Stories from HOME Sharing Seguin’s Christmas Spirit
With holiday spirit in full swing, this month we wanted to take a look at how locals celebrate in their own homes. This issue, we’ve shared stories with you from locals around Seguin to help spread the Christmas joy. So grab your hot cocoa, and someone you love and dive right in to these stories of Christmas spirit.
GUADALUPE COUNTY SHERIFF JOSHUA RAY
There are so many aspects of the Christmas holiday to be thankful for and enjoy. As I’ve gotten older, my appreciation for Christmas has grown much deeper. When I was a child, it was all about the gifts and presents. As an adult, it’s more about my faith. I am unapologetically a follower of Jesus Christ.
Attending the Christmas Eve service with my family has been special to me for many years. Christmas is no longer just about gifts, family gatherings, or LOTS of food. The real reason for Christmas is the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.” — Luke 1:31–32
Each year, as Christmas Eve approaches, I feel a familiar anticipation growing inside me. While many people count down to the moment gifts can finally be opened, I find myself counting down to the moment our family walks through the church doors, greeted by warm smiles, soft candlelight, and the sound of carols drifting through the sanctuary. No matter how hectic the season has been, that night always slows my heart. It centers me again on the miracle we’re celebrating.
What makes this tradition my favorite is not just the beauty of the service itself but the way it draws my family and others together. We sit shoulder to shoulder, sometimes bundled in coats and scarves, singing hymns we’ve known since childhood. When the lights dim and everyone raises their candle, the room glows with a quiet, holy warmth. In those moments, I feel an overwhelming sense of peace—peace that cannot be wrapped in paper or placed under a tree. It’s a peace that reminds me of God’s faithfulness through every season of life. Continued on the next page.
Some of my most cherished memories come from these services. I can still picture my children when they were young, eyes wide as they held their tiny candles for the first time, trying their best not to drip wax on their fingers. I remember the way they would lean into me as we sang “Silent Night,” their voices soft and unsteady but full of sincerity. Watching them grow, year after year, in the glow of those candlelit services has been one of the greatest blessings of parenthood.
As the years have passed, our family has changed—kids have grown, schedules have shifted, and loved ones have come and gone. But Christmas Eve service remains a constant. It is the tradition that anchors us, reminding us not only of our faith but also of the importance of slowing down, gathering together, and remembering what truly matters.
In a world that moves faster every year, this tradition gives us space to reflect. It encourages us to step back from the rush and the constant noise of this world. Instead, we turn our hearts toward gratitude—gratitude for the birth of Jesus, gratitude for the hope He brings, and gratitude for the family and community He has placed in our lives.
I look forward to this tradition every year because it restores something in me. It reminds me of who God is and who I am because of Him. It shapes the memories my family carries with us—not memories defined by the newest toy or the biggest meal, but by moments of worship, faith, hope, and light shining in the darkness.
No matter how many Christmases come and go, I know this tradition will continue to be the one I treasure most. And each year, as we gather once more in the quiet glow of candlelight, I am reminded that the greatest gift we celebrate is not wrapped under a tree but was wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. On that day, a King was born, and the prophecy was fulfilled.
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” — Luke 2:11
THE WINDLE TEAM MARY JANE WINDLE
When Christmas time comes, I recall how magical my mother made it for the six of us. The beautiful way she decorated, the smells, the sounds of the best old traditional carols on repeat. As I grew up to be the mother, I tried to carry on as she did, making it magical for my three sons in a way that they will fondly remember. The thing our boys probably love the most now, is the Lebanese feast I prepare for them. Now that I usually travel at this time, I have trouble transporting the grape leaves, the stuffed squash and all the wonderful and timeconsuming dishes from my father’s ancestry that we all love.
My grandmother gave me an incredible sterling silver punch bowl and its only use is for eggnog mixed with eggnog or vanilla ice cream with a splash of brandy and a dusting of nutmeg. Those are the tastes of Christmas for us. Making plenty for days of leftovers, too. What hits me each year, now that they are grown and have their own lives is how quickly my time with them went as I unpack the sweet crafts they made when they were children, the items my mother and grandmother passed to me and how those memories hit like a wall.
My boys are now scattered, one in New York and two in Orlando, one of those is married and they just had our precious best gift ever in our grand baby girl, Eve Jane. Wayne helps get our home here ready for Christmas, the boys don’t come here now, we go where they are. Our daughter in law is Ukrainian and we have incorporated her traditions into ours and our lives are so much richer now. New memories are being made each year, we must embrace the changes because we cannot stop time. So, here’s to new memories, doing our best to carry on honoring our past and delighting in what is next. Merry Christmas!
