About

Who are we?
My wife (Diane) and I (Nick) have always been the type of people that like to create.  I have worked in Information Technology for the past 20 years.  The path to my current position took many turns and even more learning.   My wife has likewise gone through a twisting path that has driven her to be a strong, intelligent, and creative mother, wife, and partner. 

Why did we start the Wooden Pebble?
We started the Wooden Pebble because there was a need for carved signs and posts in the area.  I have always enjoyed working with wood and creating different items for the house.  My wife is very crafty.  She makes wreaths, Christmas and other holiday decorations, sews, and paints.  The Wooden Pebble is something that we could both have a hand in building. 

Where did the name Wooden Pebble come from?
I was reading a book in the “Sword of Truth” series and there was a section that made me stop and think about my day-to-day actions.  This is where the name “Wooden Pebble” comes into play.  A very old wizard was telling a young man to be careful that his actions had multiple effects on the world, much like when a pebble hits the surface of a calm lake.  We focus on where the pebble hits the surface of the water most of the time.  That primary effect is all we have planned for or expected.  Yet after the pebble has sunk to the bottom and the splash is gone, there is a ripple expanding outwards in every direction that will also have an impact.  Below is a short story I made up to try and explain this further to another co-worker.

A man was walking down a trail in the woods; he stopped next to a stagnate pond.  Algae and other scum had covered the surface; the smell of rot and decay wafted off the pond.  The man threw a large pebble into the pond.  The splash and sound of the pebble hitting the muck made him laugh and forget about the troubles he was trying to work through during his walk.  He continued his walk down the trail, never looking back at the stagnant pond.

Back at the pond the resulting splash and ripples knocked a grasshopper off a blade of grass into the pond.  A fish that was near death from starvation started to react to the struggling grasshopper.  The fish used his last bit of energy to swim, flop, and flounder his way through the muck to eat the bug.  The splashing of the fish attracted the attention of a bear.  The bear charged into the pond to get the fish.  In his charge, he knocked over a pile of sticks and mud that had dammed up the little pond from the larger river.  The bear ate the fish and walked away from the stagnant pond, never looking back.

Now that the blockage was removed, the stagnant pond started to flow again.  Over time the water from the river refilled the dying pond.  Fish, birds, bears, and all manner of wildlife enjoyed the pond in the coming years.  To think, all of this came from one action of a person throwing a pebble into a pond for fun….”

So this concept of the secondary, tertiary, etc.. actions are what drives us to cast our pebble.  What can we achieve if we cast that pebble?

What is your goal?
We value honesty, family, faith, and community over all other foundational values. Our goal is to show our children that these values when put into practice can bring new opportunities to grow and to help those around them.