Our Annual Update - 2025

As we look back on 2025, we find ourselves holding space for the quiet moments. The little victories. The sweet memories. This was a year of steady growth, deep healing, rest, long hours, and lots of love. It wasn’t flashy, but it was beautiful.

We watched our boys move closer to their dreams, each in his own unique rhythm. C graduated with honors and continued to dig his hands into the soil he loves. M is in his final stretch of engineering at Cal Poly, solving complex problems and staying up far too late. L continues to amaze us with his quiet brilliance at work, and I’ve been learning, slowly, lovingly, that rest is not weakness. It’s healing.

We lost track of how many mugs of tea we’ve shared, how many sunsets we’ve watched from the backyard, how many late-night chats turned into full-blown belly laughs. It’s been a year of Joy in the Quiet.

As always, thank you for being part of our story.

C - A Season of Milestones (and Guacamole)

C crossed the stage this June, graduating from Cal Poly with honors and earning his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science, along with two well-earned minors in Fruit Science and Row Crop Science.

After years of hard work, hands-on research, and many (many!) muddy boots, it was such a joyful and emotional moment to watch him walk across that stage. I think I cried happy tears through the whole ceremony. He’s grown into such a thoughtful, passionate agricultural professional, smart, curious, and kind, and we couldn’t be more proud of him or more excited for all the adventures ahead.

After graduation, C made the most of his time off and set out to explore the world around him, with a backpack, a big smile, and an adventurous heart. He and his brother (plus their friend B) kicked things off at Disneyland. Then he hopped on the train to San Diego to visit sweet friends R & R, spending his days at the Botanical Gardens, the San Diego Zoo, and even crossing the border for a stay in Tijuana.

He also made a solo road trip to Bakersfield to hang out with B again, where they soaked up the cool weather, saw a band, visited the lake, ate so much good food, and made time for every movie under the sun. Each trip gave him something new to laugh about, learn from, and tuck away in his heart.

C has also continued his work with the California Avocado Commission this year, diving deep into a research project involving over 400 avocado trees. This fall, he harvested an impressive 2½ tons of avocados (yes, tons!), all while gathering critical data on irrigation and disease management to support sustainability in California agriculture.

He’s been out there in the groves, clipboard in hand and sunhat on, working hard to help avocado growers thrive. It’s amazing to see his passion for plants and soil science grow into something so meaningful. Honestly, at this point, I think he might be part avocado.

Cultivating What Comes Next

After graduating in June, C has been on the hunt for the perfect full-time opportunity in agriculture, ideally something hands-on and plant-centered, like a crop technician, field manager, or nursery supervisor. He’s applied to so many roles (and had some great interviews), but as we all know, the job market hasn’t been the easiest. Still, he’s staying hopeful and determined, and we know the right fit is out there waiting for him.

In the meantime, he’s jumping into a welding program starting in the new year, expanding his skills and giving himself even more tools (literally!) to grow a meaningful, hands-on career in ag. Whether he ends up in sustainable soil management, environmental research, or somewhere completely unexpected, we know he’ll bring curiosity, kindness, and care to everything he does.

If you happen to know of any job leads for a smart, enthusiastic, research-loving ag grad with a solid work ethic, send them his way. He’s ready to get his hands dirty and make a difference.

C's LinkedIn

C's Resume

M - Engineering His Future, One Line of Code at a Time

This year has been intense, but M has tackled it all with his usual focus and drive. With a packed schedule of upper-division engineering courses, he’s deep into projects involving digital systems, embedded design, and his personal favorite...microcontrollers. He lights up when he gets to work hands-on with real-world hardware and brings code to life.

His favorite assignments this year have involved integrating sensors, displays, and microprocessors to build complete working systems. In the new year, he’ll kick off a senior project focused entirely on microcontroller design, and he couldn’t be more excited about it!

And thanks to his Auntie K, who has a magical gift for finding just the right thing at just the right time. M now has the perfect commuter car to get him wherever his next adventure takes him!

In addition to a full load of challenging engineering courses, M has remained deeply involved in campus life. He’s one of the founding members of CARP (the Computer Architecture Research Program) and currently serves as the group’s Treasurer, helping coordinate logistics, budgets, and internal communications for the club. This year, he’s helped the team move forward on several exciting hands-on projects, and his leadership has been a big part of keeping things running smoothly.

