“Magic Link” {Wednesdays with Wanda}

(If you are new to my blog, welcome!  Just wanted to let you know that each Wednesday, I write a post about my mom who passed away 11 months ago.  These posts are a way for me to share with others what a wonderful person my mother was, and also to preserve memories of her for myself, my children, and her family.)

First of all, I want to thank you for being so understanding about my Wednesdays with Wanda post last week.  I know that Mom would have been proud of me for listening to her and getting the sleep I needed.

Your comments were precious and I treasured every one!  Thank you.

I know my sister is going to kill me for posting this family picture!  :)

I love this picture because I am wearing my “Laura Ingalls” dress.  At least that’s what I called it.  I was a huge fan of “Little House on the Prairie.”  My mom made me that dress.  She was an amazing seamstress.  I loved the puffy sleeves and the way the skirt flew out when I spun around.

I shared this picture because I wanted you to see the precious family I grew up in.  I had two of the best parents a girl could ever dream of, a beautiful sister that I wanted to be just like, and a pesky little brother that was the apple of Mom’s eye!  :)

My sister is four years older than me, so when I showed up in the family, I was like Cyndi’s very own “real” baby doll.  We girls had a lot of fun together.

When I was 7 months old, Mom unexpectedly got pregnant with my brother, Blake.  Of course, she was excited about having another child, but she felt so guilty about me still being so young.  She used to tell me that she always worried that I wouldn’t get the attention I needed as a baby because my  new baby brother would require so much attention too.

However, Mom was always proud to tell me that she rocked me to sleep every night!  She never wanted to deny me of those special moments just because there was a younger baby in the house.

Mom was so cute.  She always worried about me suffering from the “middle child” syndrome.  She never wanted me to feel like I was stuck somewhere in the middle.

So Mom came up with something to make me feel extra special…

She would always call me her “Magic Link”.

She would explain to me that there where 5 people in our family…

Dad, Cyndi, Traci, Blake, Mom.

See my name there in the middle?

Mom would hold her fingers together like this…

And then she would say…

“Traci, you are the “Magic Link” in our family.  You are right in the middle and you hold us all together.  If we didn’t have you in the family, we would fall apart.  You are very important to our family!”

I cannot tell you how special that made me feel or how many times I had the privilege of hearing  Mom say that.

I truly did feel important.

The best part is that Mom didn’t just tell me that as a kid, she continued to call me her “Magic Link” even up to her passing.

Last week, I found some cards that Mom had sent me since I have been married.  I have always told you how much Mom loved writing notes to the people she loved.  I love how Mom always wrote us notes “just because”.  We didn’t hear how much she loved us just on our birthdays or special occasions.  But she made sure we felt her love all year round!

I have a folder that I keep special mementos in, and my Mom’s cards were in there.  I can just feel Mom’s love oozing out all over me when I read them even now.  I am so thankful for my mom’s letters!

Eight years ago, I owned  my own day care called, “Cross My Heart Preschool and Child Care Center”.  That is what Mom is referring to in these letters.

Notice how Mom included her favorite verse, John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled nor let it be afraid.”

This verse was her life-line during her battle with cancer.

Here is another card I found…

See why I miss my mom so much?!   Her words brought me comfort, encouragement, blessings, joy, guidance and so much more.

That is why her voice is still so strong in my life even now.   I have years and years worth of Mom’s beautiful words stored deep within my heart (and even on paper).

Our words are so powerful aren’t they?

I pray that you and I both will use our words to encourage and strengthen those around us each day.  It doesn’t always come naturally to me.  I am praying that the Lord would fill my mouth with His goodness each day.  I want my words to be a blessing to others.

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (NIV)

Thank you for stopping by and letting me share the thoughts Beneath My Heart!

29 Comments

  1. Hi Traci,

    A blessing to always read your blog on Wednesdays. You are the Magic Link in your family, just as you are to every one who links onto your blog. Sharing the memories of your Mother does encourage others, just like the comment above says; I feel the same way reading about her.
    I love your “Laura Ingalls” dress :-)
    Thank you for the email you sent to my Yahoo.com, I was so surprised and felt special that you took the time to send me a message. :-)

    Blessings always,
    Kathy in Texas :-)

  2. Traci, how precious to have these! I keep a file, too. I had one I kept in my file cabinet when I taught, too, labeled “warm fuzzies” and I had a handful of notes from kids and a few encouraging ones from parents that I’d take out to read when necessary. :)

  3. I have three kids and I love the magic link idea! I think I will have to remember that for when my daughter has a hard time being the middle child!

  4. I think this is my favorite one so far! I had to wipe away the tears to comment:)
    How wonderful that she wrote you notes and encouraging words, and that you kept them, now she’s just right there on paper to remind you of her love for you!
    I love the “magic link”. My middle child is the “sunshine” for us, she bouces around and smiles and makes us laugh while the oldest and youngest are very nonchalant and tend to do “quieter” things:)
    Have a great week!

  5. I never fail to think how lucky and blessed you are to have had a mother like this. Words can’t express the feeling I have when I read your posts on Wednesdays.

    xoxo
    Jane

  6. Traci: Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful mother with us. I feel like I know her :) Your special memories help remind us of the mothers and grandmothers we should strive to be, keeping God at the center of our lives, and always putting the focus on His glory when ministering to others. This post today touched my heart to the point where I am shedding a few tears thinking of how much you must miss her. She is a jewel, and I appreciate and look forward to Wednesdays with Wanda every week! Thank you again.

