2012

August 2012

We are happy to announce the birth of our granddaughter: Dosei RuthAnn (pronounced: "Daw-say") who was born to Dena & Nate on Tuesday, February 28th weighing 7 lbs. 4 oz. Her big brother, Craig, turned 3 years old two days after her birth, and loves to hold her and kiss her face. We are enjoying this little bundle of "pink" and praise the Lord for a good delivery and a healthy baby and mommy.

Dosei RuthAnn (4 days old)

The Hochstetler Family

Alex continues to work on harps at our shop in Blue Ball full time during the summer months. At the end of August, he’ll go back to teaching part time at Faith Mennonite High School and continuing at the harp shop. Anthony helps out building harps in between farming and traveling, and Paul also helps make harps in between working part time for a fencing company and his ministry opportunities for city children. Mark has worked at the shop making harps this summer, but will be back to schooling at home the end of August.

Alex cutting out a harp on the band saw.

Mark constructing a studio harp.

Anthony in the finish room.

Paul putting finish on a LAP harp.

In early June we enjoyed a visit from Joanna & Stephen with their boys Nico & Geno for two weeks. We took them, along with Dena & Nate and their two children Craig & Dosei on a trip to New England to visit family. We rented a cabin on a beautiful lake and spent time with relatives.

View of the lake from our cabin (Plymouth, MA)

Vacation at the cabin,. Emily (holding Dosei), Mark with Craig, Geno and Nic

Craig & Nico holding the fish that Mark caught.

We all enjoyed our time at the ocean. Cape Cod, Massachusetts

We were glad that Joanna and family were here to help us celebrate Emily’s graduation from high school. We had a nice ceremony with PHAA at the Forum in Harrisburg on June 16th and then later that evening had a private ceremony and party at the Welsh Mt. Park.

A family photo taken at Emily's graduation party on June 16th. From left: Paul, Mark, Nate & Dena (with Dosei & Craig), Emily, Sue & Alex Joanna & Stephen with Geno & Nico, Anthony

December 2012

Alex continues to build harps morning and late afternoons between his Health, Woodshop, and New Testament Survey classes at a local Mennonite High School. He is thankful that despite the declining economy, our harp business is thriving. Here’s some pictures of Alex working at the shop on a harp from start to finish.

Alex cutting out a harp

Alex stringing a harp

Sue continues to enjoy her secretarial duties for the harp business, and often has customers here to visit our showroom (which is our living room!).

If Anthony (22) isn’t traveling, farming or rafting down a river he’s usually making harps too. He was invited to join a construction crew in Colorado the last couple months, so he’s enjoyed spending time with his sister, Joanna. He’ll be back home next month, but he hopes to return to the northeastern part of Colorado this summer for the annual cattle drive. This month he took a trip with some friends to CA to do white water rafting. Here he is in the yellow one (a special raft called “Creature Craft”) which can handle any type of white water.

Anthony rafting the North Fork of the Payette River

The "Creature Craft" can handle this Class 5 river!

Paul (20) worked part time for a fencing company this past summer and fall, along with making a few harps. He’s been very busy with children’s ministries, and is helping with the production of a play this month titled: “Jesus, a Walk of Love” at a local theater. He’ll be joining Sight & Sound’s Conservatory next month, which will consist of being a full-time student attending classes, and being a part of their cast for a year. Emily (18) has been involved in lots of children’s ministry activities such as Good News Clubs twice (which are held at local public schools in the area), and “Tuesday Church” which reaches out to city children in the evening once a week. She plays harp for two local nursing homes once a month, and hopes to increase that in the new year. She is looking forward to her trip in January (with six others from our church) to Kenya, Africa. Mark (16) got his drivers’ permit, and gets behind the wheel every chance he gets. This is his junior year of schooling, and he is looking forward to graduating next year in the spring. When he has extra time he’s usually fishing, or playing tennis... or sometimes at the shop making harps. He also joins Paul & Emily in the children ministries on Monday afternoons & Tuesday evenings. This past year Mark took up a few culinary classes, so sometimes we get treated to a special lunch or supper here in the “test kitchen” at home! There’s never a dull moment around home here... it’s more like an airport, with youth taking off and landing throughout the day. Trying to keep track of everyone’s schedule is a real challenge sometimes! Life is full and overflowing! Our married children are doing very well. Here are some recent pictures of them.

Dena & Nathan Hochstetler Family

Joanna & Stephen Dindinger Family