DIRECTOR OF DESTINATION SEGUIN BLAIR FRIAR
Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. The spirit, the magic, the food, all of it just warms my heart. Growing up I would beg my mom to let me help her decorate the house for Christmas and I would hound my dad to put lights on the house. I loved every bit of it – the ornaments, the lights, the tree, the garland.
As I got older and was really able to help, we would turn on Christmas music or movies and make hot chocolate while we decorated. My mom always made toffee during the holidays, so our house would have a warm scent to it too. The whole atmosphere was festive.
To this day, I still do this in my own home with my little family. The weekend after Thanksgiving all the Christmas decorations come out of the attic. We pack up our two boys and go pick out a tree and everything we need to get the house decorated for the holidays. One of my favorite memories from last Christmas was my husband and 2-year-old under the tree getting the base tightened so the tree would stand. All you could see were two sets of legs sticking out.
Getting to make these memories with my boys means the world. I want them to have the same warm memories of the holidays that I had growing up. So even though the ornaments all end up on the bottom of the tree and the lights are a little bit wonky, I let them help. Seeing the excitement in their eyes is worth it. We turn on Christmas movies like Polar Express or The Santa Claus and make a day of it. The boys are still young, so we are just getting started on memory making for them and we can’t wait.
SEGUIN SUPERINTENDENT
DR. JACK LEE
What’s a holiday tradition in your family that you look forward to each year? Why is it your favorite and what memories does it help your family make?
One holiday tradition my family looks forward to every year is wearing matching Christmas pajamas. It began as a simple idea, but it has grown into one of our most meaningful and memorable family rituals. What makes it my favorite tradition is not just the pajamas themselves, but the laughter, stories, and shared moments that have come from starting this when my children were young.
What I appreciate most is how this tradition brings our family together in ways that are never perfect, but always unforgettable. The holidays have a way of turning small moments into the memories we retell year after year. One of those memories, and the one that truly explains why matching pajamas became so special to us, happened when my kids were little and taught us that the best holiday moments are often the ones we never planned.
Jackson was nine, and Emmy was five, and that year, Jackson discovered the magic of matching family Christmas pajamas. He was so excited about it that he insisted we make this into a full-blown family
tradition. So naturally, we did what every family who buys matching pajamas for the first time does: we decided we needed a picture to capture the moment.
Now, anyone who has ever attempted a Christmas photo with small children knows this is, at best, a coin toss. Add in my wife’s grandmother, my wife’s brother visiting for the holiday, our aging 13-year-old Boston terrier, Maggie, our miniature schnauzer puppy, Holly, and two kids with very different ideas about cooperation, and let’s just say the odds were not in our favor.
To make things even more interesting, Frozen 2 had just come out a month earlier, and Emmy, like every five-year-old girl on the planet that year, was fully committed to the Elsa lifestyle. She wore that Elsa costume constantly. Morning, afternoon, night. Pajamas were no match for Elsa. So, the moment we asked her to take it off to put on matching family PJs, we knew we were in trouble.
As you can imagine, things went downhill quickly. Emmy was devastated, Jackson was trying to rally us like a small but determined cruise director, the dogs had absolutely no interest in staying still, and every adult in the room began questioning who invented “perfect family photos” in the first place. After several attempts, each worse than the last, we finally gave up on perfection. Emmy just kept yelling for her Elsa costume.
Instead, someone said, “What if we just yell in the picture?”
So we did.
Every single one of us.
And that picture, the messy, unplanned, chaotic one, became one of my favorite holiday moments. Because it was real. It was family. It was us.
Several years later, we still do matching pajamas. The tradition has grown to include our parents, our siblings, and all their families. Every year, we take a picture, and thankfully, we haven’t had to reenact the great “Elsa vs. Pajamas” conflict of 2019. But that first photo is the one we treasure most, because it reminds us that the beauty of our family tradition is not in perfect moments, it’s in real ones.
That is why matching pajamas is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. It’s a chance to pause, laugh, connect, maybe even yell, but especially have all the “imperfect” but still perfect moments that make family and the holiday season so special.
