It's difficult to believe how much time has passed.  The days turn into months then years.  So much time has passed yet the challenges and difficulties remain. 

I will always cherish how each birthday was unique and like a snow flake different.  No matter what was happening around us time always stood still on this day's.

Days like today my thoughts go out to Chris Ken Stacy John Kenny Jr and the many more who were blessed to have known and treasure the memories that erika gave

Happy birthday erika, for this day will always reflect the incredible person you were and will always be.  Gone but never forgotten

Ryan

I loved spending time this morning watching the photos on the site, remembering your love of animals and the joy that you brought to family and friends.
You are missed.
Marsha

Dec. 19 will always be the most special of my life. It’s bittersweet now that I can’t celebrate with you today. You were truly the best daughter I could have asked for. So proud of you and what you overcame and the person you were. I am also so sad not to have your sweet self in my life but I think of you lots everyday. So many happy memories. Love love. Mom

Dear Erika, this day always brings to mind your happy, sweet smile! I wish we could be together to celebrate your special day. Here’s wishing you Happy Birthday with all my love!

I will never forget this day.  Many hours of planning and incredible love and devotion created.  Today we would have celebrated our our anniversary.  A day we should have had yet cut short

Even though our time was short we still had powerful memories of friends family and many places we traveled. 

May this day bring peace to Ken and Chris.  May your love you gave continue to bring hope and compassion.  May your life continue to touch the family who will always cherish the beautiful life you gave

To my erika, my enteral red rose happy anniversary.  Gone but never forgotten

Even though time may have dulled many memories it can never take away the pain this day brings.  A life cut short and the lives you touched.  Though what we do cherish is the passion and joy you brought to us, your family and friends.  May the peace of your loving spirit rest with many. To Chris and Ken and her incredible family may erika spirit be with you.  Giving comfort to you and to always brighten the most difficult days.  In loving memory of my beloved eternal red rose 

May 29, 2014 will always be the saddest day for me. I finally had to give up hope that you would get better. I miss you so so much everyday. Today I woke up to bright sunshine, as you loved to do. You were a bright sunshiny person and shared that and your positivity with so many. The garden we planted in your honor is, after a long winter, standing strong and beautiful. Like you did. Your family loves you and we all miss you so much.  I love you and so miss our many endearing hugs. ❤️❤️❤️ Mom

Sweet Erika, While this date always brings with it the sadness of your leaving us, it also brings to mind the joy of our time with you! Your special smile and warmth, your positive outlook, these are the things that remind us all of just how much we loved you while you were with us and how we continue to love you as the years go by. We miss you, but you are always with us!

Happy Birthday Erika! Hard to believe it has been over 8 years since your passing. Though this is a bittersweet day for all that had the privilege of knowing you, you're in our thoughts and prayers. 

Kenny

Missing you my sweet friend and Chi O sister. Thank you for being such a bright light, kind soul, and fellow cat enthusiast. Love you and miss you dear.

Happy 45th bday, Erika. Even though we can’t be together, you will be honored in a special way today. I honor you and miss you EVERY day but today brings wonderful memories of when you were born and the days following. Love, laughter, tears, challenges, pride. In looking at the photo gallery, I see so many smiles and people you loved and who loved you in return. I honor many of them today too and the memories of you with them.
 I feel so so blessed by the special closeness we enjoyed. I miss you beyond words. You unwillingly left us way too soon. Here’s to you on your bday. Love love you. Mom

Each December 19th since your passing I read your memorials and look at your photos. Today is also my son's birthday. I imagine what it would feel like not to have him on this day. My heart aches for your mom. Erika, we had never met, but every December 19, I remember you. You will forever shine for me sweet soul.

Dear Erika, That special day has arrived again. The day of your birth is one that brings to mind all the special things you brought to all of us who shared your time here. Your caring nature, your sense of humor and your dedication to those you loved are all things we remember so clearly. We loved you then and we love you now! HAPPY BIRTHDAY sweet Erika.

To my beloved red rose this day will always be filled with incredible joy and challenging memories.  We had only a short years but each was more special.  On this day my thoughts drift and I want to reach out to Chris Ken and her family.  May my beautiful wife memories fill you with peace and courage.  May her spirit reach you on this very special day.

