DD&F is a company that is literally in my blood. I remember distinctly the day my Dad came home and he and my mom sat down with us kids and announced that things in our life would be a little tighter for an unforeseen time because they were stepping out in complete faith and obedience to the Lord for my Dad (and his two partners) to begin DD&F Consulting Group. During the company's first days, they rented office space in the building where my Dad and his two partners were previously employed. And during the summer, I was their little fledgling secretary. I made copies, ran errands, answered the phone, made coffee, and basically did whatever I could to be helpful. During my lunch breaks, I would run across the building's parking lot, across the busy downtown street and grab three crunchy tacos with extra cheese from the restaurant across the street. I later spent summers there as an intern, learning the business. And as I contemplated medical school in 1999, my Dad offered me a job, I took it, loved it and never looked back.

I remember the day they moved their office from that temporary post to an old historic house just off downtown on 6th & Rock Street. I remember seeing the house, a three story, yellow-painted wood historic beauty and knowing with a deep certainty that this house would become the new home of DD&F. At the time we saw the house, I know my dad wasn't quite so certain. But my feeling proved correct. And in the next months that followed, the building was purchased, renovated as much as they could afford, decorated by talented friends and the stage was set. The Lord provided the business and over time, the employees, and has continued to richly bless the company and its employees.

The company has since grown to fill not only that house at the corner of 6 & Rock, but the adjacent two historic homes on 6th street and an enormous historic home across the corner of Rock. What blessings these houses have been. And unique places to work. Not everyone has floor to ceiling windows, original wood plank floors and a fireplace in their office!

And Sunday afternoon, while I was attending my friend's baby shower, white flakes began drifting down from the leaden sky. The pace picked up and up and up and continued all through the afternoon and night! And it stuck! Needless to say, there were some very happy people in my household! And some prayers of thankfulness to our God who is perfectly able to give us snow when the mood strikes Him!

Come on, Mom! Let's get moving!

The inspiration....

My finished project (completed in about 3 hours).

How I love this sweet kid. He thinks the hat is awesome and wears it all the time. You should see the static in his hair when it finally comes off. Wow. And there are currently more projects in the works...I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, don't get the winter doldrums! Take every opportunity to cuddle up under warm blankets and watch the West Wing (my other hobby), drink hot cocoa, make soups, enjoy the stark simplicity of a winter tree line, the blazing colors of a sunset, the crispness of the air and its breathability, those last few weeks of pregnancy (oh, that may be just me), and the fresh start of a new year.

Happy New Year!