By: Jennifer Richardson Holt It is always strange to me the things you remember about those people who, in the past played–or still today play–a really big role in your life. Of course, we remember the big things. There is that wonderful gift they gave you for a birthday or holiday or that really importantContinue reading “The Things That Stay 6/21/2026”
Tag Archives: love
Comfortable Lies 6/14/2026
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt Sometimes, when an idea keeps rolling around in my head and wants to be put to page, I argue with it. I tell myself that just because I want to say something doesn’t remotely mean that anyone wants to hear it. Then again, I suppose that could be true of anythingContinue reading “Comfortable Lies 6/14/2026”
Enough for Me 5/31/2026
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt I am rural folk. I live in a place where I wake up in the morning and, instead of hearing traffic and the hustle and bustle of society, I hear roosters and songbirds waking up and, occasionally after a wild and crazy night, the final cries of coyotes. I am probablyContinue reading “Enough for Me 5/31/2026”
Named Anyway 5/24/2026
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt Every home I have lived in since moving out of my parents’ house has been named. I have a bit of a thing for a named home. I dare say the homes I have had, and even the one I have now, are not technically the sort of dwellings that meritContinue reading “Named Anyway 5/24/2026”
Built for Open Water 5/10/2026
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt Motherhood is not for the faint of heart. You may think I’m referring to the massive ordeal that is labor and delivery. Anyone who has ever known a mother of any sort should have at least some inkling of the gravity of that. No — I mean the task of beingContinue reading “Built for Open Water 5/10/2026”
Lord Willing, There Will Be Muffins 5/3/2026
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt On Saturdays I make muffins. Throughout the week, my daughter has the usual hurried bowl of cereal before school. But on weekends, I bake muffins for her. It’s simply a rhythm we’ve fallen into. Perhaps it’s because Saturdays finally afford the time, or perhaps it’s my small attempt to make theContinue reading “Lord Willing, There Will Be Muffins 5/3/2026”
Life, As It Does 3/29/2026
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”
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”
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 Beginning of the Beginning 2/15/2026
By: Jennifer Richardson Holt The last few weeks of writing, I have been a bit more philosophical—if that is the proper adjective. That may be generous. I can’t rightly claim to have thrust upon you anything resembling philosophy. The term suggests profound wisdom, and since I know myself, I doubt that very seriously. Still, theContinue reading “The Beginning of the Beginning 2/15/2026”
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”
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”
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”
Prose and Possibilities 