2014

August 2014

The popular word around here lately is “graduated” - Mark (our 6th child) graduated high school this past June and after 28 years of home schooling, we’re DONE! Joanna (and baby Angelo) came for this special event, and we enjoyed having all six children around.

From left... Anthony, Dena, Paul, Joanna, Mark, Emily, Sue & Alex

Sue is now a full time secretary to the harp business, and she enjoys connecting with customers from all over the world. Alex also retired from teaching (he had been teaching classes part time at Faith Mennonite High School for the last 25 years), so he’s full time at making harps. We have LOTS of harps on order right now, so there’s never a dull moment around here.

We welcomed a new grandson to the family: Tyler Randell, born to Dena & Nate on May 4th which makes six grandchildren now!

Nate with Tyler, Dena, Dosei,& Craig

Stephen, Geno, Nico, Angelo & Joanna

Anthony’s home right now for a couple months doing farming, but he’s often in Colorado enjoying life in the west. He had the opportunity to travel to Chili this past January & February on a rafting trip.

Anthony (left) on a special “Creature Craft” on the Rio Baker River in Chili (South America)

Paul has been at the shop helping make harps this year, but is also working part time for two acting companies: Servant Stage and Piercing Word, so he’s always on the go.

Paul (as the brother) with actress/friend Natalie

A typical day filming

Emily’s keeping busy playing harp for a variety of events, and she started making cases for our harps. This past February we bought an industrial sewing machine to give her an “in-house” job opportunity.

After Mark graduated he took a few weeks off this summer to travel with Anthony & Emily to Colorado where he enjoyed some rafting, camping and fishing adventures. Now he’s working for his brother-in-law, Nate, with the home remodeling business, and sometimes he’s in the shop making harps.

We look forward to the weeks and months ahead as we continue to enjoy the work God has given us to do.

Emily’s “in-home” job making harp cases

December 2014

Early in September we had a visit from Joanna & Stephen and their boys. Sure was lively with the six grandchildren playing together.

From left... Craig holding Tyler, Nicholas, Geno holding Angelo, and Dosei

We had an opportunity mid-September to travel as a family (along with Dena & Nate and family) to Turkey. We spent ten days traveling with a Turkish friend of ours who first took us to Istanbul for three days and introduced us to many of his friends... then he took us to his home town of Antioch for a week, and then to his wife’s home town of Gaziantep. We met so many wonderful people who showed us true hospitality and treated us like royalty. We will never forget the wonderful time we had with them.

Istanbul, Turkey... standing in front of the Hogia Sophia

Another annual Christmas concert was organized for our harp friends a part of the Harp Workshop on Dec 5th at the Garden Spot Retirement Village. This has become a tradition here in this area, and the residents look forward to this each year.

Annual Christmas Concert at Garden Spot Village on Friday, December 5th

Anthony returned to Colorado beginning of November, but he’ll be back in January to help out making harps at the shop this winter. Paul helps at the shop making harps part time, but he’s also very busy with Servant Stage Company and Piercing Word. Emily has been making cases for our harps in between running around doing shows with Paul for the Servant Stage Company. Mark has been working for his brother-in-law Nate part time, and also helping at the shop to make harps. Both Paul & Mark volunteer on Monday afternoons to help with Good News Clubs at the New Holland Elementary School, and they are also involved with Tuesday church (an outreach to Lancaster city children) on Tuesday evenings.

Good News Club at New Holland Elementary

Tuesday Church in Lancaster

It sure seemed different for Alex not to return to school this fall, and for Sue not to have to get curriculum ready for another year of home schooling. We thought it was very unique that both of us retired the same year from teaching! The harp business is keeping both of us very busy.

As we look ahead to a new year, we trust that the Lord will give direction as we continue to look for a home that will allow us to have the harp shop on the same property. We look forward to see what He has in store for us in the coming year.

Dena & Nathan Hochstetler, Dosei, Craig & Tyler

Stephen & Joanna, Nico, Geno & Angelo