I took the boys camping at Pohick Bay State Park last night. I think it ranks as one of the greatest nights of my life. We played some soccer and frisbee and there is nothing like hot dogs cooked over a real fire. Hmmmm good! And the boys ate lots of blackened marshmallows.

One of the highlights for me was laying down with my boys in an open field and looking at stars and moving stars, also known as airplanes, for about ten minutes. It felt like an eternity. And it was pretty wild comparing this Friday night with last Friday night. Polar opposites. Last Friday I took Summer to a Broadway Play in New York City and we were hanging out in Times Square. A week later it felt like we were in the middle of nowhere camping under the stars.

I love camping. But I hate sleeping in a tent! I think I got a cumulative total of about three hours of sleep. Both boys popped awake early this morning and said, “Is it time to get up.” I looked at my watch and it was 4 AM on the dot!

Now here’s the true highlight and the real purpose of the camping trip. Josiah fell asleep by the fire around 9 PM last night so we put him in the tent. Then I unveiled the covenant. I talked Parker through his end of the covenant and the three challenges. I explained my end of the covenant. I will help him accomplish the three challenges and take him on a pilgrimage after he completes them. And we sealed the covenant by signing it and burning one corner of the parchment paper.

So excited about this coming year! I know I’ll still have ups and downs as a dad, but I am so determined to disciple my son.