NAVARRO SUPERINTENDENT
MANDY EPLEY
My favorite part of the holiday season starts at the end of October when I hear holiday music coming from the band hall as students start to
practice festive tunes for their winter concerts and our theatre and dance students prepare for performance. As the song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Singing the songs of the season takes me back to so many childhood memories of the holidays. I will
never forget going with my mother as a young girl to see the Nutcracker at Christmas time for the first time at the Houston Ballet. I was enchanted by the costumes, lights, music, and dancing and it was magical to meet the prima ballerina after the show! It made me want to study dance and theatre so I could experience that magic. This time of year is magical for us all as we watch performers like our band students share their talents through music in a parade or at a concert, our or American Sign Language students share their language skills interpreting the songs of the season. I have never stopped being in awe of musicians, actors, and dancers singing and dancing as they share holiday stories through their talent and skill. The feeling of community, love and happiness that comes from singing together, dancing, or applauding the magic created by performers is what makes the season special to me. We all become children again, smiling, laughing, in awe and enchanted with the joy and magic of the season!
Letters to the NORTH POLE
Each year, kids around the world write letters to Santa in the hopes he brings this year’s hottest toy. Here in Seguin, students took time to write up their Christmas wishes and Seguin Today intercepted them on their way to the North Pole. Each year brings new trends, and this year is no different. This year’s hottest items included Labubu’s, tech items like iPads and iPhones and of course Kpop Demon Hunters merch.
This month Seguin Today is sharing some of these letters with our readers. Letters were submitted by students enrolled in the City of Seguin Parks and Recreation Department’s JAAM After-School Program.
To promote your event on this page contact advertising at 830-379-2234 or email communitycalendar@kwed1580.com
Featured Events
Tour of Homes
The Seguin Conservation Society will be hosting the 32nd Annual Holiday Home Tour from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, at eight historic sites across Seguin. The self-guided tour features grand homes from the late 1800s, craftsman bungalows, the Sebastopol House limecrete structure, and the restored Texas Theatre. Tickets are $20 in advance at Gift & Gourmet, Keepers Interiors, and the Seguin Chamber Office, or $25 at each site on the day of the tour. For more information call 830-560-0949.
December 7
Fundraiser
The Guada-Coma ICA will be hosting its Christmas Party & Fundraiser on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, at “The Big Red Barn,” located at 390 Cordova Rd. in Seguin, with doors opening at 11:30 a.m. and lunch served from 12:30–2 p.m. RSVPs for meal tickets due by Monday, Dec. 1 to Allan Bode at 830-305-1325 (call/text).
December 12
Christmas Angel Contest
KWED Radio will be hosting its annual Christmas Angel Contest, accepting letters now through 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, at the KWED studios at 609 E. Court St., offering families in Guadalupe County the chance to nominate themselves or someone they know to receive $500 cash this Christmas.
December 12
Byron Zipp
The Silver Center will be hosting Byron Zipp at 7:30 p.m. on December 12th at the Crystal Chandelier Ballroom. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Presale tickets are $10 by calling 830-303-6612. Tickets are $15 at the door.
December 13
Snowflake Class
Seguin Art League will be hosting its Snowflake Class from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Seguin Art League Gallery located at 104 S. Austin St. in Seguin. Instructor Ellen Craine will teach participants how to create intricate paper snowflakes using fine paper and advanced cutting techniques. Supplies are included, the class is limited to 10 adults, and an SAL instructor can provide a kid-friendly version at no extra charge with advance notice from a paying attendee. For more information, contact Seguin Art League President Sara Rosales.
December 18
Third Thursday
The Downtown Business Alliance (DBA) of Seguin invites the community to it for Third Thursday. Enjoy food, music, and shopping during the event, which runs Thursday evening, December 18 in downtown Seguin. Businesses will be open late until 8 p.m. and offering great deals and fun. There will also be several shopping and dining options available that night.
DIY: Recipe to Try
Cake pops to light up kids’ eyes this holiday season
Christmas Tree Cake Pops
Makes 24 cake pops
1 box vanilla cake mix
3/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon milk
3 1/2 cups green candy melts
24 cake pop sticks
Icing dots
Icing stars
1. Prepare cake according to package instructions, adding 3/4 cup canola oil to the cake mix before baking.
2. Once cake is cool to the touch, transfer to a large mixing bowl and break up into crumbs. Allow to cool completely.
3. In a medium bowl, add the butter, sugar, vanilla, and milk. Use an electric mixer and beat on medium speed for about 4 minutes until light and fluffy .
