Our Annual Update - 2024

As we look back on 2024, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude and joy. This year has been one of celebration, reflection, and resilience. We’ve cheered on our boys as they continue to thrive in their academic and personal adventures, marveling at their dedication and determination. L and I celebrated 30 wonderful years of marriage. And through the challenges, like my unexpected health journey, we’ve been surrounded by love, faith, and the incredible support of family and friends.

This year also brought the bittersweet goodbye to my dear Grandma, who now rests with Grandpa. I imagine them enjoying homemade cookies, indulging in chocolate ice cream, and watching the squirrels chase the birds in the garden while the hummingbirds fly by. ♥

As we share our family’s journey with you, we hope it brings a little smile to your day. Here’s to all the blessings of the past year and the adventures yet to come!

C - From Fields to Festivals: A Year of Discovery

C’s year has been one of adventure, hard work, and creativity! He kicked things off with his first big road trip with his roommates to the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco. They played gotcha games, enjoyed boba, and marveled at the vibrant parade.

This summer, he stayed at Cal Poly, living back on campus and working as a crop technician for Field 25. His responsibilities included irrigation, planting, maintenance, weed abatement, driving tractors, and sales. A hands-on experience he thoroughly enjoyed.

In the academic realm, C completed his senior project, which focused on the effects of biochar on soil moisture retention in sandy soil—an impressive deep dive into sustainable agriculture.

After two years of trying, he finally got into the highly sought-after Beekeeping class, which turned out to be his favorite class ever. He extracted honey and even discovered (after an unfortunate sting to the throat) that he’s only slightly allergic to bees, quite the relief!

He also got straight A's again!! Holy moly, that kid is smart.

Not one to shy away from new experiences, C also took a stained glass class at the ASI center, where he found joy in creating art with his hands. He also thoroughly enjoyed his second semester of bowling - give him a holler if you want to knock down some pins!

Now, he’s heading into his final terms at Cal Poly, set to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science, along with minors in Row Crop Science and Fruit Science. We’re so proud of all he’s accomplished and can’t wait to see what’s next!

Planting the Seeds for a New Chapter

As C approaches graduation in June, he’s looking ahead to an exciting career in the world of agriculture. With a passion for sustainability and permaculture, as well as hands-on experience in the conventional realm, including working at Field 25 at Cal Poly and PCA classes, he’s eager to dive into a role as a crop technician, field manager, or nursery supervisor.

If you know of any opportunities for a hardworking, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic agricultural professional, please reach out. He’s ready to grow with a team that shares his dedication to plants and the environment!

C's LinkedIn

C's Resume

M - Engineering a Future Full of Swing and Success

M had an incredible year filled with milestones and new beginnings! He graduated from Allan Hancock College with an impressive 4.0 GPA, earning not one but four degrees!!! Seriously amazing, and a testament to his hard work and dedication.

This summer, he took a much-anticipated trip to Pennsylvania to visit his best friend. Despite travel chaos caused by leaving the day after a global tech outage, we managed to get him there and back safely, and he had such an amazing time.

In the fall, M packed up and headed off to Cal Poly for his junior year as a Computer Engineering major. He’s already thriving in his new "home away from home," diving into both academics and extracurriculars.

One of his favorite new hobbies is swing dancing. He joined the swing dance club and spends most weekends at Madonna Inn dancing the night away. He's in the back right side of the photo of his fellow swing dancers

Academically, he’s excelling - such a smart cookie. Straight A's in his first term at Cal Poly!!! WOO HOOO!! In his Digital Design class, he successfully designed and implemented the software for an ATM—a project that left him excited about what’s next in his field. He's even more excited to get his hands on projects!

It’s been a year of adventures, achievements, and joy for M, and we couldn’t be prouder of him!

Tech-Savvy and Ready to Shine: Help M Find His Summer Internship!

M is a passionate and talented Computer Engineering student at Cal Poly, thriving in his studies and eager to put his skills to work this summer. With a knack for solving complex problems and a proven track record of success, he’s ready to dive into a challenging and rewarding internship or co-op.

He’s particularly interested in roles that allow him to explore hardware-software integration, digital design, or any hands-on engineering opportunities. If you know of an organization looking for a motivated, quick-learning, and highly enthusiastic young engineer, he’d love to hear from you. Drop M a note or give him a call!

M's LinkedIn

M's Resume

L - A Year of Dedication and Innovation

L’s year began by being the best dad ever with a whirlwind trip to the Tulare Agricultural World Expo. He drove up to San Luis Obispo to pick up C, and together they spent the day in the Central Valley exploring booths, connecting with vendors, meeting Cal Poly alumni, and diving into the latest in agricultural advancements, all in a single day!

On the professional front, L celebrated 28 years at LM, continuing to exemplify dedication and ingenuity. This year, he focused on streamlining processes, reducing costs, and implementing innovative solutions to make operations more efficient and effective. From designing new equipment to ensuring uninterrupted operations and recovering valuable resources, his efforts have been a testament to his commitment to excellence.

What amazes me most is how effortlessly he tackles complex challenges, always finding a way to make things faster, easier, and better. He has a remarkable talent for seeing streamlined solutions that others might miss, and he knows exactly how to bring them to life. Beyond his technical brilliance, his collaborative spirit and leadership inspire those around him. He truly makes an impact in everything he does, and we are all so proud of him.

J - A year of gratitude...

2024 has been a year of profound gratitude and reflection for me. First and foremost, I am endlessly thankful for my incredible doctors and oncology care team. On November 8th, I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer, and since then, it has been a whirlwind of appointments, labs, and surgery. The blessings began with a clear CT scan showing no tumors outside the uterus—a gift I don't take lightly. Just a few days ago, on December 11th, I underwent surgery, and my oncology surgeon truly worked miracles. Everything went perfectly, just as we had prayed. We found out 12/18, just 5 1/2 weeks after my initial biopsy, that the surgery was a wonderful success. There is no cancer spread detected anywhere. I will have regular appointments and scans for the foreseeable future to be sure it doesn't return or pop up elsewhere. Praise God. I am so incredibly grateful.

Having the boys return home from college two days after my surgery brought so much joy and laughter into the house. We had prepared for Christmas ahead of time, so now we’re soaking in this sweet time together, watching family movies, walking the block (very slowly), and hearing all about their college adventures.

This year also marked 30 wonderful years of marriage to my high school sweetie and the honey to my tea. It feels like both yesterday and forever ago that we said "I do," and I’m so grateful for every moment. Here’s to many more decades together.

September marked my 25th anniversary creating jewelry - that amount of time passing is baffling to me. In between everything, I’ve kept busy cooking, organizing, and working on Sweet Willow Studio with my sister, A. It's a retro, 80s-inspired hub of encouragement, high fives, and joy. It’s been a fun and wonderful distraction. Take a peek and let us know what you think. :)

As this year comes to an end, we want to wish you and your loved ones a New Year filled with peace, joy, and endless blessings. May 2025 bring good health, laughter, and cherished moments that warm your heart.

We are so thankful for the love, memories, and support that connect us, no matter where life takes us. As we step into the coming year, our family looks forward to new adventures, continued learning, and the simple joys of being together. We hope your year ahead is as bright and beautiful as you are to us.

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

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