My nephew

There he is, Micheal Robert Germain Richards.  He was born March 30, 2008.  He's pretty much the best thing ever.

My sister (his mother) asked me to be a "guide partent" for him recently.  That's similar to a God Parent I'm assuming.  I of course said yes.  Unfortunately, geography prevented me from being there in person.  So, as a way of representing my presence there, I drew a caricature of little Michael and it was put on the pamphlet.

Here's how the back of it looked:

Blessing of Flower and Candle

The gardens of the world are full of many flowers, each different, each beautiful, and each unique.  May this flower remind us that our children are like those flowers. Each is different, each is beautiful, and each is unique.

There is much darkness in the world but many candles hold it back.  These flames bring light in the darkness, warm those that are cold, and light the way to truth.  May this candle remin

d us that our children are like those candles.  Each can be a candle in the world, bringing light, warmth, and truth.  – Adapted from a Unitarian service

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it”, and he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.  – Mark 10: 14-16

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.  – Author unknown

Every child begins the world again.  – Henry David Thoreau

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it.  I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle – Vincent Van Gogh

Caricature of Michael by guideparent, David Germain