4. Add 3/4 of the frosting to the cake crumbs and mix until mixture can hold together well. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
5. Using your hands, shape the cake pop mixture into 24 conical shapes.
6. Melt the green candy melts. Dip one end of each of the cake pop sticks into the melted chocolate before inserting into the bottom of the cake pops. Dip each cake pop into the melted chocolate, making sure to cover completely, allowing excess to drip back into bowl.
7. Use a toothpick to create the textured look of the tree and decorate with the icing dots and stars before standing upright to dry completely.
In Case You Missed It
Touches down at Seguin Academy
Story by Cindy Aguirre-Herrera
With his fishing shirt, football, and determined look, Tailback Tex is more than a squirrel — he’s a symbol of community pride. The city’s newest hand-painted squirrel now stands proudly outside the new Academy Sports + Outdoors store, welcoming shoppers to not only a new store but a new chapter in the city’s retail growth with the construction of Seguin Crossing.
Artist Sara Rosales, known for painting the squirrel located at the Road Ranger, says creating Tailback Tex was both a creative challenge and a personal joy.
“Academy had a design already flushed out. I just kind of wanted him to be cute. We have about – I did a count — 11 or 12 brown squirrels and so I wanted him to stand out. I wanted him to look cute. So, I just kind of focused on making him look as fluffy as I could. The shirt was fun to do because my dad is a big fan of that brand,” laughs Rosales. “He lives in Florida, but I literally asked him, daddy, can you put on a shirt and do me a favor?’ Yes, because I was trying to figure out how I was going to put a shirt on a squirrel. Everybody else has done really cool like textures and blending with the brown squirrels but I didn’t see anybody that had done like fur.”
Among those overseeing the project for Academy was Adrian Gonzalez, a sales manager at the store. Gonzalez says they wanted to join in on what makes Seguin special.
“To my knowledge, this is going to be the second (animal art project for an Academy). Where we kind of got the idea – of course, when we walked throughout the city but also Hutto. They have the Hutto Hippos. They have a hippo in front of their Academy and so, we figured if they can do it over there, why can’t we beat them at that end?” said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez says he’s proud of the thought that went into the squirrel’s creative design, noting that every detail carries meaning.
“Tailback Tex – he’s going to represent one, Academy Sports + Outdoors but two, Seguin. He is wearing a white Magellan Texas T-shirt — a Laguna Madre edition which is for fishing. He is holding a white football with an Academy logo – again representing the sports side of things but most importantly as I mentioned, getting that squirrel on here is the most important thing. I did say earlier that squirrels – they have to work hard for what they get and so that represents the community very very well. I think that as we noticed, the people we’ve hired, the people that we’ve come across even as guests, they come into our building, we know they work hard. We know that they earn what they get,” said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez says welcoming a squirrel to Academy’s front steps is again just another gesture of wanting to be a part of the community.
“Our biggest thing or at least what we try to come across as is we want to make sure any way you can get involved with community, you reach out to us and so if there are any ideas you have, any different events — we want to try to get involved and so reach out to us. Our biggest thing is while we are here, we want to be impactful and so our biggest impact we can do is give back to y’all,” said Gonzalez.
Store Manager Johnnathan Candellario says that sense of belonging was immediate the moment the team saw how many squirrels were stationed around Seguin.
“When we saw the squirrel in multiple places in driving around meeting everyone, we wanted to join and ‘Get Real’ with you guys. I know we are up to almost 30 in the area and I heard something about 40 (squirrels) happening by the end of the year so we are just very excited to be a part of the community,” said Candellario.
The excitement for the new Academy began on Sunday as shoppers got their first peek inside the store located at 1316 Interstate 10. The store officially opened its doors at 3 p.m., where eager customers had already lined up outside.
Locals who attended the soft opening praised the size, organization, and customer service inside the retail giant.
Cynthia Morales shared she was impressed “with the size of the store,” while Nette Torres said “checkout was a breeze” despite the large crowds. Others, like Amy Riojas, said they were equally pleased with the store’s layout and deals, calling the experience “worth the wait.”
The Seguin Crossing project — a $25 million development announced last year — now features Academy and Hobby Lobby and will soon add Five Below, James Avery, and other national retailers.
With Tailback Tex now standing proudly at the entrance, Candellario says the store is eager to reinvite the community back out again this weekend.
“I will just tell everybody who was part of (Sunday,) come back this weekend because with grand opening, we are going to have a lot of fun, a lot of great deals. Come visit us. We are going to hopefully have a band out here to get some excitement rolling out here,” said Candellario.
Tailback Tex marks the 28th squirrel to be unveiled as part of the city’s Squirrel Trail Program. •
