There have been so many special family memories initiated because of a performance we had someplace.  There was the campground in New Hampshire that exchanged a free weekend of camping for an outdoor show on Saturday nights.  There was the resort that hosted us at a cute lakefront cabin as a place to stay while we did our shows there.  Of course, there were the multiple missions trips we have done that have allowed us to go places and see things we otherwise wouldn't have ever experienced.

Then there are the times when, for any number of reasons, I get to travel with just one of my girls and we make life long memories.  When Jo, now 22, was in kindergarten, she and I went to the New Hampshire juvenile correctional facility for a service.  As we were trying to get out of Manchester after the show, I got lost and was apparently showing my frustration.  Jo told me to 'Look on the bright side".  Seconds later, we passed a carnival that was all lit up.  'See, Daddy; it's the bright side!'. 

There was the time Naomi, now 20, and I had a show at Maine's VA hospital.  On the way home we stopped at a store and she was able to get the perfect Christmas gift for her mother: two Donny Osmond CDs.

And yesterday Rose and I travelled to Fitchburg, Massachusetts to do a show at a Teen Challenge home for troubled girls.  It was an amazing day we will remember, I'm sure, forever.  This is spring break week for the school where I teach and Rose is in the 7th grade, so we rescheduled this show that we had to cancel last month for yesterday.  It is a three hour trip to Fitchburg from our home in Bridgton, Maine, but the time in the van flew by.  For much of the trip down, Rose read the third and final book in the Divergent series and I mentally prepared for the show.  We had a picnic lunch along the way and arrived at the TC house right at 2:00 as scheduled.

It was a beautiful, warm and sunny day, so we got to do the show outside in their yard.  After setting up and warming up, the girls and staff from the home came outside and sat on the lawn and we began.  The show was excellent, and the girls were a great audience.  Being outdoors, both Rose and I were able to juggling fire torches, and I did fire devil sticks.  I used the temple screen illusion to tell the story of Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness, and encouraged the girls to know God's Word and rely on it first when facing temptations.

Then I ended with the story of the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears.  I emphasized that Jesus didn't label her, stigmatize her or buy in to the gossip about her.  He saw the person underneath the outward appearance and loved that person.  One girl in particular seemed to be drinking it all in.

After the show, Rose brought out Jeremiah, our rabbit, and Flurry, our dove, for the girls to see up close.  As I picked up, I observed how comfortable Rose was in this role, and how accepting these "bad girls" were of her.  By the end of the afternoon, they were all sitting together on blankets in the yard telling stories of their pets.

The ride home was so much fun.  First we basked in the glory of a great show, including Rose's first time performing fire juggling,  Then we named the 50 states, the 16 counties of Maine, and challenged each other to name lists such as Disney Princesses, Dr. Seuss books and TV characters with accents.  We laughed a lot the whole way. 

There was no one thing that made yesterday special, but all together it made a memorable father - daughter day that we will look back on as a highlight of Rose's middle school years.  Who can ask for more.