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.
Family Lessons
My mother was born on March 13, 1932, in Robertson County, Tennessee. She and a twin sister were delivered by their grandmother Ollie, a midwife who delivered 200 babies. Her parents named my mother Ollie Evelyn and called her Evelyn. Her twin sister survived only a short time. Two…
Following the River Giver
Last night as Mother, Ray, and I walked into the house after church, I poured the rest of my glass of water into the pretty mum my friend Olive gave me. I rarely do something like that without thinking about our friends…
A Joyful Believer
A few months ago, the grandmother of a Homeschool Dramatic Society actor invited me to share some lessons at a special day for women at her church. It was such a wonderful day of encouragement for me, made especially joyful by the presence of…
One Gold Freckle
Ray and I had an unexpected mini-adventure in Alaska. On the day that we took a day tour of Denali National Park, the tour bus stopped for lunch at the Kantishna Roadhouse (a restaurant owned by a Native Alaskan corporation). After lunch the staff gave…
Two Treats and Two Questions
As Ray and I headed south to spend a precious weekend with our daughter Bethany and her family, we stopped for treats on the way. The first stop was to pick up a snack at our local health food store. Organic peanuts…
Free At Last: A Story of the Underground Railroad, Part 5
Abolitionists are gathered for a meeting in the Phillips home. The complacent Christian that Adelaide Walker had talked to under her umbrella is a visitor tonight. Adelaide stands on a stool to tell the group about her recent narrow escape. Two slave…