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2024 in Review

For many reasons, 2024 was a remarkable year in our family, but the highlight was Steel and Taylor’s wedding in August. We are so grateful for Taylor and her family, who have become dear friends.

Wedding Day 2024

Leroy and I were fortunate to travel extensively this year, including checking off a few Bucket List items. In April, we traveled on a pilgrimage to Poland, Prague, and Germany, highlighted by a visit to Auschwitz. This trip was a dream come true and much better than I anticipated. We traveled with my brother Curtis and his wife, Linda. We also met new (and forever) friends, Stuart and Deb, from the UK.

In July, we attended the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana. We attended daily Mass and heard some of our favorite speakers there, including Fr. Mike Schmitz, Jonathan Roomie, Bishop Robert Barron and Cardinal Timothy Dolan. We were also inspired by speakers who were new to us, including Msgr. James Shea and many others.

We also had our annual Granny and Grandpa Get-A-Way with the kids. We returned to Angels Camp and spent most of our time in the pool or playing games in the room, which was always their favorite part.

In 2024, we traveled (together) to Pacific Grove, Europe, Santa Barbara, Klamath Falls, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Angels Camp (with grandkids) and Folsom. Leroy also traveled to Wisconsin, Texas, Seattle, and South Carolina for work, Portland, Oregon, with the football team and still made two hunting trips to Montana for the Elk and Deer hunts.

My time of watching the grandkids ended in August when Charlotte started school. We still see them regularly, but not on scheduled days. When saying goodbye each time, Jameson wants to know when we’ll see him again.

Everyone who knows me will say that I love a schedule. My days are filled with daily trips to the gym, weekly lunches with Joan and other friends, monthly Book Club gatherings and Moms’ Dinners (for the last 28 years.) I have been teaching a bit at All Saints University Parish in Turlock (our home parish) with the OCIA and Family Catechesis. I didn’t realize how much I missed doing this over the years, and it’s been nice to do it again with a limited commitment.

Leroy celebrated fourteen years at Rico, Pfitzer, Pires and Associates and was the “Producer of the Year.” He was also named “Best of 209 for Insurance Agents.” He keeps busy with work and visiting clients but finds time to continue coaching high school football (19 years,) golf and the annual Elk and Deer Hunt trips to Montana.

We look forward to new adventures and experiences in 2025 and wish you health and happiness in the New Year!

Deb, Stuart, Kelli and Leroy at Checkpoint Charlie – Berlin, Germany

Wedding Guests – Santa Barbara, CA

Charlotte’s Dance Recital

Joey, Sierra, Charlotte and Jameson

Calaveras Big Trees

Matching PJs!

December 31, 2024
The Power of Traditions and Rituals in Strengthening Family Bonds
In today’s busy world, traditions and rituals help families stay connected. They give us time to be together, share values, and create memories. From monthly family dinners to religious events, these habits make families stronger and closer.

Why Traditions and Rituals Matter

Traditions and rituals make family life better by:
1. Bringing People Together: Sharing activities strengthens relationships.
2. Teaching Values: Traditions pass down important lessons and heritage.
3. Creating Memories: Repeating special moments builds happy memories to cherish.
The Roots of Common Traditions

Many of today’s common traditions begin in historical Roman Catholic practices and rituals. Often passed down through centuries, these traditions have shaped how families celebrate holidays and milestones. For example:
- Advent Calendars and Wreaths: Originating from the Roman Catholic observance of Advent, these tools help families prepare spiritually for Christmas.
Feasts and Festivals: Many cultural holidays, like Mardi Gras, began as Catholic feasts tied to the liturgical calendar, such as the celebration before Lent.

Easter Eggs: Decorating eggs is rooted in the Catholic tradition of celebrating new life at Easter.

All Saints’ Day and Halloween: Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, was originally a Catholic vigil before All Saints’ Day.

These practices have evolved but still carry the spirit of their origins, reminding families of their shared history and values.

Christmas: A Time Full of Traditions

Christmas is a holiday rich in traditions that bring families together. For Roman Catholics, Advent is the start of the season, marked by lighting candles on an Advent wreath and attending church services. These rituals help families focus on the meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus.

Other favorite Christmas traditions include:
- Nativity Scenes: Setting up a Nativity scene reminds us of the Holy Family and the true meaning of Christmas.
- Midnight Mass: Attending this special service brings families together in faith and celebration.
- Acts of Giving: Many families give back during Christmas, teaching kindness and generosity.
- Decorating Together: Trimming the tree or baking cookies create joyful shared moments.
- Rocha Family Traditions: We have created our own special traditions that make the season even more memorable. The importance of these traditions has become even more evident since my daughter-in-law Taylor joined the family. She loves the traditions we’ve developed and cherishes the joy they bring. These include sending Christmas cards to loved ones, building gingerbread houses together, enjoying Eggs Benedict on Christmas morning, and unwrapping pajamas from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. These simple yet meaningful activities bring joy and strengthen our family bond.
Starting Your Own Family Traditions

While old traditions are important, you can also create new ones that fit your family. Over time, a weekly movie night, an annual vacation, or writing thank-you notes during the holidays can become meaningful.

The key is to keep it simple and consistent. Even small acts, like eating together or celebrating little milestones, can bring families closer and build lasting memories.

The Gift of Traditions

Traditions and rituals are gifts that help families stay connected and create lasting joy. Based on faith, culture, or shared interests, these practices build love and unity for generations. By cherishing these moments, families can strengthen their bonds and create memories to treasure forever.

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT Large language model. https://chatgpt.com
December 17, 2024
Weekly Home Clean Out

When we left the dairy in 2010, we moved five times in six years. We got better at it as we went along. And needless to say, we had less and less stuff to move each time. We got to the point where we were looking forward to moving because it would allow us to get rid of more stuff.

We’ve been in our home for eight years, so we haven’t had the necessity of a big cleanout. Moving forces you to clean out, sort and organize, but who likes moving?! There is an easier way.

I devised a plan a few years ago that has worked well for us. We divided the house into sections, and each week, we took a couple of hours and focused on a section to deep clean and declutter. Here’s how it looks for us:

Kitchen/Refrigerator/Pantry – 1st Tuesday

Storage/Shed/Garage – 2nd Tuesday

Main Bedroom/Closet/Living Room/Bathrooms/Supply Closet – 3rd Tuesday

Office/Kids Room – 4th Tuesday

Obviously, you can change the order and day of the week. I pick Tuesdays and challenge myself to beat the garbage pick up.

These cleanouts are scheduled on our calendar but are moveable if we’re busy. Most of the time, I can knock out an area in an hour.. We never spend more than two hours. It doesn’t take long, and on hectic weeks, these tasks can be broken up into shorter chunks, but we try to keep up with the schedule. Maintenance is more manageable than starting from scratch.

Just taking the time to look at what we have and where we store it has made a big difference. Most of the work involves straightening up, sorting, grouping, and eliminating unnecessary things. And we don’t need any boxes.

September 24, 2024