My family has been spending our summers in Maines northernmost county for the last 12 summers.  For ten years before that, we would go their for a week or two rather than the entire summer, so Aroostook County is a big part of our family history.  We have many friends up there, so when we were invited up to do two shows in October, we jumped on the chance.  The Easton Wesleyan Church brought us up to do a Halloween party on Saturday the 29th and then their morning service the next day.

We arrived at the church as they began setting up for "trunk or treat". Cars parked all over the parking lot with trunks full of candy to give out to trick or treaters who would be coming shortly. The high school, right across the road from from the church, was having a costume party prior to the church function, and by and large, the kids all came over when the school function was over.   In the end, 96 kids and at least that many adults came to the church Saturday afternoon.  Our show was the final event, and we did a 45 minute show.  Among routines that I don't often perform, I included my four silk chase to Keith Green's "Rushing Wind" and crowns and jewels illusion.

but the best part of the day was after the show.  Three girls who work with Rose at our summer camp came to the show and they had an awesome reunion.  Our hostess, Kathy, is one of our camp cooks, and she invited the girls over to have dinner with us at her beautiful old farm house.  Being the camp cook, the food was wonderful, the teens had a great time catching up on the past two months.  Meanwhile, the adults also caught up on our news, and I got to know Kathy's husband Tom more.

after a very comfortable night, we woke up to a breakfast of pumpkin- chocolate chip muffins. Kathy had remembered these were Rose's favorite camp breakfast and made a special point to have them for us.  After this we headed to church to set up our show for the morning service.  

We did a 35 minute set which included three tennis balls and can juggling for the first time ever.  I also included my three ring routine that led into a brief homily on fatherhood.  One older man, clearly a grandfather bringing his grandkids to church, was brushing away tears.  It was a special morning.

but again, the best was yet to come.  Mary, the other camp cook, and Tammy, a long time camp person, came to the service, and we all had lunch with Kathy, her husband, Tom, the pastor and his wife in the church fellowship hall.  It's amazing how much can fit into one weekend when you've got the opportunity to connect with people you love.