Finally: the Creation Museum

On best laid plans, broken ribs, and real friends

One of the many gorgeous exhibits at the Creation Museum

Monday morning of our vacation, the sun was already high and bright and knocking on hot. I quietly took out the many jars of breakfast parfait from the fridge and topped them with shredded coconut and blueberries. Soon enough, the smalls were roaming around in various stages of diapering and dress, and everyone was busy packing for the day. Hats, sunglasses, strollers. Water bottles, snacks, and small toys for the road trip ahead. I busied myself in the kitchen packing up all of the lunches: individual pint sized jars of salads, chicken salad sandwiches, apple slices, carrots, chips, lemonade, and cookies.

We loaded up our three vehicles and weaved our way out of the woods and onto the narrow country roads. Just over an hour later, we pulled up to our long awaited destination: the Answers in Genesis Creation Museum.

We’ve been wanting to visit this museum (and the Ark!!) for as long as I remember reading about the planning, building, and opening. Ken Ham designed it to be “within driving distance” of two thirds of the country. Tucked up in the corner of the Pacific Northwest, that did not include us. The size of our family and the fact we had two girls with special needs added to the difficulty of financing such an endeavor, especially since we are small business owners and operators. No one give us or pays us vacation or sick pay. The office simply (simply?!) closes shop, which isn’t very sustainable for long vacations for a large family.

With the graduation of our fifth of nine children, however, it did feel like a “now or never” opportunity, so we bought our tickets, figured out all the lodging and transportation, hired a house and pet sitter, closed up the business for a week, and just did it. And now, here we were in the actual parking lot! I felt a little giddy to say the least.

The museum was excellent, and better than expected. I loved the layout, the laying of foundation of what a worldview is, and how to compare and contrast the ramifications of both a biblical worldview and a naturalistic evolutionary one. Understanding the Bible, and why it is authoritative, was another very well done area of the museum. My absolute favorite was the Borderland exhibit, which highlighted what life was like for the ordinary person in the time of Jesus. We spent two days at the museum, and several of our family members enjoyed the thrill of the ziplines! This museum is an excellent introduction to what the Bible says and why it matters, addresses the difficult questions openly, and is beautiful besides. You could definitely bring your unbelieving (yet curious) family and friends.

The next day, we stayed at the rental, recovering from our adventures and just enjoying each other’s company. Our plan was to visit the Ark Encounter for the next two days, but you know what is said about the best laid plans.

That evening, my mother in law missed the last step on the stairs and fell over backwards, unfortunately hitting her back on the corner of a small table. Even though she made it through the next day on pain medication and rest, we all agreed a trip to the urgent care was prudent. Many x-rays, scans, blood work, EKG (etc etc) later, she was diagnosed with four broken ribs. She was kept for observation a few days, released, and went back in for another day a week later to drain off some accumulating fluid. Thankfully, everything else about her was just fine!

Suffice it to say, she and I both never made it to the Ark. I stayed by her side to advocate for her, and she felt safe enough for us all to fly home on schedule as she had a friend drive 4 1/2 hours to pick her up and then drive her all the way back to her house for the three week recovery (the doctor said no flying!). Lemme tell you, that’s when you know who your real friends are!

I’m thankful to the Lord she had good care. I’m really grateful I got to be there for her, and for the excellent care my husband and son both provided to her at the onset as well. Unfortunately, you can’t really do anything with broken ribs; they do need to heal on their own. Herbs, homeopathy, and good nourishment can definitely speed that healing along, and I’ve been giving a lot of thought to what I might have done in her place, especially so far away from my apothecary. But, of course, no one really knows, until you are there in that time, in those shoes.

As far as the Ark is concerned, I’m going back! I already have my ticket to the Answers in Genesis RESOLUTE conference next spring and am very much looking forward to it. I haven’t been to a Christian women’s conference in a lonnnnnnng time and I cannot wait to lift my voice to sing in praise with so many of my sisters. And I am definitely planning to ride the zip line (or two)! Do let me know if you plan to attend; I’d love to meet you!