There’s Magic In the Air

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“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu

I’ve told the story so many times. How I finished the preparations to get pregnant via IVF on a Thursday and then my 79-year-old dad died suddenly in a bike accident the very next day. I spent the next nine months in this dance between birth and death writing a book about my dad while I waited for my daughter to arrive.

And that would be the end of it. I’m not excessively morbid (I don’t think). I miss my beloved dad but there’s a lot of life in the here and now. I’ve said my goodbyes to him and feel at peace with the loss. So there’s no reason to keep talking about it EXCEPT…

Except things keep happening to bring my daughter and my dad close. Some of it comes from the stories I tell and my kids’ questions about him. Some of it is the delightful part of having my mom alive and a lovely and longstanding community around us. But there’s also a little magic in the air and the invitations that we get that makes my dad feel palpable.

So we share a little bit of that magic in this week’s episode of the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast. Vicki Atkinson and I are with my almost nine-year-old daughter, Miss O.

Miss O recently sang an acapella solo at the church that my dad used to lead. Listening to her pure, soprano voice while sitting in a sanctuary where I often feel the presence of him (and Him) surrounding me, brought me to tears.

So she generously sings a bit of what she sang and tells us how she prepared to sing this not once, but twice. Miss O reminds us that people are pulling for us when we step up and are brave.

Then she brings all the other elements that go in to stepping up – practice, preparation, nerves and excitement.

This is a wonderful episode from a young girl who feels and celebrates the generational pull of family and is willing to share her a bit of herself to honor that tie to those that have gone before.

I’m certain you’ll enjoy the scenic and beautiful places we go when we share the power of story… and song.

We know you’ll love it!

P.S. Miss O ends the podcast with a sweet rendition of You Are My Sunshine to celebrate those of you who listen all the way through.

Search (and subscribe!) for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Apple, Amazon, Spotify or Pocket Casts OR Listen to it from your computer on Anchor: Episode 77: Singing to the Heavens with Miss O

AND subscribe to our YouTube channel to see a video clip of each story: @SharingtheHeartoftheMatter.

Other Episodes with Miss O

Episode 45: Third Grade Writing Wisdom with Miss O

From the hosts:

Vicki’s personal blog: Victoria Ponders

Wynne’s personal blog: Surprised by Joy

Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue

Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith

34 thoughts on “There’s Magic In the Air”

  1. Brava to Miss O!

    It is said that we die twice. The first time is when we are laid to rest. The second occurs when our name is said for the last time. In that sense, Wynne, your dad lives on in the stories you tell to their children and, one hopes, that they hand on to their own.

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  2. you and your dad, have done an amazing job of teaching and modeling for miss o, and she is proudly and confidently carrying on the legacy. bravo to all. this is huge.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. What a beautiful example of “the new kids on the block” —a new generation of highly enlightened, wise beings that appear in small bodies. They are the hope of the future. With a world full of them, how can we go wrong?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, what a wonderful perspective, Julia. And thank goodness for the light and love you shine on this next generation. Showing them how to do it!! ❤ ❤ ❤

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  7. I have to save this post and come back to it when I get frustrated with life’s ups and downs. There’s so much wit, wisdom, and hope here. “Miss O reminds us that people are pulling for us when we step up and are brave.” Such a smart and talented young lady Wynne! You should be so proud. I gotta believe that she has a lot of your father insider of her. Thanks for sharing a beautiful post and interview!

    Liked by 2 people

  13. Miss O is such a lovely young lady 💞💞💞 It takes a lot of strength and knowing she has those who love her firmly in her corner to put herself out there this way. 💞

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Dawn. I love your observation about “knowing she has those who love her firmly in her corner” – it’s amazing what we can do when we feel that, isn’t it?

      Liked by 1 person

  14. What a beautiful voice and a super articulate young person, Wynne! Enjoyed her poise and confidence in her interview with you and Vickie.

    I love that she channels negative comments into energy to do better. That is true maturity! And her seeing your dad inside the church with you all is goosebump inducing!

    Liked by 1 person

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