Coming in riiight under the 12 days of Christmas wire to post photos for posterity. Let's be honest, these are probably mostly for the grandparents in our lives. But, if you like a good surprised package opener or piles of wrapping paper, this post could be for you, too. Light on the chatting, heavy on the pictorial evidence.

2015. What a year. There were way too many broken things, hearts included, but an incredible amount of joy through time with family and celebrating milestones and sacraments. That sounds like most years. None of them are void of pain or of joy, we just have to pray through the suffering and lean into the beauty. Every December, I take time to reflect on our life through the blog. This month marks eight great years of blogging. I'm no Big ...

O come, let us adore Him! Christmas blessings to you and yours.

While I've been writing these fa-la-la-la-la-laing posts about Advent and Christmas, I'd like to say a special word to all my readers who are feeling less than holly and jolly this time of year. It's simple, really. You're loved and prayed for this season. If any of my Austin area readers find the holidays particularly hard, please consider attending the 9pm "Blue Mass" at St. Vincent de Paul. --- While we've been preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ, ...

One of the coolest perks of growing up in a family of jewelers? Learning how to wrap a package like a pro. A few <ahem> decades ago, my grandparents owned a small jewelry store in Pecos, Texas. My uncle now has his own in El Paso. My grandmother taught me how to wrap a present, beautifully. I've never forgotten that lesson. I can still see her standing at the wrapping table, folding the paper just so and doing it so ...

Y'all know how much I like to party. Earlier this year, my mom had the brilliant idea to throw her dad (my grandfather) a surprise 90th birthday party. It had all the feels. He knew a few family members were coming, but he had no idea nearly 100 people would show up and help him properly celebrate nine decades of loving and living. Here are all his kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and the spouses. It's no joke when I tell you ...