Dear erika

 No matter how much time has passed I look back on the incredible day we had.  The beautiful memories and moments in which time stood still.  It is so easy to forget how incredible this day was for us yet you always make sure this day remained special.  We had so many plans for our 10th anniversary and beyond its often difficult to think of the what or should have.  Though Chris is very right, it was not only special to us but to the many that were there.  Two lives joined as one but the many who were part of that special day.  To Chris and Ken may this day reflect the incredible life you have as well as the precious angel we lost.  Gone but never forgotten

This day was the day Erika and Ryan married in a beautiful ceremony at Temecula’s Wiens Winery. Such fun we had planning the celebration. We shared the beautiful evening with good friends and family, all so happy to see Erika and Ryan enjoying each other and the celebration. They were to celebrate their 5th anniversary but that day never came to be. But I will always remember her glee and true love and the wedding being one of Erika’s truly happiest days of her way too short life.

Thank you for all the tributes to my sterling daughter on this day that is the saddest of all my days. A very great part of me left with Erika. I think of her daily and miss her laughter and her love of life. Our loving family misses you dearly. ❤️

Dear Erika,
I think of you often, but especially today. You were a sweet Chi O sister I met through the Phoenix Alumnae Group and we often sat together at book club and dinner club. I miss your laugh and your sweet stories about how much you loved cats. Missing you and thinking of you and your loved ones.
Love, Michelle

Today never gets any easier. Time has moved on yet the pain of that day never diminishes.  Much has changed yet the love you had for so many remains.  The incredible memories gives us peace and strength to overcome past struggles and even the ones we face today.  To my beloved rose we miss you and forever remind each other how much you brought to our lives.  To Ken and Chris may the love Erika brought to me always shine on you.  I miss the moments we had with my beloved wife and will cherish both of you.  God bless to you and your family.  To my red rose I miss you, always in love gone but never forgotten.

We are thinking of Erika today and remembering her kind and resilient spirit. Our family is sending our love to Erika and all those who are missing her on this difficult day.

Dearest Erika, On this day, while we reflect on the sadness of your leaving us, we also remember the joy and happiness that being with you brought us. We miss your physical presence more and more with the passage of time, but we will always have the happy memories of our time together, and of the warm, caring, loving young lady you were and will always be. We love you ❤️and always will!

Dearest Erika,
Happy Birthday to a beautiful lady. Remembering the many birthdays Megan and I shared with you. You will always be in my heart. 

Dear sweet Erika the years have gone by and much has changed.  Through life or even this pandemic we face little has changed the deepest sense in which we will always feel.  This day brings back many incredible memories and moments.  The places we went and to the places we hoped to.  May we never forget what you were and the incredible spirit you gave.  My lovely wife, my sweet pookie, my eternal red rose happy birthday.  Gone but never forgotten. 

I think you, my shining star, would have been just as excited today for your birthday as you were for all your others. I love thinking back on the one where Santa ( Bob) came to your big birthday party and it was magical. The little girls were all SO excited! I think it was your 4th or 5th! You always showed your enthusiasm in such adorable ways. I miss you and honor you everyday for the extra special daughter you were. And the person you were to so many many others. ❤️❤️ Mom

Happy birthday, dear Erika, with each year that passes my fond memories of our time together become ever more cherished. Your sweet, caring charm becomes more treasured. We miss you very much and love you even more with each passing year.

Over the past decade much has changed.  Different state, different job, different weather, and even different teams to cheer for.  Time has given some and taken much more.  We have had to say goodbye to family friends and fur babies. Though with all of that change, no matter what happened I will forever cherish this day.  Today we walked the aisle as two separate people and joined as one twelve years ago Today.  All the worries and excitement rolled into one.  I will always feel blessed for the good and even challenging times.  We struggled yet never lost ourselves in the ups and downs of life.  To an amazing woman, to her caring and loving mother, thank you for all you gave.  For time has passed yet those memories will always bring peace in the storms of life.  To Erika and to Ken and Chris peace with you today.  For this day will always remind me to be better in whom I've known and who God has put in my life.  Happy anniversary Erika, my eternal red rose.  Gone but never forgotten.

Thinking of you today and remembering your joyful spirit, your enthusiasm for life, and all your endearing qualities. You will always be remembered as a beautiful person. I hope you and Megan are dancing in matching lavender dresses just like the ones your mom made.