While he hasn’t had as much time for swing dancing this term (thanks, senior-level workload!), it’s still a favorite hobby when he gets the chance, and he’s hoping to bring his girlfriend, L (who is very sweet and we all love), to a few dances in the new year.

It’s hard to believe, but M is officially in his final stretch at Cal Poly and will be graduating in June with his degree in Computer Engineering. These past few years have been full of demanding classes, hands-on labs, research, and more coding than we can possibly count, often fueled by late nights, early mornings, and a whole lot of determination. Watching him push through challenges, stay curious, and truly love what he’s learning has been incredibly rewarding to witness.

He’s also currently in the running for a prestigious Department of Defense internship this summer, which would be such an exciting next step. Wherever he lands, we know he’ll bring his intelligence, work ethic, and kind heart along with him, and we can’t wait to see what comes next.

Hands-On. Hardworking. Hireable.

With graduation just around the corner, M is beginning to look beyond college and toward what’s next. After years of diving deep into embedded systems, digital design, and hardware-software integration, he’s ready to take all that hard-earned experience and bring it to a team that’s building something exciting.

While he’s still in the running for a highly competitive Department of Defense internship, what he’s truly looking for is a full-time opportunity where he can keep learning, creating, and contributing. Whether it's in aerospace, defense, robotics, or a completely unexpected field, he’s ready to jump in and give it his all.

If you happen to know of a company looking for a brilliant, kind, and hard-working young engineer, someone who loves problem-solving and actually enjoys debugging, he’d love to connect. We’re so proud of all he’s accomplished, and we can’t wait to see what comes next.

M's LinkedIn

M's Resume

L - Innovating Behind the Scenes

This year marked L’s 29th year at Lockheed Martin, and somehow, he just keeps getting more amazing. His brain works in a way that absolutely fascinates me. He sees problems and immediately starts streamlining, simplifying, and making things work better. From designing in-house solutions that save thousands of dollars to building new systems from repurposed parts, he continues to bring innovation, efficiency, and care into everything he touches.

He worked closely with multiple labs this year, building equipment like a dual-purpose gauge cleaner (that dramatically sped up their workflow), a third de-ionized water cart, and a new helium supply system, each one designed with safety and cost savings in mind. He even developed drawings and tested new Teflon seals that will save his team more than $50,000 over the next few years. Quietly and thoughtfully, he just keeps making everything around him better.

At home, he’s the same steady, brilliant, funny guy I married all those years ago. He’s the one who brings calm in the chaos, clarity in the mess, and humor when we need it most. I’m so very grateful for him, and endlessly proud of the work he does.

J - Joy in the Quiet

This year, I’ve found myself holding tightly to the quiet, the gentle, and the meaningful. After last year’s cancer surgery and whirlwind of uncertainty, 2025 has been slower, and I’m learning to embrace that. Rest doesn’t come naturally to me, but I’m starting to see it as a gift.

Work has felt less important. What has mattered most is time with the people I love. I got to throw two joyful birthday celebrations for my sisters, K and A, full of great food and laughter and silly decorations. We spent a lovely few days in Cayucos with L’s brother and his wife, R and A, just soaking in the ocean air and remembering how healing it is to pause and laugh and play games and drink coffee.

In the in-between moments, I’ve been focusing on healing, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I’ve been slowly puttering in the garden again, watching tiny green things take root and grow. And honestly, that’s felt like a mirror of my own journey.

It’s been a quieter year. A smaller year, maybe. But it has been full of beauty, and I’m so thankful to still be here to witness it.

As 2025 draws to a close, we’re holding tight to the quiet joys, the deep breaths, and the simple goodness of being together. This year has reminded us that healing takes time, that love is a steady light, and that some of life’s most beautiful moments are the softest ones.

We’re so grateful for the friendships, the family ties, and the love that continue to carry us forward, no matter how far apart we may be. As we step into 2026, we’re wishing you a year filled with peace, strength, laughter, and moments of joy that take your breath away (in the best way).

Happy New Year from our family to yours!
♥ The Miller Family

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