Big Decisions

Our family is embarking on a new adventure. We're moving... out of state...

While there are many reasons, it was a decision prayerfully (and carefully) made. We're excited about this next step in our lives.

Making this decision has been large enough - now that it's been made, I've finally had some time to start really thinking about how I feel about all the changes this will bring. I've also begun to find time to focus on one thing at a time in deciding what is right for our family. Recently the focus has been on home schooling.

Due to many dynamics here where we currently are, the decision has always seem apparent - not requiring much thought (since we did that before embarking down this road to begin with). It was not without thought - but the decision was pretty clear, home schooling works for us and with so many cons to the public schooling option where we currently are, we were set to home school again.

However, when considering the move, we also began to consider all the changes - including the option to public school our children again. Initially, though I was saddened at the very thought of not teaching my own children, I didn't actually feel bad about sending them. Knowing we'd be in a new town, needing to meet new kids (and parents), it seemed cut and dry. Not-sick-to-the-stomach-feelings must mean public school is what we need to do, right? Well, maybe not.

As the decision to move has given way to decisions about our life after the move, I have been guided through priesthood blessings to look at each thing separately. To ponder carefully and prayerfully each element. And as I've begun to do this, I have focused in on the schooling. My heart and my head are saying different things. I can still see the pros and cons of both sides. But when I take it before the Lord, the peace comes when I consider home schooling. It's the same calming peace and comfort that has come along with the decision to move (without all the pieces of the puzzle in place).

Because I do not want to be a dictator, and because I do not want to make this decision rashly, I've discussed with the girls the feelings and council I've received. And I've asked them to pray over the next few days to see what they feel the Lord is guiding us to do. We've talked about how the Lord will help us to make the decision that is best for us and our family. And we've talked about concerns and thoughts and found answers to questions. We are doing the research the best we can so that we can make a prayerfully informed decision.

At this time, we have not yet decided which form of education we will follow for our children directly after our move. But we have recognized the importance of this decision and are working through it with the love and guidance of our Heavenly Father.

Please be patient with us while we are making this decision. If you feel inclined to help, please only do so through prayer that we will be able to make the decision which is in the best interest of our own family. Thank you - we really do appreciate your love and support.

Burnt Island

This is a special island purchased by the State of Maine Marine Educational Program. Because the lighthouse was still there (it's actually still in use at times), and because the old house and out-buildings were too, they researched the area and decided to put together a living history tour (only two afternoons a week during the summer) set in 1950.

Though the mainland had things like running water and electricity, such novelties were not to be had on the island at the time. You arrive by ferry, get introduced to the time era, then head up to the house were you meet Mama and one daughter, tour the house learning about the different items, housekeeping and work. Then you head out into the "yard" where you meet the two other sisters (and a friend) and learn about their lives (and attitudes) as well as the games they played.

Then on down to the dock where you meet the brother (who is only there visiting) and learn about the dock, the peapod, and how things were delivered. He takes you up to the little lighthouse and you meet Pa who tells how things were to run and the expectations.

It's not very long and you have lots of time to explore the little island afterwards. Groups can go up to the light in the lighthouse (just a small lighthouse) - and a tour (if you wish) explains the island itself. Or, just explore the island on the little trails around (the island is not very big) - we found the rocks to be lots of fun and some tide pools. Gabi was disappointed because there was no good place to "swim".

There was, hiden in the "overgrowth" a discovery center were you could learn about the Pirates (and the glad and ships and knots). A pirate ship and a peapod were there for playing in as well. This was a favorite of the younger three (it was like one of the exhibits in the children's discovery museum).

All in all it was nice - short, but nice. You head over on the ferry at 1pm and leave the island at 4;30pm - no one is allowed to stay behind! It was perfect paired with the Maine State Aquarium since it was really small and took only a couple of hours of interactive touch tanking in the morning.

I could not believe how much my children loved the ferry! The wind blowing all around them, the boat "jumping", and two of the kids (Peter and Beth) staring behind watching the foam kicked up. Jeremy was the biggest surprise, though, because he has such a fear of the wind. He put on his hoody, pulled it up over his ears, held it tight to his face, and loved every minute. He says it was his favorite part of the whole day!

Children's Discovery Museum

There are many different ones to choose from depending on where you live and what you want for your kids to do. In Maine there are three - our favorites are Bangor and Portland, though there is also one in Augusta. What's special about them is the range of "fun" activities which also allow children to learn while exploring and playing!

Gabi wanted to go back to the one in Bangor - it had been just over a year since she'd been there. And, the great excitement, there was a whole new section. I don't know exactly when it opened up, but it was new for us and provided tons of fun (especially for Jeremy).

There was, of course, the first floor: filled with "animal" habits to explore, microscopes and tanks to look at, and a water section which allowed the kids to explore the "flow" of H2O - pumps, blocking shields, and even a water wheel. Aprons are provided for anyone trying to keep their little one from being too wet!

The second floor was my favorite - it's the "storybook village" of sorts. There is the farm where Wilbur is along with a special Web for kids to arrange words and thus become "Charlotte". There is a motorcycle, a lobster boat and a lighthouse - just for exploring and climbing all over.

A puppet theater is complete with numerous puppets (and bean bag chairs to lounge in) while adults can watch the show from the other side sitting in chairs provided. I always love to listen to the kids are the create their own imaginary tales.

