I hate the first week of November. Hate it! I guess I always have too, because now there is no fantasy that any remnant of summer is still in the air. Those eighty-degree days are long gone, at least in my neck of the woods. Taking the dogs out in the morning requires a jacket and shoes. No more barefootin’ it.
Then there’s the reversion to standard time. Is there really anyone who likes it getting dark at five-thirty in the evening?
Those, in themselves, are enough for me.
It’s gotten so much worse over the past four years. I’d say it’s practically unbearable. There’s just no getting around the complete sadness of that being the week that Ryan was brutally attacked (by Austin Vantrease and Jonathan May of Newark, Delaware). It’s the week that my family’s joy went straight to hell.
Ryan, as we knew him, was forever gone. His essence was literally kicked out of him.
Yep. Go to hell. Go directly to hell. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.
These past four years have been surreal. It’s like living in a bad dream. Time seemed to both stop and drag on endlessly simultaneously. How is this possible? But, it is.
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SHSP NGA ever. Daily prayers and thoughts–the Diviney Team belongs to all of us, you are our family, Ken. I can’t help with the ‘work’ part of it, but i sure can be your prayer warrior for Ryan, and you, Sue and Kari. God bless you with daily (hourly) renewal to be able to continue to forge ahead. Ryan is and will always be relevant, Ken. Love to Ryan and Team Diviney. Annie
always here. sending, love and strength.
Ken,
We are all still keeping Ryan relevant and sharing his story. My heart has ached this week, knowing we are coming up on the anniversary of the attack. I continue to pray for Ry, you, Sue (my sweet!) and Kari. Give everyone my love and know that we will never leave.
Love,
Jen
Rhonda, I am not “feeling pity” when I say my first thoughts are with AV and JM. My son was a housemate of Ryan. He said Ryan is the funniest person he ever met. Ryan was the spark of their house, the life of the party. They had all been together since freshman year. I hate AV and JM just about as much as the Diviney family does. I can not begin to tell you how this has affected my son and what he has lost. He is just now starting to put his life back to some sort of path. My first thought is that I wish the same life as Ryan has now upon AV and JM and their friends who watched. A life of pure HELL for themselves and their families. No apologies for my feelings.
I miss read your post somehow, I am sorry.
In reference to your son, he must feel the same as the Dinineys. That loss is completely horrific.
So we agree. 🙂 My November has started off better already. 🙂
The Vantrease family is too much. As the Diviney’s are traveling through hell (and hopefully back), the Vantrease’s daughter is bragging on FB about the great Halloween she was planning to have with her parent. No, her life shouldn’t end because of what happened, but it is galling that she publicly posts about how happy and carefree their family is. (Probably not so carefree for Austin right about now…)
My first thoughts are for Austin Vantrease, Jonathan May, and the others who stood by and watched the assault on Ryan and his friends to have the same physical and mental losses Ryan has.
Like in Monopoly for them to “Go directly to Hell! Do not pass thru Purgatory!
Do not collect $200 and flimsy excuses from your leather faced mothers!
If only as the Bible says…an eye for an eye….was legal in the U.S.A.; Austin, Jon and their friends might be there along with Ryan.
Ann,
I believe the one you speak of admitted he did it. So he wasn’t just standing around. And I believe there is video from the Dairy Mart that shows the other one actually doing the deed.
But for shit’s sake lets say they “stood by and watched” shame the fuck on them! I am sorry but stood by and watched and DID NOTHING! If that was truly the case, then they are as guilty as the ones who did it. Who stands by and watches as a human being is killed?
Since I don’t believe for one second that AV and JM “stood by and watched” but rather partook in literally beating the life out of Ryan, they don’t get my sympathy. NEVER.
A world of eye for an eye would so rock because Ryan’s family would never have to speak their names or worry when they do this to someone else. Because they would be rotting in hell, that I sincerely hope exists for them.
Happy Halloween Ann!
Sorry for the language of those that I offended, if you are for JM or AV, I am not sorry, it can get prettier.
Still here, still praying!
We will never forget.
I feel the same way Nicole .. I’m still here, praying for your sweet family & for a supernatural miracle for Ryan from our awesome God!!!! {{{{{HUGS}}}}} =\
I can’t believe it’s been four years. Four years since such a senseless thing happened. I know you’ve heard this a lot – but stay strong. Praying. <3
We love you Divineys and are NGA. We pray for Ryan’s recovery and your strength every day, and now we are sending James and his mom Maureen prayers for continued healing and comfort too. May God bless these families and meet their every need <3
Praying for your family if you need to talk message my page
http://facebook.com/victims.support/ we are all here for you and we all need someone to talk to.
Praying for your family if you need to talk message my page
http://facebook.com/victims.support/ we are all here for you and we all need someone to talk to.
Hi Ken, we’re all in this changing sea of sorrow together, throwing out life lines left and right, holding on together.
You and your family are in my heart and on my mind. I feel the anguish but I also feel the love…that’s the life line we have to hold on to and never let go.
The upcoming months are going to require diversions to survive. Thank God for the hot tub! Maybe you could put up a “diversion page” here for short stories with different topics, i.e. embarrassing, funny, inspirational, motivational — just something to look at when the deprivation of light and gun metal gray skies leave us sullen and morose.
Here’s a weird idea — maybe we could do some kind of online yardsale (until we can do a real one). Would have to be local people I guess – people could post things for sale they want to donate for Ryan’s care. For example I have a dresser, some nice artwork, etc. just thinking as I write. Or maybe we should just wait to do an actual sale ?
