As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Bekah's Senior Trip




A few weeks ago, we took our final "Senior Trip," a tradition in our homeschool that started out rather unintentionally, but became something of a rite of passage for each of our high schoolers. 

Here is how our Senior Trip tradition began:

The summer before Kristin, our oldest child, was a senior, we decided to take a family vacation to Niagara Falls. It is something that we had been wanting to do for a while. But we suddenly realized that this particular year (1997) should be the year because who knew if we'd have the opportunity  to travel together after Kristin graduated?
Kristin's Senior Trip to Niagara Falls, 1997
(We do not know the lady wearing the red shirt. 😄)



So two years later as Ryan was heading into his senior year, we asked him if there was anywhere that he would like to go. He chose a trip to Skyline Drive, Luray Caverns, and Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.
Ryan's Senior Trip, on Skyline Drive, 1999



Between Kati's junior and senior year, she spent the whole summer living with Ryan and his family in northern California. They traveled some while she was there, including a camping trip to Crater Lake in Oregon. Even though we did not share this experience with her, we considered it her senior trip!
Kati at Crater Lake, 2010






And now, of course, Bekah is a senior!

When you are the baby of the family (and that family has an age span of nearly 21 years!), there are  plenty of things that your older siblings have done that you have not!

You've never been to an amusement park, Bekah? Are you sure? 

Remember the time we went to the Museum of Natural History? Oh, you've never been there? 

You mean you haven't done      fill-in-the-blank   ?

Oops.

So when it came time for Bekah to choose a senior trip, she wanted to stay closer to home and grab some of the experiences that she had only heard about! And she didn't want day trips. She wanted to hang out in the big city (cities) and fill the days. We were going to visit museums . . . as many as we could do in three days!

On Day One, we visited the National Aquarium in Baltimore, located on the beautiful Baltimore Harbor. When we arrived, we were surprised to learn that we qualified for "Maryland Mornings," a limited time offer in which Maryland residents who purchase their tickets before noon on Monday through Friday receive a substantial discount. Yay!


A view of Baltimore Harbor, seen from a window in the National Aquarium
Photo by Kati


We spent our day exploring exhibits of a tropical rain forest, coral reefs, and "extreme" creatures of Australia. We saw jelly fish, puffins, a sea turtle, and rays. We watched a dolphin training demonstration. We all loved the multi-story shark tank where you see several species of sharks (and other fish) swimming up close! 
Photo by Kati


Photo by Kati


After we left the Aquarium, we meandered across the foot bridge over to a large Barnes and Noble . . . not for the books, I'm afraid, but for some cold, liquid (and caffeinated) refreshment at their Starbucks cafe!


Photo by Kati


On Day Two, we went into Washington, D. C. via the Metro. Bekah had big plans for that day. She wanted to tour three different museums!

Photo by Kati


We began at the International Spy Museum, this one new to all of us, not just the "baby." We spent several hours learning about the world of espionage through exhibits about disguises, famous spies, codes, and much more. There was also an entire section dedicated to the fictional James Bond. My favorite part of the museum was the gallery called "The Secret History of History" where we learned how spy activity impacted history, from Moses to the Trojan horse, from Harriet Tubman to Elizabeth I.

Photo by Kati



From the International Spy Museum, we went to the Museum of Natural History. Bekah had researched the galleries ahead of time, and had chosen the ones that she wanted to visit. We explored the Mammals exhibit and the Ocean Hall on the first floor. (I am still amazed at how evolution theory is presented as fact in the exhibits at this museum. Perhaps I shouldn't be, but I am. Yet another reason that I am glad that we homeschooled our children!) 


Photo by Kati


Upstairs, we spent some time at the Live Insect Zoo, which made Kati happy! (She loves creepy crawlies.) We made a quick pass by the mummies and the dinosaurs, and we saw the Hope Diamond. The girls had gotten (free) tickets to walk through the Live Butterfly Pavilion, but the time slot they had would have meant that we would miss the last museum on the list for Day Two. We let Bekah make the call and she reluctantly chose to move on.



Photo by Kati


Our last stop of the day was the National Air and Space Museum. Due to limited time, we made sure to prioritize the things we most wanted to see, but we ended up seeing quite a bit! We began with The Wright Brothers & the Invention of the Aerial Age, but we saw The Spirit of St. Louis and we  visited galleries on Early Flight, How Things Fly, Sea-Air Operations, World War II Aviation, and the Great War in the Air.


Photo by Kati


While looking at the WWII planes, Bekah asked me a question about one of the planes. While I struggled over an answer, she said, "No. I'll ask Dad." 🤣

Dad supplying a knowledgeable answer. 




Day Three took us back into DC. Our first stop (which also ended up being our last) was the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Ron and I had been to the museum before, but this was a first visit for both Kati and Bekah.

There is so much that could be said about this museum. It is incredibly, incredibly moving . . . from beginning to end. It mind-boggling to see the rather rapid evolution from tolerance to persecution to  absolutely unspeakable horror. It was a somber visit. Much to learn, much to ponder.