It is still very difficult to understand how much time has passed yet the pain of this day still remains.  Much has changed from where I live work and even this pandemic yet that moment still holds the most difficult final moments.  Though the pain of this day still remains the incredible memories give hope and courage. Not to just stop but to build the strength to move forward.  Erika may this day be a day to truly always remind us.  Not in how special you were but the you brought out the best in all of us.  To my beloved wife, my eternal red rose we miss you deeply.  Gone but never forgotten

It’s hard to believe another year has elapsed since you passed. It seems like almost yesterday that I lost my amazing daughter who made us so proud and who I loved being with. Loved laughing with you and supporting you when you were down. Watching you be happy was a great joy. There are still so many times that I want to reach out to you and realize I cannot. Or maybe you can hear me talk to you, like the other day when I tended your little garden at Whitehawk. It is coming back from winter and will be beautiful soon with roses and peonies and lavender and more. The rose is named Always and Forever which is so appropriate. You will be a huge part of my heart Always and absolutely Forever. ❤️❤️

Dearest Erika, Our thoughts of you, and all the precious moments we had together have been with us more than ever in these challenging times. They have been a source of real strength as we remember how you dealt with the challenges of your young life. Your strength, positivity and beautiful outlook have reminded us all of what is important in life. We miss you more than ever, but we know you are always with us. We love ❤️ you and always will!

Erika, been thinking about you a lot. I was telling your mom the other day that I’m pretty sure you were behind the appearance of two sweet and hilarious kitties in our lives. You would love them as you loved so many kitties during your short time with us. One is gorgeous and sassy and the other is sweet and cuddly. They arrived somewhat unexpectedly, but boy have they added so much joy to our lives and made this last year a bit more bearable. I am beyond grateful. Wish I could call you with all my silly kitty stories. We miss and love you, Erika. You are an example of strength and courage sprinkled with sweetness and delight. We are grateful to have that example. And as odd as it may sound, the kitties are a daily reminder of you.

I just wanted to take the time to say I’m thinking about Erika, my Sagittarius friend on this special day. I know this is a bittersweet day, but it's one for celebration. During this difficult year it's time to celebrate everyone, especially those that aren't with us today. We celebrate you Erika, you're definitely missed. We'll continue to keep you in our thoughts, knowing you're there looking down on us all.

Kenny

Dear sweet erika it is nearly impossible to believe that the years have passed.  Yet at times the tragic loss is felt as it just happened.  I think back to the birthday's we shared.  Those we special days in which no matter what was happening we stopped and made sure this was a day to remember.  We only have a few but those memories often help bring back the joy we felt on this day.  To my beautiful bride,  to a my pookie, my eternal red rose happy birthday.  Gone but never forgotten.

Dear Erika,
Thinking of you on your 43rd birthday and remembering all the fun birthday celebrations that we had together. I think one of my favorites was at Panchos with you in the gigantic sombrero when they sang happy birthday and the huge smile on your face.  Another favorite was the one where you and Megan decided to wear the same black tops unbeknownst to your mom and me. What a surprise to us when you both showed up in the same outfit!  I hope you and Megan are laughing and dancing in celebration together today.
love, Judy

Happy, happy birthday to a bright shining star. We miss you. We hold you in our hearts not only as an example of grit and determination, but as someone who loved to laugh and enjoy life.. By the way, I listened to a great interview with Eric Idle recently—you would have loved it. I have thought of you so many times over the last six months especially as we adopted not one, but two kittens! You would LOVE them. One is sassy and one is cuddly, but both are equally endearing. We are thinking of you today. We love you.

Happy Birthday, Erika! I loved celebrating your birthday each year. You loved birthdays too, especially on a sunny day. Today is one of those. But even if it wasn’t sunny, you made the best day possible. 
I always reflect on the evening I gave birth and the doctor told us we had a baby girl! Oh, the joy I felt! And it’s never left. You were such an awesome daughter. We laughed a lot, even in your challenging days. You were so much fun to be with! A blessing for 36 yrs. and now memories of you make me smile everyday though the sadness of losing you holds hands with these memories. Love and miss you beyond imagination. 

Happy birthday, Sweet Erika!! This morning your Mom and I were talking about just how positive and caring you were in the time we shared. We miss you and your warm, loving spirit more with each passing year. You will always be with us and in our sweetest memories. We love you!

It's still difficult to understand how much time has passed and how much has changed.  Home and the many places we once visited.  Though the lives of many have moved on the caring spirit and determination you had will forever remind us of the importance we still carry.  11 years ago we walked that aisle.  We saw many years of happiness and life experiences.  Unfortunately life cut that time to short.  Though time can never replace the power this day holds.  To erika happy anniversary.  Gone but never forgotten

Six years and it still doesn’t seem real sometimes that your life was taken from all of us who loved you. I love looking at pictures of your smiling face everyday. Your smile and laugh were contagious. We certainly had many bouts of hysterical laughter and so many fun times together. Your being filled me up. I am grateful for that beyond words. I was a very lucky mom to have you for as long as I did but of course wanted more and more time.
Love you forever.

