This year, I decided to stop saying things like "I'm/we're busy"; that didn't ever feel like the accurate word. "Busy" means to keep occupied or have a great deal to do - it sounds like an obligation, and a little negative. When you make the decision to be really intentional with your time (or at least attempt to), life starts to feel special and filling in the best ways. So now, when people say, "Oh you're so busy..." I've decided to respond with, "Our life is very full right now, and we're enjoying the adventure." Because the reality is, time speeds up with teenagers, and we have to choose what's the most important way to spend our time, so we're not just busy, but we are living fully and making memories to capture a snapshot of this really cool time in our lives.
January - Paloma turned 14 and celebrated with dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and a sleepover with friends. After a year of practicing with Solon, Quincy finally got his driver's license. We were so proud of him for putting in the work to pass, and it made me nervous the first week his drove himself to school. I tracked him the whole way (hahaha). On Inauguration Day, my Tia Billie died. She was my mom's oldest sibling, a former flight attendant, and a cancer survivor. She was the biggest animal lover I ever knew - feeding all the cats in her neighborhood and always loved having a dog in her lap. The only thing she loved more than animals was her son, Mauricio, who passed 5 years ago. I am so glad she is at peace now, and that she’s reunited with cousin Mauri and my aunts who went before her. May she rest in peace.
February - My 2nd season chaperoning Paloma's Club volleyball team began this month with a President's Day Tournament in Springfield, OR. This was a great opportunity to get to know the girls and the coaches a little better, and start to learn what everyone needs to make the trip a little easier. The girls played really well, and in our down time we were able to have a team dinner out, and do some karaoke team bonding.
March - This was a BIG month for our family. The first weekend, Paloma and I were in St. Louis, MO for the Middle East Qualifier. Papa Allen and Danita were able to drive from Iowa to come watch Paloma play. We took a trip to the Gateway Arch, and got some delicious BBQ for our team dinner. The following weekend, Solon, Quincy, my mom, Solon's mom, aunt, and grandparents, my cousins Tommy, Lucy and Bob, all traveled in from OR, WA, AZ, CA, DC to support Paloma and the Jackson Ensemble Choir for their performance with the National Youth Choir at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Solon's cousin Alaina, and her boyfriend Liam live in the city, and it was so nice to see them as well. I was also chaperoning this trip (along with other parents), so our job was to make sure the kids got to all their rehearsals on time, and then we all traveled as one big group through the streets and subways of NYC, visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, seeing The Outsiders on Broadway, going to the Top of Rockefeller Center, shopping in Times Square, and exploring the Natural History Museum. It was a jam-packed week, filled with a combination of anxiety, lack of sleep, and adrenaline, and ended on a high note with a beautiful performance by the 7th and 8th graders (click this link to watch). Solon and I celebrated our 20th Anniversary with quiet dinner out, to reflect on all that we have built together these past 20 years. It was a big month.
April - A volleyball Tournament in Dallas, complete with a visit from Verlinda who drove 3 hours to see me and watch Paloma play. The month ended with CEVA Regionals which last year had marked the end of the club volleyball season, but we still had more to go being on a national team this year!
May - After a Mother's Day volleyball tournament (and win!) we flew to AZ to watch our nephew Kellan's final high school baseball game & attend his graduation party. It's hard to believe that just yesterday he would nap in my arms, and now he is a Freshman at Arizona State. We are so proud of the young man he has grown into, and are looking forward to witnessing his next chapter. Later in the month, Quincy and I learned about the Portland Public Schools Film Festival - a fantastic event that showcases student films from all across the district. Before the showing, they hosted a small college & career fair upstairs which included school representatives from different programs across the state of Oregon, and even included a couple from NYC! Watching these cool film submissions, I could see Quincy's wheels turning in his head. He was ALREADY making films like these, and could totally submit something for next year's event. He'll be ready! Cousins Lucy and Bob came for a quick visit, and our dear friend Jay came to visit from Los Angeles, and got to experience a little day in the life of the Bell Family. A sad end to the month as my godmother, (and the woman who introduced my parents to each other 52 years ago), Alicia Davenport, died at the age of 98. She was known in our family for always bringing her famous Jello salad (affectionately named “The Green Stuff”) to holiday dinners, and for living so close to “Viejo Pipas/El Cucuy” (the boogeyman) when I was a kid. She was a collector of pretty things, and was a talented artist, who would paint colorful images on the backs of buttoned shirts and wear them around town. Without her introducing my parents at the B. Dalton Bookstore at Park Central Mall in Phoenix all those years ago, my brother Natan and I wouldn’t be here, so I am grateful, eternally to Alicia.
June - Paloma was one of the class speakers at her middle school promotion. We're so proud of her for putting herself out there, and finishing middle school on such a high note. Quincy got hired for his first job at Chick-Fil-A, and completed training for when the new restaurant opened the next month. Paloma and I traveled to Orlando, Florida for the AAU Nationals, where she learned to advocate for herself a little more, took ownership of challenges, and had some amazing serves/hits/contributions to her team. So grateful for a visit from Becky's family who were all in town for Noah's rock climbing competition. It was really cool to be able to cheer him on, and see him doing so well at the sport he's so passionate about. We enjoyed dinner with some Piedmont friends; Paloma and Danilo were buddies in elementary school so it was fun to see how much they'd both grown. I participated in a peaceful "Protest to Save Democracy,", and then Quincy's best bud Daniel came to visit from CO. Another full month!!
