia! She is to rest for five days straight! The family's sympathy, which was for my red, mucus discharging, puffy, weeping, inflamed, eyes, is now for Krista, and as my eyes are almost well (hurray!) it is rightfully so.

In short..... it feels like this household is going through an epidemic.

~ The Fourth Recovering Cougher....Kathrina

The Widow's Might

Ever since our own experience working on a private film, we enjoy keeping up to date on other independent Christian film endeavors. I posted about Pendragon several months ago, and I hope you'll excuse me posting yet again about a private film made by homeschool families. Yes, I admit, I am a staunch supporter of the independent Christian film movement!

The Widow's Might was made by several homeschooling families from Texas and was the winner of the grand Jubilee prize plus the audience choice award at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. It is astounding to witness the talent coming out of the homeschool culture. The film is enjoying an short theatre release this week. Our family drove to Corvallis to support and enjoy it. We had such a good time! It's a musical as well, so it's doubly popular in this house!

If you homeschool, think large families are humorous and inspiring, enjoy independent films, and/or are on the look out for quality, clean family films, then I highly recommend making the effort to see The Widows Might.

You can find a list of theatre's at the official website and get info on the summer DVD release!

The film should also be available for digital download soon on Behemoth.com

Enjoy the trailer below!


60 Second Trailer Spot, Widow's Might from John Moore on Vimeo.

Christmas CD: Recording Sessions 12-14

Good King Wenceslas - Mom's very favorite Christmas carol. We knew this fun ballad would be tough to record, and some of us were in slight dread of it, but to our great delight, it is actually going really well!

This was my very first time recording with my newest instrument - the mandolin! Michael had fun finding its special "sweet spot" for micing, and I put on the headphones and went to work.

Michael and Terry

We can't take pictures during actual recording usually because absolute silence is needed (that is, absolute silence excluding what is being recorded!) and so we usually end up with photos from our downtime. Here Janna and Sarah are reading.

And because of all the downtime pictures, I need to say that we do work, and work hard to record. Above Mom and Krista are relaxing after a long day in the studio.

As a note, besides "Good King Wenceslas" we are re-recording a portion of "The Holly and the Ivy." Although re-recording is not the funnest thing, it went quite well today and we accomplished what we set out to do!

Until next time ~ the Fourth Rose

Looking Back

It doesn't feel like it's been two weeks since I last posted! But maybe that's because I've been doing the same thing for the past two weeks, namely, watching Rejected No More a total of twelve times! I really did enjoy it though. I wish everyone could watch plays more than once; one gets so much more out of multiple viewings! I was thrilled to see someone I knew each performance night. And to those of you who didn't come; I hope to see you next year!

I think Spring is finally here. It is also sounding like April with Krista, Kathrina, and Noah practicing away at the piano to get ready for adjudications the end of this month. I can't say I'm sorry not to be practicing myself; however, I was fondly remembering how much fun Sarah and I had playing the 2nd movement of Chopin's Concerto No. 1 last year. I tried to post a video of it at the time, but wasn't able to figure it out, so I thought I'd go ahead and post it now! We took this video right after we had played for the judge. Sarah is the soloist and I'm playing the symphony reduction on another piano. Chopin's Concerto No. 1 has always been our piano teacher's favorite, and she finally convinced Sarah to play in the Senior adjudication. Sarah received a Superior rating for her performance - the highest one can get!

~ Janna Rae

P.S. I want to know how many of you take the time to watch this whole video!