Dear erika it's hard to believe that we lost you six years ago today.  The years have passed, much has changed.  Though through all those changes and challenges we still find the strength and courage you showed everyone.  You're willingness to do so much and to always be there no matter what life came at us. May this day always remind us of the importance of the incredible person you were and the family who will always be blessed to have known you.  Gone but never forgotten. 

Dearest Erika, Another year has passed since you left us and we miss you more than ever, but we know you are with us each time we see a rainbow or a baby bird emerge from its’ nest to take flight, when we see a beautiful sunset or feel your warmth in the afternoon sun. All these beautiful experiences remind us that you are with us forever!

This is such a special day. When Erika was born I couldn’t have been more delighted to have had a daughter. In 1977; we didn’t know the gender until birth. I was over the moon. And she was the best of daughters. The respect, love, and connectedness was appreciated for 36 yrs. and as my grief continues over losing her, I try to turn the grief into gratitude for our amazing gifts together.

One of the things I loved most about Erika was her love of comedy and all things Monty Python. My mind goes right to her when I hear anything about Python. Listened to a wonderful in-depth interview with Eric Idle last week and couldn’t help thinking the entire time how thrilled Erika would be. Brought a huge smile to my face.We miss you Auntie Erika. Xoxo

Happy Birthday, Sweet Erika. Your special day brings to mind fond memories of your cheery smile and warm heart. We miss you very much and we will always love you!

Dear sweet erika as the years have passed many challenges have come and passed.  Through all those your caring and kindness often today can give us strength.  For my heart is still healing but I still shed tears for this is your first birthday that our beloved fur baby Sedona is now with you.  Sedona was a miracle and precious gift.  For she is now with her mother and forever in mine.  Happy birthday erika, gone but never forgotten.

Dear sweet erika today is especially difficult.  Today is a day very early in our marriage we often talked about.  What we would have done and the impact it would have.  Ten years ago I walked I was blessed to have joined our lives together, becoming not only a married couple but life long friends.  We had many good and yes bad days.  Yet throughout all this we never once thought of ending that journey.  You showed so much courage caring and kindness.  You gave so much and today it's even harder to not be bitter that you're not here.  Yet I know you would have wanted us to move forward. To build and not be bitter.  Dear sweet erika you have and always will be my an inspiration and powerful example of courage to overcome. To build a future yet written and to show that same kindness in everything we do.  To my beautiful wife, to an incredible person, to my red rose happy anniversary.  Love you miss you gone but never forgotten.

It’s so very hard to think that it’s been 5 yrs. since I said good bye to you after hoping and praying for a miracle in the last few days. I have missed you everyday since. I look for signs that you are close like I had during the first year. 
I am so fortunate to have so many warm and exceptional memories of you, the best daughter I could have had. They are blessings. And I am grateful for our family and close friends that have been hugely supportive and compassionate. They miss you too. 
I will miss you everyday of he rest of my life. It’s hard to ever feel as happy as when you were in my life. But I know you would want me to be happy of course. I am trying to feel that way. I love you with all of my being. 

Sweet Erika, You are in our thoughts everyday, but especially today. We miss you more with each passing year, but we cherish our memories of so many happy times together ever more strongly. Your sweetness and calm presence is always with us. We love you and will forever have you in our hearts.

My dear Erika, today is a day that many times I wish I could turn back the time yet we cannot.  Many days have gone by the the bright memories we shared live on.  Dear sweet Erika time has moved on yet the challenging pain will always be there. I miss you deeply and continue to find strength and encouragement in the life we shared.  To my beautiful bride of nearly five years, to pookie, to my enteral red rose miss you.  Gone but never forgotten.

Dear Erika,,
 Today was a difficult day. A day to reflect on the amazing life you had and the many birthdays we shared. I can only imagine what we would have done and the places we would have gone.  Every birthday was special, a day to give back, and to spend those powerful moments together.  Last night MeriAnne and I toasted a glass one of the wines we come to cherish together, Seven Sisters.  Sweet Erika even though our time was short the lives we shared continue to help me find the courage to overcome the often daily battles we face. To my love, my Angel, to my enteral red rose Happy Birthday.  Gone but never forgotten, for you spirit will always live within us and our hearts.