July - The top highlight of this month was definitely our a multi-generational journey to Africa to enjoy a Safari and experience something truly amazing with a portion of our family. To travel to the other side of the world, you need lots of patience, several vaccines, and an adventurous spirit. The first 2 days were spent flying 14.5 hours to Dubai (where we took advantage of a 15-hour layover), before heading 8 hours to Johannesburg, South Africa, another quick stop on the way to our first official destination, Zimbabwe.
Our first stay was Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe where we spent 3 days. We were greeted at the airport with performers who included Quincy right away. He loved it! Our hotel was settled along the Zambezi River where we saw our first taste of wildlife - antelope, vervet monkeys, warthogs, and even a hippo family our first night. Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world - it’s the widest sheet of falling water in the world when in full flood- and it’s over twice the size of Niagara Falls. Seeing it for the first time, literally took my breath away. We enjoyed a Boma dinner filled with delicious food, lively dancers and drummers, and a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River during our stay in the beautiful country of Zimbabwe.
August - Quincy starred in two films this summer - one at a summer camp that I signed him up for, not realizing it wasn't just for high school aged kids (click here to watch), and the other, a student film written and directed by some of his drama classmates from school. Solon went back to work after an epic summer sabbatical (which included catching a marlin in Los Cabos, MX!) on the same day the new school year started - Quincy a Junior, and Paloma a Freshman. Pretty surreal to see them drive off together in the car that we brought them home from the hospital in. School volleyball started and Paloma was ecstatic to earn a spot on the Varsity VB team with a few of her freshman friends! Dad's 10th anniversary hit me pretty hard this year. Seeing how different our life is without him here. There's so much I wish we could have shared with him, and he would absolutely be enamored by his grandkids and the cool humans they are all becoming. I carry his legacy in my heart as I move through this life.
September - I started taking a free hip hop class every week, and it feels so good to dance again. Loved having my Mama come visit for a few days. She got to experience life with busy high schoolers again, and enjoyed seeing all the leaves changing in “war-ravaged” Portland during the fall. Highlights included a lot of volleyball, a leisurely drive to Hood River, the pumpkin patch, and dinner al fresco before the rain rolled in. Wedding season started to wind down for me this month, and it was really a great summer filled with beautiful events.
October - The day after P & Q attended the Homecoming dance, the kids and I met up with Solon and the extended family in Palm Springs for his grandma’s 85th birthday festivities in the Movie Colony neighborhood. We stayed in a house formerly owned by Dale Wasserman who wrote “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, and on Sunday night dined in part of the former Cary Grant estate, now known as Copley’s. Although our time there was short, it’s always great to see family and spend some quality time with each other to learn about what everyone’s life is like at the moment. I even was able to introduce my kids to cousins from my mom’s side of the family, because when you’re that close in proximity, you make it happen! We left Palm Springs tired from the whirlwind trip, but definitely with hearts full. Year ONE high school volleyball came to a close this month. Proud of Paloma for the way she showed up for her Varsity team over the last two months - in contributions and positive energy (she received the coach's award!). I was grateful to the older players who took the freshmen under their wings and supported and encouraged them along the way. Proud of them all for ending the season, playing with heart and grit, as they earned a spot into the playoffs. It was amazing to see them grow as a team. Go Guardians!!
November - This month, Quincy’s second turn on the stage brought out the hilarious character of “Smelly Balls” in Firebringer, a caveman with a heart of gold, known for his poor hygiene and bravery. We are so proud of his commitment to his craft, and loved every second that we got to see him on stage. Thank you to everyone who was able to come support - Solon’s co-workers, my mom from AZ, Charissa, Lisa, Tony, and Alynsia from Seattle - it meant so much to have you all there! Looking forward to next year’s production! Paloma had Club Tryouts for VB and crushed her goal of once again making a national team. We enjoyed Thanksgiving in Issaquah, and all enjoyed seeing Wicked: For Good. (Paloma and I saw it twice, and are listening to the music every day in the car.)
December - This month, Quincy turned 17, Paloma's club VB season started, we hosted a tamale night with some friends, and are looking forward to a quiet and relaxing Christmas holiday break.
I've woken up many days this year, so sad and frustrated by how broken our country seems to be at this moment. As a nation it feels like we've lost our moral compass, forgetting that diversity is what makes us great, and that we should be looking out for each other. We have abandoned civility as a pre-requisite for leadership, trading class, grace and distinguished leadership, for one that is crass, petty, and ego-centric.
And still, even in my sadness and frustration, I find myself holding onto hope—because I see goodness every day, often quietly and without recognition. In families, in friendships, in neighbors showing up for one another in small, but meaningful ways.
As we step into a new year, my goal is simple: to be the light. Not to fix everything, not to carry the weight of the world—but to choose kindness, steadiness, and compassion in the spaces where I have influence. To lead with grace. To stay open. To believe that how we treat one another still matters.
If this moment feels heavy for you too, consider this an invitation. Starting small, and close to home, you can be the light in your words, your actions, and your care for yourself and others. Hope doesn’t arrive all at once—but it grows when we nurture it together.
And that feels like a good place to begin.
In the words of the brilliant poet laureate Amanda Gorman, "For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it."
I hope this holiday season brings light and love into your heart and home, and we will continue to pray for peace and progress in this land where we live. To you, our family and friends, near and far, we are sending you our love and best wishes for a wonderful 2026!
