My husband and I shared a few rare moments alone this morning over breakfast at Panera.  We didn't set out to have a deep, life-assessing conversation, but that's what we got.  We talked about the goals we've spoken of before but not done anything about - both in our marriage and in our parenting.  One of the main things we discussed was Matt's desire to invest in masculine boy-time with our guys each weekend - hiking, camping, working, laughing, swimming, learning, rocking-climbing, horseback riding, playing...   And then the idea hit me, "we should call Forest Home (a Christian Conference Center in the San Bernardino Mountains, east of LA) and see if they host a Father / Son Retreat."  I was sure they did!  And they do!  Right then and there I looked on their website, and found out that this year's camp was slated for September 16 -18.  This weekend!  Today!  With check-in only 7 hours away!  

Matt ran off to work, I ran home to get them packed.  Lantern, check; flashlights, check; grubby playclothes, check; sleeping bags, check; toiletries and towels, check; Bibles, notebooks and pencils, check, check and check.  We met back up at the boys school at pick-up time and surprised them with the fun news of their grand and manly adventure.  And off they went.  Matt and his two oldest sons.  And that's where they are right now.  

Matt and I decided early on that "raising boys" was an interesting term.  Raising means "to lift or move to a higher position."  We long to raise them up, to lift them up to the higher position of men.  And not just men, but men with right values, strong morals, good work ethic, confidence, and a solid sense of their masculinity in Christ.  This weekend is a rite of passage for all my guys.  Caleb and Brody will have a blast as Matt lifts them up figuratively and literally as they zip line and scale rock walls; and Matt is excited to step up to the challenge of raising them well.