{Christmas Eve Lights & Cozy Family Moments}

After our beautiful candlelight service at church—a night already full of peace, worship, and warmth—we weren’t quite ready to let the Christmas Eve magic fade. So once we got home, we traded our church clothes for cozy PJs,grabbed some hot chocolate and a few snacks for the road, and piled into the car for one of my favorite Christmas traditions: looking at lights. There’s just something about driving around in the quiet of the night, car filled with soft music, sipping cocoa, and being surrounded by twinkling lights that feels like pure joy. It’s simple, but it’s everything...

First stop: Ennis, TX. I don’t know why we’ve never fully explored Ennis during the holidays, but wow—we’ve clearly been missing out! The downtown area was absolutely magical. Every corner was decked out with lights, wreaths, garlands, and festive window displays. The historic buildings were glowing, and the whole place had such a charming, small-town-Christmas feel.

Funny enough, the only time we’ve really “done” Ennis at Christmastime before was when we were part of a Jeep parade—but let me tell you, it’s pretty hard to take in all the lights and details when you’re in the parade yourself, waving and trying not to run over any candy canes! So this was our first time really slowing down and taking it all in, and it did not disappoint. I think Ennis just earned itself a spot on our yearly must-see list.

After soaking up all the Ennis cheer, we headed toward Midlothian to cruise through a few neighborhoods we’d heard had great displays. On the way home, we made one last stop: Founders Row, and y’all... it was so neat. The historic homes, which are now charming little shops, were all beautifully decorated. Lights wrapped around porches and rooftops, vintage-style bulbs glowing in windows—it was like stepping back in time. I loved seeing these old homes lit up with Christmas spirit. It was the perfect final stop for the night.

But more than the lights, more than the cocoa or the festive sights, what made this night so special was the company. Just me, Nate, and Mason. A quiet car ride. A few laughs. Some silly Christmas songs. The three of us taking in the wonder of the season together. I cherish this time with Nate and Mason so much—this is the good stuff. The really good stuff.