Ocieanna
Performance-Oriented Me: An Honest Look
“Ocie,” (folks called me Ocie back then) “you’re performance oriented. A people pleaser.” I remember the scene so well. I was about 17, sitting on the gorgeous grounds of my high school on an off day during the summer. Monty, my youth leader, said those words. Yep. Pretty much describes me. Over the years I’ve…
Read MoreBible Memory! Five Games to Beat Boredom and a Secret Weapon that WORKS
Going over memory verses can get a little boring—escpecially for our wee ones with tiny attention spans. Secret Weapon that REALLY Helps One almost magical trick I’ve learned is so simple! If they understand what they are memorizing and, even better, make connections to it memorizing comes naturally. For example, today we’re memorizing, “Look at the…
Read MoreI Had a Bad Day
Hi awesome mommies, Do you ever have a bad day? I started out today on an emotional landslide. I cried and smeared mascara and told my husband how terrible a wife I am. I’m a horrible organizer and housekeeper and mom and everything. Poor guy. He said he loved me then gave me an awkward,…
Read MoreMoms, Did You Know…
What you do—from folding socks to changing diapers—has incredible value. You are not a mere employee, but a vital, beautiful, and highly honored mom. And mom is no throw-away title. Have a great day, Ocieanna www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Read MoreLetter to My Much-Loved Son
Dear Son, I love you. I wish I could get that into your head and heart. I love you so much, many of my waking moments are spent thinking about you—how to love you better, how to make you understand how much you are loved. You are awesome. You are smart and funny. You make…
Read MoreSeven Summer Reading Programs
Recently I posted on Facebook that I was looking for something for my kids to do over the summer. Immediately a frenzy of my homeschooling friends suggested summer reading programs. Well, duh, why didn’t I think of that? Anyway, here’s a list of seven of my favorites complete with hyperlinks. 1. Scholastic 2. Barnes and…
Read MoreYou Mean It’s Worth It? Hope from a Stranger
It was the last morning of the conference. I’d never met the woman sitting next to me at the breakfast table, but by the kindness in her southern-accented voice, I knew she cared about my struggle. I don’t know why I shared, but I did. “Since he was two, we’ve battled with our son. He’s…
Read MoreOcieanna On TV!
Just a quick note to let you know I’ll be on TV tomorrow evening at 7:00 PM PST! https://ovaleye.tv/ I’ll be talking about my cardiac arrest and how it affected me, as well as how I balance life, writing, and family, and lots of other fun stuff. Join me!
Read MoreLaughing with My Boy
Na na na na/Na na na na/Hey hey hey/Goodbye Remember that song? Apparently it’s old, released in 1969, but I recall the re-make by Bananarama in the eighties. Here’s a link to the video–if you dare. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuSm-ymG574 My twelve-year-old son and I have this game. When I pick him up from school, if it’s raining (which…
Read MoreFaulty Feedings and Forgiveness
Today was a day of faulty feedings: I fed the kids scrappy granola bars in the van for breakfast (Fail! I woke up twenty minutes before we had to leave) I forgot to feed myself lunch (until it was almost time for class, making me late) And…I fed my flesh by venting frustration on…
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