Welcome to Daily Encouragement!
Hi, I’m Charlene Notgrass. I was born a long time before you, way back in 1953. I loved homeschooling — once I learned how to make homeschooling who our family was instead of something I carried around like a big, heavy burden every day. From the lessons God has taught me, I offer you daily encouragement.
Not Ready for Back-to-School — That’s Not Such a Bad Thing!
Once upon a time the first day of school was the Tuesday after Labor Day. In those days summer break was really a summer break. My little brother Steve and I spent many hot summer hours playing at home with Mama. Most…
Typical Homeschool Daddies
What are the typical questions new acquaintances ask your children? “What’s your name? How old are you? What do you want to be when you grow up?” were the typical ones when our children were growing up. Have they changed…
Every Newborn Child
Becoming a family legally is pretty easy. Marriage licenses and birth certificates aren’t that hard to come by. Living as husband and wife and parenting children — those are a different matter. Your days are filled with getting meals on the…
Home Schooling in High School — A Senior Trip
I always feel sad when I talk to a mama who has homeschooled her child since kindergarten but is about to send him or her to public school for high school. Parents make this decision for many reasons. Here are a few:…
Just Mama and Me
Following the guidelines of the local board of education, Mother and Daddy sent me off to first grade when I was five years old. In 1958 in our town, children could begin their twelve-year public school adventure at five years…
The Joy That a Child Has Been Born into the World
Recently a mama I know was discussing with her four-year-old daughter the visit that Mary made to Elizabeth when these two relatives were expecting Jesus and John the Baptist. When the mama asked her little girl why she thought Mary…