This was my favorite ride when I went to disney world at about 5 years old. Our family would always ride it together and then the rest of the day we would be singing the song they play throughout the ride -- "It's a small world after all, its a small world after all, it's a small, small world!" I loved the idea of all the nationalities represented and all the little dolls moving around. I loved to see the way they were dressed up and hear the music they would be playing to represent their country. I also enjoyed the slow, peacefulness of the ride with no major loops or 40 foot plunges. Just a nice ride in a boat. It was dark and cool in there too. And I remember it being really hot outside, so I enjoyed the break from the heat.
On to my point. People often joke with me that, "You always know someone everywhere you go!" Even Cory says it. Often. I have joked lately that I think my life often comes "full circle." And I know the exact reason why it does come full circle. My mom. From when I was very little, I remember my mom telling me [and my brother] that we could never do anything wrong because she knows people everywhere and she would find out!! I just thought that was something moms said and they probably all do! However, I seriously believe that my mom prayed every night that everywhere I went I would see someone that I knew and they would act as my conscience. Here I am, 26 years old and it still happens often -- randomly meeting people that I know, not them acting as my conscience. We moved to NWA about 2 years ago. Now, grant it I did not move miles and miles away from home just about 180 miles to be exact. However, the irony of the events that have occurred are still pretty incredible.
Last school year during my internship my office was at an elementary school and one of the girls that was interning as a teacher was
Carman. She found me on facebook and wrote me note asking me if I was interning at the same elementary because she thought she had seen me in the hallway. That was me! Carman and I met back in about 2002 when we worked at SOAR (a big Christian youth conference) together in San Antonio, TX. Here we were 5 years later interning at the same elementary in a big school district.
Well, this year I remained at the same elementary. It made for a smooth transition and it has been wonderful. I was in the lounge at the beginning of this school year and I was looking at the bulletin board of the new incoming interns from the big university in town. I see a girl that looks familiar and has the same last name as the professor that I worked for in grad school for a about 2 years AND she is from the same town! A couple of days later, I find her and ask her if her dad is Dr. Murphy at UCA. Indeed that is her father. Small world moment. She interned all this school year at the elementary where my office is. For those of you who know Dr. Murphy you know he is so extremely pleasant. Well his daughter is the exact same. I enjoyed getting to know her this year. On Friday they had an "intern celebration" for the interns. Erin had been telling me for several days that her family would be there and that Dr. Murphy asked if I would be around. I made appoint to be back at my school during this time. Erin happened to be walking by the door as I came in and she said "my dad is here -- go see him!" I found them and had such a great chance to catch up with him.
I admire Dr. Murphy. I worked 2 LONG years for this man. Proof-reading the books that he was publishing, going out on behavior visits to small towns on his behalf, running things to Shandra for him, more proofreading and more proofreading. I remember the first time I met Dr. Murphy. He came to be a guest speaker in my "theories class." He came walking in with no shoes on, a coffee cup in his hand and sat up on the desk. Approachable, genuine and a great sense of humor describes him to me. He is an amazing School Psychologist and I learned a lot from him.
Another memory that I have of him is that one time he was out running by our house and Cory saw him out there so he got him a cup of water and took it out to him. It has always been a fun joke between all of us. He even brought it up when I saw him Friday.
Here are some pictures that I was able to get with the Murphys (Mara {daughter}, Debbie {his wife}, Tom {son}, Dr. Murphy, Erin and me) and then one with Erin.
Oddly enough, we ran into him again on Saturday eating at Jason's Deli. He was so excited to get to see Cory and once again ask him about the "water station."
This is but one fun example of my small world.
Mom, I truly attribute what I have termed "my small world moments" to all those times you told me not to misbehave because you would find out! I also think you prayed for me to have these experiences because you knew that I was such a shy and worrisome child that I would need these moments to feel secure by being surrounded by familiarity. Everytime it happens I think of you and I feel comforted. I love having a mom that is always thinking outside the box -- in fact I think you live outside the box! And I know that no matter the true reason for these moments that you are really behind them! Moms are good like that!
Thanks, mom!
CEC.
By the way, did I tell you that last week I went to test a little pre-k kid at a facility in another town and discovered that the teacher is my second cousin?
Here is a close up of our TV stand that we painted last summer. It was an out of the box light brown stand that we spray painted red and then we took a dark stain and put it on top of the paint and wiped it off to give it a wood grain look. I was really pleased with how it turned out. 
The other view of the fireplace and chair.
The backside of our living room opens up to our dining room, but I didn't want to post pictures of that until the tour takes us to our dining rooms. Plus, it needs lots of help so I will definitely need some tips for it. 
Here is a plate that I have in my kitchen. I use to have this 
Eat in kitchen area. 
