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”
Tag Archives: love
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”
Grace Over Gucci 10/19/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt This past week, I’ve been playing a dangerous game. I didn’t intend to join in, but somehow, I’ve been all in — and the effects have been deep, reaching into the core of who I am. I shouldn’t be playing this game at all, yet here I am, reaping the consequencesContinue reading “Grace Over Gucci 10/19/2025”
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”
When God’s Time Became Our Forever 8/31/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt When I was a little girl imagining my future, I always saw myself getting married. Oddly enough, I didn’t give it nearly as much thought as you might expect. As someone who now delights in fawning over wedding details, you would think I’d had mine planned out well before my firstContinue reading “When God’s Time Became Our Forever 8/31/2025”
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”
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”
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”
More Than Enough: The Measure of a Man 6/22/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I’m sitting here in the early morning hours, listening to the cicadas sing their unnecessarily loud song. They’ve thrown caution to the wind and are belting out, at full volume, the tones that herald oppressive humidity and afternoon thunderstorms. And as I listen, I’m struck by the fact that I’m notContinue reading “More Than Enough: The Measure of a Man 6/22/2025”
Wrapped Gladly Around His Finger 6/15/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I both am and have produced a Daddy’s girl.I should begin with a qualifier: my mother is my absolute best friend, so I suppose I’m also a Mama’s girl. Is it possible to be both? I think it is—especially considering my daughter may be in the same boat. But that’s anContinue reading “Wrapped Gladly Around His Finger 6/15/2025”
The More the Merrier 6/8/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt There have been balloons hanging in my house for almost a week now. There are cupcakes in my fridge that have been there nearly as long, and a large, themed “Happy Birthday” banner draped across my fireplace. It is framed by the aforementioned balloons. Why, you may be wondering, does myContinue reading “The More the Merrier 6/8/2025”
Warm, Fuzzy, Falsehood 4/6/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I had a topic all settled on. It wasn’t exactly what I wanted to write on, but it would work. It was a good story to tell and as I have told it to many people I know, and they all found it intriguing I decided to go with it. AndContinue reading “Warm, Fuzzy, Falsehood 4/6/2025”
Gifts Outside the Box 3/2/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt While I am and have always been a very dedicated procrastinator, my delay in writing this week hasn’t exactly been due to my usual gleefully pushing things until the last minute but moreso due to the fact that it has just been an insanely busy week. Maybe you can relate toContinue reading “Gifts Outside the Box 3/2/2025”
People, Places and Things 2/2/2025
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I think I might be a bit different. Anyone reading this who knows me well probably finds that statement an obvious and terribly delayed announcement. I decided to make this statement because of what happened in my brain as I was trying to think of a topic for today. I hadContinue reading “People, Places and Things 2/2/2025”
A Heaping Helping of Normal, Please 12/15/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I do not promise much by way of length today. This was one of those weeks that, while it should have been generically busy with for the most part standard goings on, it exploded into a chaotic, stressful, worrisome and draining week for my whole family. No, it wasn’t something lifeContinue reading “A Heaping Helping of Normal, Please 12/15/2024”
The Blessing Unsaid 11/17/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt Maybe it is the time of year. Have you ever had those moments when you were doing something simple, maybe a routine activity and you are suddenly struck by how overwhelmingly blessed you are? Is that just me? I have had several moments like this lately when I was almost reducedContinue reading “The Blessing Unsaid 11/17/2024”
In Spite of It All, Hope 9/8/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I was listening to someone express the woes of today’s society and honestly, I wasn’t disagreeing. The conversation carried on down the path of bemoaning how the world isn’t what it used to be and how things were so terribly different. This is probably, no, definitely true. I absolutely didn’t usedContinue reading “In Spite of It All, Hope 9/8/2024”
Just a Thought… 9/1/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I think this week I shall be brief. I have said that before and it tends to be an almost foolproof guarantee that this will prove ridiculously lengthy. I assure you that I am not making this statement in any attempt to employ reverse psychology to be able to produce quantity. Continue reading “Just a Thought… 9/1/2024”
Forever and Always 8/4/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt This past weekend I went to a wedding. It was probably one of the most beautiful weddings that I have ever attended. I know what you’re thinking. You think that I am a sucker for elegant dresses and lovely flowers, and you would be completely correct. However, that is not, inContinue reading “Forever and Always 8/4/2024”
A Family of Citizens 7/7/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt When I started pondering what to write about, the holiday of this past week was heavily on my mind. My nation’s birthday was influencing my train of thought. I do like to think of myself as patriotic so there was definitely a bit of pride. That was probably pretty clear whenContinue reading “A Family of Citizens 7/7/2024”
Silent No More 3/31/2024
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I heard something said a few days ago, that resonated with me far more than I anticipated. It so profoundly affected me that my mind did me the favor of grasping what was a single sentence and running with it. Actually, it didn’t just run with it, it flew. It rousedContinue reading “Silent No More 3/31/2024”
Prose and Possibilities 