Photo by Kati


One of the most meaningful parts of the museum for me was the little theatre area on the second floor where you can watch a video of Holocaust survivors sharing their own stories. (You can actually see some of these interviews . . . and more . . .  ~here~. Heartbreaking and inspiring.)  

Photo by Kati


We had planned to visit the Museum of the Bible on this trip, but we spent a great deal of time at the Holocaust Museum and we had hoped to leave the city before rush hour. We made a quick decision to return for a day trip sometime this spring.







Although our first "senior trip" was a happy accident, these became a meaningful part of our children's high school experience. Senior trips were something to look forward to. They were a rite of passage. They were meaningful times to spend together as a family. And they were times to make happy memories. 

A senior trip was another way of finding joy in the homeschool journey!



22 comments:

  1. That Lady in Red doesn’t know you either! 😄

    So much to see, so little time. Glad that you’ll make a return visit for the Bible museum.

    Fun to see your family through the years...

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    1. No, she does not! Her face says, "Oh no! I think I'm going to be in this family's photo album!" But when you enlist another random stranger to take your vacation shot, you don't ask for a re-do, so there she is. The Lady in Red. 😄

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  2. Cheryl thank you for sharing these lovely photos of each of your children's Sr. trip. Such wonderful and meaningful moments. Have a blessed week.

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    1. We have sweet memories of all of our trips! A blessed week to you too, Debbie!

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  3. Wonderful memories for you. And my you saw a lot in three days--it seems like it should have been a week. I guess it's your fourth and last senior trip. A lot of "lasts" this year, but much to celebrate and be glad in.

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    1. Dotsie, we did pack a lot in! (And did a lot of walking in the process!)

      The "lasts" this year are bittersweet, but yes, so many reasons to be grateful!

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  4. Such great trips! We’ve never been to the holocaust museum. I’m not sure my heart could take it.

    So glad you had this trip with both girls.

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    1. This was my third visit to the Holocaust Museum and it was emotional every time. It is so difficult to see suffering, and to know what human beings can do to other human beings! The Jewish people have suffered unimaginably.

      I, too, am happy to have had both girls with us. Kati had enough vacation time to take three days for the senior trip and still have enough for her own trip later in the week. It was a whirlwind, but so worth it!

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  5. Beautiful!! Thank you for sharing the photos!!

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    1. Thank you, meme! (I am glad that Kati brought her "good" camera, because I left mine at home!)

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  6. What fantastic field trips, as I always called them. Your intro is so funny because our kids' age span is 18 years and I know exactly what you mean. It's easy for me to get life of daughter #1 and life of daughter #2 mixed up. We didn't take you camping on the North Shore?? Nice to know it happens to others too. What great memories these trips give our kids! I remember once the local school guidance counselor told me I should put the kids in school because they were going to get a field trip to the local hatchery. Lol. Really. Our kids were going to Civil War battlefields, the Field Museum in Chicago, and Saulte Ste Marie. Lol

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    1. It's so easy to forget, isn't it? 😄

      Sorry you missed the hatchery. 🤣

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  7. Wow...that Bekah sure milked her senior trip...smart girl! So many great places through the years. Niagara Falls is on my bucket list for sure...maybe I'll go there when I officially start calling myself a SENIOR citizen. What age is that, anyway? Fun post with so many great family memories!

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    1. She sure did squeeze a lot into the days . . . kept this old girl hopping! 🤣

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  8. Such a inspiring way to enjoy Senior trips then what our current culture offers. How nice that Bekah could enjoy so many worthwhile venues. Each of our kids are so unique and it's great to roll with what they find interesting. Maybe you and your dear hubby can enjoy your own "senior trip" in the future. :)

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    1. Ellen, we joked that Kati was the only one on our trip who was not a senior! 🤣

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  9. How fun to see pics of Senior trips from the past! I, like Bekah, like cities too. I spent two days at the Baltimore Harbor last year during a spontaneous trip with one of my daughters. We did not see all that you guys did. And Washington DC is always a great place to visit. The photos you have shared are lovely.

    If you ever get to Annapolis, we found a great little museum. John and I just celebrated our 43rd anniversary and did an overnight there. There is a gem of a museum at the Navel Academy featuring models of ships built through 1600-1800's. It is small but we really enjoyed it.

    So nice stopping by to catch up with you and your dear family!

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    1. Thanks for the tip about the museum in Annapolis, Lorraine! We visited Annapolis last spring when we went to the Hammond-Harwood House. It is such a pretty town . . . I'd love to return and see some more sites!

      Happy 43rd Anniversary! Don't the years fly by?!

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  10. What an amazing trip, full of such a variety of experiences!

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    1. We were able to pack a lot into those three days! She kept us hopping!

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  11. I like the idea of a "family" senior trip with Mom and Dad. Your family certainly has had an interesting array of places to see. Our first graduate was 2000. The years do fly. I enjoyed seeing your photos down through the years.

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    1. Indeed, the years do fly! Those photos . . . seem like such a short time ago . . .

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