Hunter got a kid’s fitbit for Christmas and he loves tracking his activity. When he gets even remotely close to a “badge” he kicks it into high gear even if that means running up and down our stairs at 8 pm. Every week I get a parent email telling me his weekly stats. I was impressed when I got this email stating that he had received his 40,000 step badge (in one day). I’m not sure how many of you track steps – but his 46,352 steps is significant and it was not an easy task.
In fact 46,352 steps was accomplished while hiking 13.5 miles in 11 hours – Flat Iron and the Ridgeline trail (along the Superstition mountains). Steve was going with the 12-18 year old boys in our church and decided Hunter could join him as the youngest hiker in the group. They ran bleachers and went hiking in preparation and even then it was a long and difficult hike – which Hunter may not have chosen to join had he known the extent of it. But he hiked. And the scenery was amazing and beautiful. And he was cold. And he slipped and fell a few times. And he was tired. But he didn’t complain.
Even when he returned home late that night bundled in his winter coat, he beamed with pride having completed it and having done so before many of the older kids. There was a sense of accomplishment shining through his tired eyes and a confidence knowing he can handle any mountain he wants to climb. (The fact that his fitbit gave him a new badge was just icing on the cake!)
