Pajama Jump

“Hey,” Dad said quietly, as he leaned close to his three kids sitting around the kitchen table. Dinner was over and Mom had just left for a meeting. “Do you guys want to do pajama jump?”

“What’s pajama jump?” Sissy whispered back. Her eyes were wide. Jax and Gigi leaned in close to hear what Dad would say.

“Well, if you go get your pajamas on, I will show you,” Dad whispered back. All three kids leaped up from the table, and ran to their bedrooms.

Gigi found her purple night cap, a pink shirt, and green shorts. Jax put on soe race car shorts and a yellow t-shirt. Sissy found a unicorn shirt and PJ shorts, then slipped on her gold night cap. All three kids were back in the kitchen faster than they had ever gotten ready for bed.

“Wait, where’s Dad?” asked Jax, when he saw they were alone.

Everyone looked around. They looked in the closet, the laundry room, and Dad’s bedroom, but he wasn’t anywhere. “Quiet,” said Sissy. “Do you hear that?”

A faint, springy sound was heard from outside. Gigi ran over to the back window, and put her hands on the glass to peer into the darkness. She saw the back porch light shining onto the trampoline, and there, in the middle, was Dad, jumping as high as could be!

“Dad! He’s on the trampoline!” Gigi yelled.

Sissy sprang to open the back door, and all three kids yelled out into the night, “Dad!”

“Come on! What took you so long?” Dad teased. Shrieks of laughter and yelling echoed into the backyard. The kids sprinted out to the trampoline and climbed the metal ladder. 

“Pajama jump!” Dad yelled. Instantly, the three kids were flying high in the air with each bounce that Dad took. After several minutes of fierce jumping, Dad flopped down on the trampoline. He laid back and stared into the night sky. Gigi cuddled beside him, resting her head on his outstretched arm. Jax laid down next to Dad on the other side.

“Hey, Sissy, can you please run inside and click off the porch light?” Dad asked softly.

Sissy came back and snuggled close to the other three. It was pitch dark all around.

“Wow,” said Sissy, staring into the clear sky. “That’s beautiful.”

“I see stars, Daddy,” said Gigi.

“How many stars do you see?” asked Dad. 

Gigi was learning to count. “14,” she replied.

“Oh, Daddy, I see the big dipper,” announced Sissy.

“What’s the big dipper? Where is it?” asked Jax.

“It’s a constellation that looks like a big ladle,” responded Sissy.

“Did you know that there are billions of stars,” said Dad. “Even many we can’t see, and in those stars are other galaxies and whole systems of planets.”

“Where did stars come from Daddy?” asked Jax.

“Well, what do you think?”

“Jesus?”

“That’s right,” said Dad. “He made our planet, and all the other planets. He made everything. And He knows all His creations. Even you, Jax.”

“Does He know I’m looking at the stars right now?”

“You bet.” Everyone laid quietly for a few more minutes.

“Well, guys,” Dad said, with a sigh. “I guess it’s time for….pajama jump!!!” Dad sprang to his feet and jumped even higher than before. All three kids were bounced into the air with squealing laughter. 

Several minutes later, Dad announced it was time for bed and the three kids slowly walked back inside. Mom got home from her meeting just in time for family prayer.

“What did you guys do tonight?” Mom asked after the prayer.

“Hmmm,” said Dad. “It’s a surprise. We’ll show you tomorrow.” Mom looked at Dad with squinting, curious eyes.

The next night, after dinner was cleaned up, Dad announced loudly, “Pajama Jump!”

“Pajama Jump?” said Mom. “What’s that?”

“Ahhhh!”