In memory of ...

The way things happen ... Robin gave me St. Francis (the "poor man from Assisi") a while back. He was in her garden when they bought their new house. He needed some work. The woodpeckers were eating him away. Robin's dad was worried about him and didn't want to see him end up at the dump. Rog and I rescued him and I was so excited to save him.

He's almost restored! Patched his woodpecker holes and repainted his face. Repainted his robes. His feet are still at the podiartist's (cute huh?) almost ready so he can stand on his own two feet. Made him a new cincture (the cord around his waist) ... didn't even know what a cincture was! Even learned how to tie a cincture barrel knot. A cincture knot might remind you of a vow that you took. St. Francis was the model of humility and faith. The wearing of a cincture has always been a sign of chastity and humility.

Rog made him a new tray and he has two permanent birds always perched there. The root cross I dug from the ground some time ago seemed perfect tucked safely against him.

Robin's dad's name is Roger too. Robin lost her big brother, Randy on June 25th 2011. Her dad lost his son. The doctors could not save him from the cancer that spread throughout his body. I wanted to fix and restore St. Francis so Robin's dad would not worry. That was my plan ... pretty easy ... that was all I COULD fix ... now that barrel knot will forever remind me of Randy.

prayers for comfort for my forever friend, Robin,

and her family

in the loss of a brother, father, husband, son, uncle and friend.

In Memory of

Randy A. Brunelle

August 20, 1957 - June 25th, 2011

prayer written by St. Francis in the 13th century

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.