Across from the puppet theater is the "library" complete with two computers - each set up with a different program to play/learn. One was an ASL program and Peter just couldn't get enough of that! And, what would a library be without books... shelves of books.

But that wasn't all... there was also a closed in section perfect for little ones under 5. Unlike in Portland where it's a huge climbing thing in the middle of the floor so parents can watch other kids running around and doing other things (which I loved about Portland's one), this one is a little room with a half door. It has building blocks, a "fireplace" a couple of chairs and a little house... not just any house, mind you, but the Three Bears' House. Peter loved stacking the blocks and every time Grandma Nielsen would hand him another he'd say "Thank You" - Lynne said it must have been 30 or more blocks and it never failed that he'd thank her for every one. Peter's like that - he loves to say thank you, and means it.

As if all that weren't enough, this is also the floor with the "addition" - hand drums, a lounge area with a hammock, a giant cargo ship complete with control room, deck and storage area. Plus packages and a crane for the kids to "load' the ship . This is where Jeremy wanted to stay. He didn't care about anything else once he saw that crane - something about levers and pullies, not that he realizes that yet.

In the addition was also a pasta shop, a large world map with interact game, and a delivery truck.

There was still another floor - the third floor is a neat science area. There is the human body - you get to make the blood pump around the heart, see how eyes work, lay in a mouth full of teeth, crawl through veins, and sometimes (though not when we were there) there is s section for "playing doctor and vet".

A small "planetarium" which was neat because the kids were all "glowing" - they thought that was cool, though Peter wasn't fond of that much dark. Also a couple of "slopes" for racing balls. And little air blowing tubes with ping pong balls (try to make a basket). Plus a place to go in and make "shadows" that stick around for a while.

On the other side, there is a place more suited for younger kids - panels of those heat pads (you know, the kind you stick a hand on and it shows different colors based on the heat coming from your body), a giant light bright, some gears, and other little things. A craft room was there, but busy with a summer camp. Also in that area is a Hyrographic "machine" - kids could choose two or three colors and makes these silly pictures just by pushing the board.

A "dance studio" which shows the image of movement in various colors, a song board arranged by specific singers and you press a button to get them to sing, a "recording studio" where you could sing karioki style.

This floor was also where Peter learned the fun of gravity with one of those coin wheels things. It was also Gabi favorite floor - go figure, the science kid!

All in all they had a wonderful time and played well. It was nice to go and not be on the "school time schedule", but our own and to be able to gauge it by the kids. We were there nearly five hours - they had a lot of fun!

Maine State Aquarium

Though it's not a very big aquarium - one large room with several closed tanks in the surrounding walls - it does have a certain fun appeal for young kids. There are two "touch tanks" that are the central focus of the aquarium. The first is in the middle of the room and contains several small sharks. The other takes up and entire wall length and has all sort of life from the bottom of the ocean.

After the initial excitement of the tanks around the walls, the kids naturally turned to the center tank. There they were allowed to pet the Spiney Dog Fish Shark - who is, by the way, quite the entertainer. He loves to be touched, but he also loves to push his head up out of the water and dance around. It was cute.

This was, by far, Peter's favorite part. He would stay there for long lengths of time, wander off, and always come back again. We were told to pet the shark using only two fingers (which was demonstrated as the pointer and middle fingers kept together) from back of head to tail, avoiding fins. Peter caught the "two fingers" part and would say to me "See, my two fingers" before petting the shark as he came around. His "two fingers" were the pointers of both hands.

The other children stayed closer to the other touch tank. They enjoyed being able to not only touch the sea life, but also to hold many of them. There were lots of starfish - which we had to watch closely because Peter thought he ought to pick them by only one leg.

The others not only held starfish, but also things like the sea cucumber, crabs, small lobsters, sand dollars, muscles, and much more.

Though it doesn't take long to go through the place, we easily spent an hour enjoying the marine life. The older kids would have stayed longer, but Peter was starting to get antsy. That was when it was time for Lobster Talk - where live and toy lobsters are used to explain to the children all about lobsters, tracking, and trapping. Beth and Gabi sat and listen to that, but the boys wouldn't be contained. There was no way to get pictures of that part.

Since we were out on the deck, the boys discovered a few discover set-ups. A Rubbings board complete with paper and crayons, a mystery feel exhibit (where you reach into a whole and try to figure out what is in it), and a true "sand box" - the Maine Beach kind (full of little rocks, lots of shells and not much sand). This kept them entertained while we waited for the girls.

This is not an aquarium we would have done by itself - since it's 2 1/2 hours from our home - but we coupled it with the Burnt Island Living History Tour so it made for a full day in Boothbay Harbor. (There are tons of other things to do in Boothbay Harbor if one is looking for a couple of good field trips all together).

Narrow Gauge Railroad

There are many of these in Maine - all have been restored for rides and tourist information.

It was the only day that Bob and his father went with us anywhere, but we had a lot of fun over in Phillips, Maine.



Not only did we get to ride the old train, but we stopped at various points to get out, walk around and see some of the old things there. Other trains, buildings and artifacts, and even the roundhouse.





The kids loved walking out on the turn table and running along the turn table track.

Our guide was also the ticket collector - he had a lot of information to give and was very patient with the children running here and there in all of their excitement. He even showed us how the round table was operated by hand!





Peter did not want to leave - he wanted to keep riding. It was a short ride and Peter loves trains so much, but it was fun and we took lots of pictures. Hope you enjoyed the few we shared!