A New Year -- Dedicated to my Daddy

Hello and welcome to a new year. Hope everyone had a great holiday and a safe and happy new year.

My 2015 new years resolution is to post more often on here, which will include photo posts, informational posts, specials, and much much more.

2014 was a bit of a crazy year, but I shot some weddings, engagements, babies, parties and much more. Also in 2014 my husband and I worked on renovations in our new house (we moved in Nov. of 2013), started planning a couple trips (Disneyland & a cruise for my brothers' wedding), and welcomed a new dog into our family (Mia a female red Doberman).

Then, on a sad note, my daddy passed away from complications of a disease (Polymyositis) that he had fought for 28 years on December 5 at approximately 12:20 a.m. I was super close to my father and he will be missed ever minute of every day since I last talked to him.

We said our final goodbyes last week, while honoring him into the Blue Star Memorial Cemetery where we received a flag and had taps playing. After the ceremony we traveled to Tahoe, per daddy's request and spread some of his ashes with his parents and older sister who had passed in years earlier.

My Aunt Anita (my dad's youngest sister) was able to make the trip from Texas to say goodbye and visit with the family. My Uncle Ron (his older brother) was down from Seattle the week before Thanksgiving and was able to visit with his brother for the final time.

I will cherish all the time I had with my daddy and he will surly be missed by so many. We all wish he hadn't left us so early, but as my brothers told me – he is in a better place now and no longer in pain anymore. There is a hard part in each day (as I wipe a tear from my face as I type) when I wish I could still drive down the street to hang with him or get a call from him to pick up more soda or chips. The hardest in during the drive to work and right before bed, but I know if time it will get better I just wish he was still here.

I will be dedicating this first post of 2015 to my father, Rodger Allen Gilbert, and share some family photos.

 This is Jewels with grandpa a few years back Halloween.

One ofthe many times I took Jewels to help decorate his room for the holidays.

After one of my city softball games -- Daddy was always one of my biggest fans.

Two photos from my Aunt Anita of the the family (my daddy with his two sisters, brother and parents) 

I believe this was around 2010 when my grandpa and Uncle Ron came down to visit from Seattle.

Some shots of him being silly with Jewels. 

These are shots we found while going through all of his stuff. The top is with my older brother Andy.

It was sad that my younger brother, Jonathan and  his family had just put up daddy's tree the day he went into the hospital. He had four Cowboy ornaments so we split them up between us three kids and my mom. We also found six of these Jelly Belly ornaments (he was a was a wholesaler for the factory when we were younger), which was perfect for us kids, my mom and his brother and sister. 

These were from 2013 Christmas Tree Day. 

From my wedding. 

These are shots from that final day we had with him after we put up his tree. 

My daddy with his older brother Ron in his parents home.

The last photo I took with my daddy. 

From 2013 Tree day with my pups, Jonathan and Jewels. 

While my Uncle Ron was down before Thanksgiving this year with Jewels.

A shot while on a birthday date with my mom a few years ago.

A couple more shots from 2014 Tree day.

I got my brothers and dad to stuff in the photo booth at my wedding.
It reads:
"Karyn,  my little girl good luck and wish you all the happiness Love, Dad 11/14/11"

In early November daddy went into the hospital with some complications and after he got out he wanted to get everyone together (both my brothers families, mom and myself) and have pizza. He loved pizza and hadn't had it in a while. Most of the time daddy took the Grapeline when he traveled during the day. I guess Jewels has said she wanted to ride it with him so he arranged for her to be able to ride the "bus" to the pizza place. We had to sit in the front where he had to be strapped in the back so we took this shot. I wish I had tried to get one with him in it.

Close up from 2014 tree day with Jewels. 

The weeks before Thanksgiving. 

 
This is an old shot of my daddy with his sister (Aunt) Anita in his Air Force uniform.

In Tahoe in 2011 after saying final goodbyes to his parents and sister. Besides the pre-Thankgiving shot -- this is the last good picture of the four of us together.

A shot from the rehearsal dinner before my wedding. 

Daddy with his three kids and my grandparents (mom's side) house.

A toast to my daddy late December 4.

He spent so much time making these cards for all occasions -- these were some of the Valentine ones.  

There's a place where you can hang an ornament for a loved one lost. Here's the one my brother put up. 

I made ornaments of the shot when we were younger for my brothers, my mom and myself. 

Old school shot. 

My daddy was always my biggest fan. 

I will leave this post without my normal promotional ending -- next blog will say what's coming up . 

Thanks to everyone who has been there for my family and myself during this sad time. Thanks for all the outpouring comments on facebook, messages, texts, calls, and sending cards and flowers.