Comments on: Ryan’s 11th Birthday Today

By: Linda Anderson

Linda Anderson — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:53:44 +0000

I am so happy to see the messages that are being left in honor and rememberance of David, DeDe, Luke and Ryan. With every word that is thought, spoken, written or shared in other ways they remain connected with us and their lives still comfort and share their love with us. What a wonderful gift (s) they gave us, left us with and how blessed we all are and will continue to be based upon our lives shared with them in so many experiences. This year of special days that have been celebrated over the years will now be celebrated through memories, and there will always be a sadness that this is all we have. We will always miss them and wonder what life would have been like had there not been the tragic accident that took them all from us. I just keep reminding myself that as much as I wish I could change things and bring them back, I don’t have that power and it is not I who control others lives or what happens in life and the hereafter, but I CAN and will always continue to love with a full heart, remember with a mind full of memories and love, and a hope and faith in knowing that we will all be together again one day. Thank you and please keep writing and sharing! With love to all!

By: Sudha

Sudha — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:30:15 +0000

Thinking of everone with love. I still miss them SO much. I made a Shadow Box that I hung on the wall in the kitchen/ dining room. I also have a picture o Luke’s last birthday next to it. I watch kids stop and look at both and am glad that they are being remembered, but there are still days when i walk by them and can’t help but stop and cry. Then i light a candle and try to remember that they would not want tears. I misS their laughter, joy, and magic. I am trying to honor them by being happy, giving, adventurous, careing and will never forget their laughter

By: Annie Brinan Purinton

Annie Brinan Purinton — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:01:51 +0000

Oh Linda, your memories and stories of Ryan make me feel like I know him. I wanted to read more and more. Please keep sharing these with all of us. They are so special and help us to keep DeDe, David, Ryan and Luke close to our hearts and minds. I think about them all every day and have a picture of them up in my living room. They represented such a loving family who knew how to enjoy life and spread that joy and love to so many others. Happy Belated Birthday Ryan!! Love to you, your family and the Houghton family. What a wonderful gift we were all given in having your loved ones in our lives.

My thought and prayers are always with you.
Love,
Annie

By: Shannon McCord

Shannon McCord — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:51:05 +0000

Thanks for sharing your stories and pictures of Ryan. He was so clearly loved and accepted for who he was. One time I took Ryan and my son Riley to an old-fashioned car show. Ryan enjoyed the show but he was really looking forward to going to Marini’s on the wharf afterwards. He had $10 burning a hole in his pocket. I suggested that he did not need to spend the whole $10 on candy but he assured me he was going to share with Riley. It took the boys at least 30 minutes to settle on their purchases. Ryan’s favorite that day was the little gummy coke bottles. They pretended to sip them as they ate them. He was a very generous boy!

By: David Elias

David Elias — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 05:12:30 +0000

Ryan shared his birthday with me and my wife Rebecca’s wedding anniversary and also with David’s (Houghton) dear friend David Henley’s birthday. It has always been difficult to to keep all of us Dave’s straight. Despite the David confusion, David, David, and Rebecca will always remember Ryan on our special day.

By: Nan Thurgate

Nan Thurgate — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 23:41:45 +0000

Dear Linda, You are an inspiration. I don’t know were you get your strength, but I now know where DeDe go her courageous, optimistic, and caring spirit. Like the Houghtons, you are special.

By: Linda Anderson

Linda Anderson — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:22:22 +0000

Today is a new day, the sun is shinning and I am sitting here reading the comments on this site, enjoying the sharings of the many that loved this family so much and shared so much in their day to day lives. Thank you to all that still come to this blog and a special thanks to those that post letting us know you have been here. For me this has been a sort of lifeline that in writing and sharing is a special love tool that keeps me close to them all. Ryan will always be 10 1/2 (can’t forget the 1/2 as that really made a difference at 10!) My life long history is 10 years which seems way to short, however the memories I have will keep me sharing for the rest of my life. People say “I don’t know how you do it”, well it is all about love and I KNOW how much they all loved me and sharing times with me. This is the gift they left us all with, it is just up to us how we embrace it. Thank you Ryan for giving me so much, you with your Mom, Dad and Luke still touch me every day and I know you will be here for me in this special way forever. Again blessing to all who read this and thank you. Lovingly, Nana Linda

By: Nan Thurgate

Nan Thurgate — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 01:18:54 +0000

Eleven years ago today I had the great honor of witnessing the birth of Ryan. DeDe and David wanted Luke (who was a little more than 21/2) to be at the birth, and my job was to be with and take care of him. At the time of the birth, Luke was fascinated (a little scientist even then) and didn’t need me. So David handed me the camera and asked me to take pictures. In fact I took the picture at the top of the page. I have a similar, much treasured picture in my home with me standing next to them. DeDe and David were such loving parents and I had taken a class with them and Luke at Sutter for siblings who would be attending the birth. They had prepared him so well, his first comment was ,with a disappointed voice, “I thought there would be more blood.”

Ryan came into the world a beautiful baby and grew into a loving, sweet, creative, caring child. When he came out David turned to DeDe and said, “Ryan is here” instead of it’s a boy. DeDe hadn’t found out the sex ahead of time, and they decided that he would inform her of the sex by saying the name.

DeDe shocked the doctor by asking when they could get the birth certificate. She asked why the hurry, and DeDe replied that they were going to Mexico in two weeks. Nothing ever slowed her down.

David and DeDe put a sign on the hospital door asking visitors to say Hi to Luke and give him as much attention as the new baby Ryan. They were such loving parents, sensitive to the needs of their children.

It was a special day I will never forget and I’m grateful to have been a part of it. This week leading up to Ryan’s birthday has been hard. I miss them all so much. DeDe was my best friend. I’ve known her since before she married David.

By: Melody Appleton

Melody Appleton — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 00:43:55 +0000

Thank you for sharing everyone. What a wonderful young man Ryan was! It makes me smile to read your stories about him, and makes me incredibly sad, too. My thoughts are with everyone who loved and is missing Ryan today and everyday. Melody

By: Michele Lamelin

Michele Lamelin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:03:57 +0000

Linda, thank you for sharing your memories. From everything I’ve heard and read about Ryan, he is indeed the King of Hearts. I wish we would have had the chance to know him, too. What a special boy… no surprise there though… he’s part of a very special family. Holding you in warmth, love and caring. Michele