Update—December 2006

It has been four years since the article from the newspaper was printed and we have kept busy since then with many harp programs and producing more harp recordings. Alex still teaches school part time and builds harps the rest of the time going full time during the summer months. Since the time of this article, Alex has developed his own line of Italian harps, and a new line of more affordable harps. A ten-string Davidic harp was also added to the variety of harps that are now available. A new book was just released this fall by Alex titled: “Morning Meditations” and is a real inspiration to Christian musicians.

Dena & Joanna are still at home busy teaching private music lessons and have enjoyed taking their harps on mission trips in the last few years (Belize, Grenada, & Haiti). They just completed their eighth recording this fall titled “This is the Day” and have lots more plans in mind for future CD’s. Joanna’s tendonitis in both hands (which started at the end of 2005), together with a house fire in February 2006 (which forced us to move out of our house for six months), slowed us down for most of 2006. Joanna’s condition improved, so we started our family harp programs again in December 2006.

The other children have grown in their music skills, and enjoy participating in family programs. We have combined a number of instruments with the harps to make for an enjoyable program. Sue continues to home school the four youngest children and enjoys being secretary for the harp business and program manager for the family.

The Marini Family—December, 2006
Left: Anthony (16), Emily (12), Joanna (21), Sue & Alex, Paul (14), Dena (23), Mark (10)

 

Update—December, 2007

Only a year has passed since the last update, but our family life is very different these days..... mainly due to a double wedding. Dena started a courtship with Nathan Hochstetler from Tennessee in January of 2007 and Joanna started a courtship with Stephen Dindinger from Colorado in April of 2007. By July both couples were ready to take the big step and decided to get married the same day. So on Saturday, September 15, 2007, the girls were married in the Chapel at Garden Spot Village (which was a nice facility close to our home). After the wedding Dena and Nathan spent a week in Virginia and then headed west for three weeks.... they are now living in the New Holland, PA, area.

Joanna and Stephen spent the first two weeks on Union Island in the Caribbean and then came to PA for a week to pack up her things and then headed for Colorado where they are now living.

We started up our family programs this month—losing one musician (Joanna) and gaining another member of the group (Nathan). Dena was able to reorganize our programs, and we have been busy ever since early December. We have also scheduled some time at the studio in mid-January so that when Joanna and Stephen come for a visit we can finish a “family CD” which we had started before the wedding. We hope to do some of our family’s favorites and polish it up before the spring conventions.

Anthony (17) is looking forward to graduating this spring, so that he can pursue other interests... like visiting his sister Joanna and working at a cattle ranch in Colorado, and perhaps making another trip to Tennessee. He continues to work part time farming, driving tractor and looks forward to fall harvest time. He enjoys playing the guitar in our programs and also plays the cello.

Paul (15) is quite skillful in many different areas, like music, painting, and juggling. He sings and plays a number of instruments in the programs like hammered dulcimer, flute, piccolo, pennywhistle, mandolin and guitar. He’s a sophomore in high school and looks forward to completing high school as well.

Emily (13) is in eighth grade and has developed her skills in harp playing and has been hired this year to play for special events. Besides harp, she helps in our programs with singing now (since Joanna is gone) and plays the pennywhistle.

Mark (11) has also progressed in his skills as a musician and enjoys entertaining people. He also plays harp in our programs, as well as the mandolin and pennywhistle. He is in sixth grade and does well in his schoolwork, but would rather be reading a good book on a cozy chair.

Sue continues enjoying her responsibilities as homemaker, home school mom, and secretary to the harp business. There were some adjustments to be made after the older girls were married, but life has returned to a normal routine now.

Alex still teaches at a Mennonite high school half time, and enjoys harp making in his free time.... trying to develop new styles of harps and does some writing any chance he gets. He also started learning the harp himself—after making harps for over ten years, he thought he’d try learning to play them. You’ll often find him quietly playing a tune in the late evening after the children have gone to bed. A sweet way to end the day!

 

Update: December—2008

Another year has swiftly passed by and we find more changes have come upon us... we are now grandparents! We are happy to announce that our second daughter, Joanna, and her husband Stephen had their first baby (Nicolas Stephen) on Wednesday, October 22nd weighing 6 lbs and 15 oz. Grandma and Aunt Emily arrived in Grand Junction, CO, the night before Nicolas was born and were glad to be a part of the welcoming committee.

Nicolas Stephen Dindinger Born: October 22, 2008 -- 6 pounds, 15 oz.	Joanna, Stephen & baby Nicolas December, 2008

We are also happy to announce that our oldest daughter, Dena, and her husband, Nathan, are expecting their first baby (a boy!) the end of February. They just live 15 minutes from us and have continued to help us in our music ministry. We averaged about 4 to 5 programs a month this past year—but this month alone we had 12 programs; which kept us “harping” around a lot. We’re not sure what our music ministry will be like in 2009, but we plan to continue with whoever is available. Paul and Emily are really progressing in their music abilities and have recently been hired to play at weddings and special events as a harp & flute duet, so there is a lot of potential with them. Mark is also progressing in his music abilities and people who have come to our programs through the years have noticed a big change in his skill level lately.

Anthony (18) is at the end of his high school studies, and looks forward to working some for his brother-in-law, Nathan, in construction and also making harps with his father at the shop. He also has done some farming this past fall, but his most recent adventure was herding cattle in the mountains of Colorado the old fashioned way on horseback. He just loved the wide open lands and the beauty of the mountains. We really appreciate Anthony’s contribution to our harp programs... he plays cello and guitar which adds a special touch to the songs.

Paul (16) just got his driving permit and is looking forward to working this summer for his brother-in-law, Nathan, in construction and then graduating from his high school program here at home in the summer of 2010. He juggles many instruments in our programs.... you’ll see him go from the hammered dulcimer to the mandolin, to a penny whistle, guitar, flute... and then sing. He really enjoys recording music on his computer and putting together home videos.

Emily (14) is now a 9th grader and has really put her heart into her music lately. She continues with harp, but also plays flute, penny whistle, bowed psaltery, and sings with Dena in the programs.

Mark (12) is usually the champion at ping pong here at home, as well as many other games. He impresses people at the programs with his ability to play not only the harp, but the mandolin, penny whistle, and the bowed psaltery. Mark is an active guy, and flies through his 8th grade school work, so he can go outside or play a game.

Alex took on a full time teaching schedule this fall which has been a challenge as harp orders have increased. Recently his ten-string Davidic harp became popular with those using harps for ministry to hospitals, and orders came in for his Roma Rosa harp as well. So this year he has been stretched a bit more, but seems to be on top of it. He looks forward to taking the seniors from his school on another trip to the island of Grenada this spring, and was given the responsibility of organizing the whole event. Sue continues as usual at home giving her energies to home schooling, home making, and the home business. She enjoyed her first trip out west to Colorado to meet her first grandchild, and to spend time with Joanna and Stephen. We are truly grateful to the Lord for good health and strength to continue in the work that God has put before us.... until He comes.

Marini Family—December 23, 2008

From left: Anthony, Emily, Alex, Mark, Sue, and Paul

 

Update—2009

On Sunday, March 1, 2009, at 4:59 p.m. Craig Alexander was born to Nathan & Dena Hochstetler. Dena was hoping to have a home birth, but needed to be transferred to the Reading Hospital, and after 41 hours of labor had the baby C-section. Craig weighed in at 8 pounds and 12 ounces and was 21 inches long. Both mommy and baby are doing fine.

Craig Alexander (1 month old)	The Hochstetler's—March, 2009