Sending you love, hugs and always my prayers and yes, I still believe in miracles and I believe in you and your family <3
Paula
Paula, I love that about adding funny sections and diversions. I love that story about Ryan getting his “summer” cut and Sue and I think Kari doing it when Ken was gone. It was so damn funny and I chuckle anytime I think about my husband cutting his hair or when we cut our dogs hair. That is also why I am trying to bump positive messages up on the side bar there of the most commented messages.
Don’t know what was decided to do Nov. 9th but I will be doing random acts of kindness, lighting a candle, praying for Ryan and thinking about him and his family all day.
Someone else had come up with the idea for an online yard sale.. I don’t see why it would have to be local or even an organized “event”. Just sell your stuff and donate the money to Ryan’s Special Needs Trust. Maybe if others do this and write “Online Yard Sale” on the memo line of their checks, Ken can keep track of how much money is being raised. This could be an ongoing fundraiser.
This breaks my heart I TRUELY wish I could ease ur pain or bring ur loved one back but I do offer my prayers and a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on if u ever find u need a friend u may not know me but we are all family in gods eyes and should always support one another in times of sorrow or need god bless u I hope one day u can wake up and feel peace in ur heart that Ryan is with god 😉 and u will one day see him again he is on a long vacation in heaven that’s how I try to think of it with my lost loved ones .
Ryan isn’t dead, he is still in the here and now. When people who have been in long term vegetative coma’s wake up they tell you about what they heard, what you did for them, how they tried to communicate with you. Ryan is in there, it’s taking a while for his nerves to reroute themselves in his brain to communicate with his body but he is in there.
Watch his videos, he is in there.
I can’t say anything to help other than I send love to you daily. I admire you had your family for all you do, you are far beyond amazing. Ryan knows, he can feel it…
Hugs, big hugs. -Caramia Kulas
I am all to familiar w/your families pain. My son was attacked in Oct.08; he was the victim of a punt kick to the right temple. He came out of brain surgery & 2wk coma, w/all the unknowns. James lived & the family was filled w/relief no matter what “our” lives may be like while reteaching him the skills once tought to him as a child. It is bittersweet as he has so many mental, physical issues, & limitations which remind him everyday of the life he used to have and now. Should he be grateful to be alive; we would say for sure, but until you go through the anguish, anger &pain that he goes thru everyday, that for the most part “his” feeling is that he had not been a survivor of such an ordeal.
To top it off the perps were never caught. Some college kids got him is all we know & each day is one at time. For some reason we don’t recognize or think of the day it happened; we just forge forward & pray that he will find peace of mind, peace of heart, though he will never run, jump, walk on the beach, ride the amusements, swim in the ocean, etc, nor have a day w/out pain. Your son is very fortunate to have a team of a loving family and supports; my son & I are alone; we ride this solo. god bless all of the victims of violent crimes. god bless your son & may your audience hear more of Ryan showing even the utmost signs of improvement; this is what I look forward to each time I open the Ryans Rally email for the day 🙂
Maureen! How tragic! But you have your child! He is alive, he can talk to you. Change your thinking from he can’t do this or can’t do that to he CAN do them but in a different way. He can go to the beach but differently. He can do anything but in a different way. Celebrate his life. Find a way to ease the pain, maybe medical marajuana…. You are in my thoughts!
Sigh. Ditto. I want a bracelet. Mine is November 3rd.
Hugs.
Praying daily in pa
SHSP NGA! Always, always lifting Ryan and your family up in prayer, Ken. Jo, I do have some bracelets that Angela gave me to sell. I probably have 20 left – let me look when I get home from work. If anyone wants to purchase them, the checks ($5) should be made payable to Angela Frisby and mailed to me. Message me for my address.
Hi Carla,
Are there bracelets still available? Or hoodies, tshirts, etc…? Pleas let me know. I’d love to buy a few. Thank you! Chrissy Marino
It sucks. But we’re still here and not going anywhere. We’ll keep the faith, hope, love & prayers when one may lose theirs. That’s the beauty and strength of a team. If a member is weak in one area, the others have strength to offer up. We all have our part and we do it lovingly and willingly. I saw the beautiful sunrise this morning on the way to the bus stop with the kids. Hope you saw it, too.
Still hear, still praying for you, Sue and Kari to have the endurance needed to care for Ryan.
With you guys!
Prayers to Ryan and his wonderful family now and always. Especially on this awful week.
So sorry for your pain. I don’t like winter, either – it’s depressing to me. Many of us struggle along daily with disease, etc….. So, know you are not alone, though I’m sure it feels it much of the time. I’ll be praying for you and your family. God Bless You. Hang in there. Push yourself to think positive – it is said that it helps.
Never-ending heartache! We all feel it for you, and we hurt for you–through all the years and tears. It is unbelievable how an evil act has brought so many of us together! Who would have thought… …? Well, of course, God brought us here to offer what support we can to you and your family, Ken.
As I look at Ryan’s blue bracelet on my wrist, I wonder if there are any of these bracelets left. If so, someone might want to purchase a bracelet in support of Ryan’s Rally. Carla or Angela?
I do not like to see DST end either! In fact, I posted the following on my FB page:
Oh, dreaded, awful, early Sunday morn, when from us Daylight Savings Time is torn… …ode in progress. There was once a petition to stay with it all year, but don’t know where it went. (?)
Help me Make it Through the Night/s! Not about a lost love here, or at the Diviney House. :/
I hope you witnessed that beautiful sunrise this morning. Just know I was right out there praying for our man, Ryan. Always here with faith, hope, love and prayer, and not ever going away.
I wish there were words. We are all still here.
It’s all too often that I click in the “Leave a Comment” box and find myself at a complete loss of what to say. For what it’s worth, I’m “still here”. Ryan is extremely blessed to be able to call you, Sue, and Kari family.
I feel the same way Nicole, but we’re all still here.
🙁 I’m still praying for Ryan. I do every night.