By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I actually went to bed last night with a mission. I knew my plans for the next day—everything I had to accomplish—and I nestled into bed with a checklist in my head and a neat outline of how it would all go. I was going to be productive, get done whatContinue reading “Life, As It Does 3/29/2026”
Tag Archives: family
Things That Go Bump in the Night 3/15/2026
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt None of us made it last night. One of us doing that is standard fare. Two of us is isn’t unusual. But all three of us? That’s distinctly rare. My husband was first, as he pretty much always is. If more of us are going to join in, it’s usually meContinue reading “Things That Go Bump in the Night 3/15/2026”
Problems Worth Having 3/8/2026
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I don’t believe in luck. I think good things and bad things happen with the same random dispersion. Of course, we can increase the likelihood of good outcomes by making wise decisions, just as we can invite trouble through foolish ones. If I decided to see how long I could waitContinue reading “Problems Worth Having 3/8/2026”
Forty-Five 3/1/2026
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt Today is my birthday. In some ways that means a great deal to me, and in other ways it doesn’t at all. Every year I find a new angle from which to look at this day. It is an ever-evolving occasion. And now I am sitting here debating whether or notContinue reading “Forty-Five 3/1/2026”
The Way It All Comes Back 2/22/2026
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt It’s been little things, really. It started with the first time I actually took note of the daffodils blooming. Then it was a few small life events—nothing to write home about—just plans to do this thing or the other. They weren’t extraordinary. But somehow, they took me on an unexpected journey.Continue reading “The Way It All Comes Back 2/22/2026”
The Asparagus Theory 1/18/2026
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt On many occasions, I sit down to write without the slightest notion of a topic. Today is not one of those days. Don’t get too excited on my behalf, though—my mind currently resembles a giant bulletin board with far too many sticky notes scattered across it. As I sift through allContinue reading “The Asparagus Theory 1/18/2026”
Small Victories Against My Better Judgement 1/4/2026
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I’ll admit it: productivity is not always my strong suit. That sounds worse than it is, so perhaps I should explain. When I have a job to do, I get it done. If there are things that truly need accomplishing, they will, in fact, be accomplished. The trouble is that IContinue reading “Small Victories Against My Better Judgement 1/4/2026”
The Middle I Haven’t Learned Yet 12/28/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I have what are probably my very best arguments with myself. I am severely non-confrontational with nearly everyone—except me. With myself, I am more than happy to engage with vigor. At present, I am locked in a ferocious internal struggle, serving as both defense and prosecution, arguing both sides with equalContinue reading “The Middle I Haven’t Learned Yet 12/28/2025”
The Fragile Things We Keep 12/14/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt Something about this time of year makes me—and I daresay a great many people—especially reminiscent. Traditions are built by pulling meaning from years of moments, and if Christmastime is anything, it is filled with tradition. And if I am anything, it is a sucker for tradition. So I have a lifetimeContinue reading “The Fragile Things We Keep 12/14/2025”
Second Breakfasts and Other Small Comforts 12/7/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt It’s a dreary grey day outside. The light rain is falling in drops so tiny they’re nearly invisible. In fact, I wasn’t even aware it was raining until I opened the door to the back patio and heard what I thought was wind in the trees. After noticing their complete lackContinue reading “Second Breakfasts and Other Small Comforts 12/7/2025”
Not Quite Ready–But Getting There 11/30/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I don’t think I’m quite ready. Every year I’m so sure that I am — that excitement is the only thing stirring in me — but this time, I’ve stumbled into new sentiments. By the time you’re reading this, Thanksgiving will already be tucked away and we’ll be well on ourContinue reading “Not Quite Ready–But Getting There 11/30/2025”
Under Oaks That Remember 11/16/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt It was a brisk Tennessee Sunday. The sun was doing its best to warm things, but the wind insisted on reminding us that it was, in fact, November. We kept an eye on the gathering clouds along the horizon, having heard whispers of snow in the forecast. It didn’t feel coldContinue reading “Under Oaks That Remember 11/16/2025”
The Welcome Glow 11/9/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt This is something of a disclaimer. Perhaps that isn’t the right word—maybe explanation would be more appropriate. You see, I caught a fair amount of flack this past weekend, and it wasn’t the first time either. It wasn’t particularly traumatizing, as I’ve heard the fuss before. I will say that thisContinue reading “The Welcome Glow 11/9/2025”
