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.
Behind the Scenes
Saturday was a paint and hammer and cut and staple day as the Homeschool Dramatic Society moved closer to performances this week. While working on behind the scenes necessities for the play, I visited with a long-time dramatic society friend and…
Just Say No to Formula Parenting
A woman recently told me about parenting advice she read in a resource popular among homeschoolers. Her comment began something like this: “I was reading in ______________ the other day; and if you will do such and such, then such and such…
“We Trusted the School to Properly Lead Them”
Ray and I each decided to read a book about Alaska during our trip there in mid-August. The book I chose was about Native Alaskans and was written by an Inupiaq. It was a natural choice for me, because I love to learn…
An Alaskan Family Story
When our taxi driver delivered us to our Bed & Breakfast in Anchorage back in 2014, our host met us outside and showed us to our room. We were ready for supper, so he directed us to the bike path…
Practice, Encourage, and Practice Some More
When I was eight years old and my brother was five, our parents took us to Santa Claus Land in Santa Claus, Indiana. Back in the 1960s, before it became the modern Holiday World, Santa Claus Land was a tiny amusement park, smaller…
Scene Changes
Dislike of change starts early in life. One of a child’s first lessons about self control comes when he is playing happily and Mama and Daddy say it is time to do something else. Sometimes that “something else” that Mama and Daddy have in…