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.
Make Time for Music
We drove through Kentucky yesterday, headed for the homeschool convention in Cincinnati. We stopped at Wendy’s in Mount Vernon. Decorating its walls were three historic images about local country music. Ray reminded me that we were near Renfro Valley. Since…
Big Names and Heroes
I’ve been thinking about heroes today. I hate to hear about a Christian hero who has told the world how to live and then falls with a loud, banging crash that seems for a while like what happened at Lexington…
Stepping Down or Stepping Up?
A few years ago our daughter Mary Evelyn led homeschooling students as they presented the play, “The Cross Behind the Curtain.” Based on real events from the 1960s, the play told the story of Christians who suffered for their faith…
Sweet and Pure, Red and Juicy Strawberries
On Saturday, as Ray and I traveled to visit Bethany and her family for Easter, we finished reading aloud a memoir. The author spoke often about her close relationship with her son. We were impressed again and again as we…
Mamas Are Alike and Different, Too
Peter Spier has long been one of my favorite children’s illustrators. His Noah’s Ark has been at our house since John was born in 1979, the year after it won the Caldecott Medal. People has had a home here since Christmas of…
In His Hands
I love to sing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” The song is a great comfort. Its message is true. He really has got the “little bitty babies,” “the mamas and the papas,” and “you and me, sister” in…