Cornbread and Cool Points 10/12/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I’m in the midst of doing something rather unique, and every time I mention it, I end up having to give the backstory. There’s always a long tale of how things came to be, and I can never quite tell if people are genuinely intrigued or if they secretly find theContinue reading “Cornbread and Cool Points 10/12/2025”
Hopelessly Hospitable: Our Favorite Kind of Trouble 9/28/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt My husband and I may have a problem. We knew it was an issue early on, and yet we’ve mostly ignored it, hoping for the best. It can be a lot to manage at times. We know this, and yet we always circle back to the same pattern. No matter howContinue reading “Hopelessly Hospitable: Our Favorite Kind of Trouble 9/28/2025”
Perils of Home (and Other Lightly Exaggerated Accounts) 9/7/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt The times around my home are perilous indeed. Dangers lurk both indoors and out, and it is a wonder I am even here to write about them. Perhaps I exaggerate ever so slightly—but only slightly. Some of the goings-on truly are dangerous, or at least could be under the right circumstances.Continue reading “Perils of Home (and Other Lightly Exaggerated Accounts) 9/7/2025”
Beauty, Oddity and the Middle Ground 8/17/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt My daughter is a singularly unique soul. Actually, even that statement feels a bit too broad. Though true, I long for a word better than “unique.” “Extraordinary” comes closer—and I don’t say that merely from the bias of a mother’s heart. She truly is, in so many ways, unlike any otherContinue reading “Beauty, Oddity and the Middle Ground 8/17/2025”
Of Ice Cream and Sacred Simplicity 8/3/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt My daughter said I should write about ice cream. She gave me this advice one night while we were standing in the backyard, looking up at the sky. I pondered the idea and tried to see where it would take me. I ended up with a stream of consciousness that, honestly,Continue reading “Of Ice Cream and Sacred Simplicity 8/3/2025”
The In-Between Time 7/27/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I heard an analogy the other day that rang very true. This writer described the feeling of that moment when you’re in the last few minutes of a movie or maybe only have one chapter remaining of a novel and you start to worry. There is a certain anxiety that isContinue reading “The In-Between Time 7/27/2025”
Tea with Jack (Sort Of) 7/20/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt We are living in strange days. I suppose, though, if you have any dealings with the popular stories of the day, this isn’t a particularly shocking statement. In fact, I may go so far as to say it’s old news. We’ve come to expect all manner of the unexpected—to the pointContinue reading “Tea with Jack (Sort Of) 7/20/2025”
What She Wanted to Say (and What I Needed to) 7/13/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt This week has flown by, and there’s been a great deal going on. Not to mention, a topic wouldn’t come to me no matter how much random information I threw at myself, hoping something would spark a little creativity. I even came up with the idea to simply ask my daughterContinue reading “What She Wanted to Say (and What I Needed to) 7/13/2025”
So Ridiculously Much 6/29/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I saw my first truly lovely, colorful sunset yesterday—my first in ages. As I admired the pastel hues, I found myself wondering why it had been so long since I’d seen one. I’ve always been someone who eagerly seeks out a good sunset, yet, aside from yesterday, I can’t even rememberContinue reading “So Ridiculously Much 6/29/2025”
Ghosts of Summers Past
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt My daughter has now finished her 3rd grade school year and summer is upon us. Even she commented on how quickly it seems to have gone by. It feels like we should be maybe mid-February or early March in the school year. Like we’ve been back since Christmas for a whileContinue reading “Ghosts of Summers Past”
The Weight of Dates and Dashes 5/18/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I have long had a fascination with cemeteries. I have actually written here about this before. I have talked about how this is an inherited trait since my parents share this interest. I think once you understand our reasoning for doing so it won’t come across as quite so macabre ofContinue reading “The Weight of Dates and Dashes 5/18/2025”
Different Hands Held Down Different Halls 5/11/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt They are tearing down my old school. If you’ve read here for a while you know that I live in an achingly rural community and the school that my daughter attends is the same one I attended. In fact, this community is so small, there was only one school for theContinue reading “Different Hands Held Down Different Halls 5/11/2025”
Prose and Possibilities 