  7. Wow is all I can say!!! Your mother was truly a beautiful person, both inside and out. And even though I only know you through this blog, you are beautiful also. I so enjoy reading your Wednesdays with Wanda. They always seem to touch me somehow. I love the “magic link”, I only wish I had a middle child I could use that on…ha! ha! And I truly understand your mom’s feelings about having 2 children close in age. Mine are only 13 months apart and I felt the exact same way. I always felt I cheated my son out of being a baby once my daughter came along. Continue on this blessed path of remembering your mother.

  8. Your mom really was a special woman! What a blessing she was to so many–and she continues to be. Aren’t you glad you saved those cards?

    I am a middle child, too. I wish my mom had thought to call me her “magic link”!

    Did you know that Ephesians 4:29 is my blog’s theme verse? Here it is in New King James: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” :)

    Hope your school week is going well! Love you!!

  9. I have been reading your blog for a while now and mainly have seen all your wonderful decorating ideas…LOVE your back porch by the way!! Today I stopped by to read such a precious post about your momma! Just from reading this one post, I know she was such an amazing person and how blessed were you to have her as your mom :) What sweet treasure to have the cards of encouraging and uplifting words to you…like she is still speaking to you from heaven :)
    Thanks for sharing…I’ll look forward to coming back on Wednesdays to learn more about your blessing of a mom!

  10. Oh, what sweet family pics! I’ve got plenty of oldies like that too, only they are way worse. :) What sweet memories you have of your mama & yes, I can see why you miss her. She’s a treasure. What beautiful handwriting she had too I’ve always admired pretty cursive writing, since I don’t have it.

    I came by to tell you how gorgeous your patio came out & I could not leave a message on that post yesterday, so I’m back! It is just so pretty and I know you are really enjoying it. All those special touches make a huge different, the fabrics, drapes, rug, etc. Such a nice spot to relax! I hope you enjoy it.

  11. What a beautiful reminder for us all. Your mom sounds like she was an incredible person — so encouraging and supportive. Thank you for sharing her with us all.

  12. Ohhh Little bird Traci. Youre so sweet. One fine fine day you will never have to say Goodbye to your beloved Mother again darlin. When our Hearts fail or its all scarey this big world Jesus surfises bc Hes the Beginning and the End the Alpha and the Omega! We look thru a glass darkly right now but One fine day it will be *face to face*!!! And there will be Mom amongst His Mighty Angels and I think she will be the 1st one you see when you go over Yonder! xoxoxox My hearts with you Babe…

  13. Traci,
    Your mom was a beautiful person inside and out. I can read it when you talk about her and post about and I can see it when you share things like the handwritten cards. She is truly a testament to the Lord. She didn’t just walk the walk, she talked it, she wrote it, she shared it with others…and even now she is sharing it through you.
    You have been blessed to have such a wonderful, Godly mother and each Wed. with Wanda post I learn more and more why you miss her so. Thank you so much for sharing her with us.
    (((((((Hugs to you sweet friend))))))

  14. Your Wednesday’s With Wanda are such a blessing to read! You really are sharing encouragement and blessings to your readers. I have so enjoyed reading about your mother, your relationship with her, and most of all, both of your relationships with God! Thank you so much for sharing! I,too, was a middle child with an older sister (4 yrs.) and a younger brother ( 6 yrs.) .

  15. Thank you for sharing your “magic link” story. Would you mind if I use that on my middle children? It sounds like such a precious way to make them feel so important. Sometimes I feel like I’m not giving enough time to each of my children. It can be such a balancing act!

  16. Magic Link – I love it! What a wonderful way to communicate to a middle child how important they are. Your mom had so much Godly wisdom – thanks for sharing it with us too.

  17. Hey there –

    This is my first time stopping by your blog, and I just wanted to let you know how much this post about your mother moved me. How blessed we are to have such wonderful women in our lives who aren’t afraid to share their light with the world! Your mom sounds like an incredible gal – Just wanted to say thanks for sharing.

    Emily

  18. Traci,
    Your words already are a blessing to others. There are probably so many other people out there who you are not even aware of, who read your blog, and don’t post a comment for one reason or another…but you have given them something to think about….people who still have their Mom’s here, but maybe take it for granted that their Mom’s will just always be there…will take an important message away from your written words. I just know that you had your Mom smiling from ear to ear yesterday from up above, because of the beautiful things you wrote and shared about her. She really must have been such an amazing, loving woman and Mother.
    PS…If I had seen that Laura Ingalls dress, (back in the day) ;) ….I would have ran all the way home and begged my Mom to make one for me too! I never missed an episode of Little House, and I was convinced that one day I would marry a man just like Pa! :)

  19. What a great post today! I’m a middle child and I also have three children. My middle child, Jordan is 14 years old and is the sweetest boy you will ever meet! I also got pregnant again right after I had him. I’ve always worried that he would feel like the neglected one! His little brother is quite a handful and I often feel like Jordan is waiting on the wings for my attention! I love your analogy of the magic link. I hope you don’t mind if I share that story with him. When I read it, it brought tears to my eyes because that is EXACTLY how I feel about him. He is the glue that holds our family together!

    Thanks again, Traci for sharing from your heart! Your words were a great encouragement to me today!

  20. I always check in on Wednesday. I feel and understand the constant joy and love that your mother has brought to your life. My own sweet mother will be 88 years old in February and she lives with us now. It makes me happy to know that my husband and daughters have the opportunity to know her love. I was raised Catholic and so were my children prayer is a constant part of our life. God Bless You and Your Family.
    Kelly

  21. What a beautiful post! It made me laugh (because I wore the same Laura Ingalls dress in a family photo!) and cry (the Magic Link). She sounds like such an amazing mother. I can see why you miss her! How wonderful to have all those notes she wrote you.

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