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.
It’s what they hear all the time that sticks!
Charlie the Cockatiel came to live at our house when we gave him to Mary Evelyn for her 11th birthday. She was determined to teach him to talk. Day after day she put her finger in his cage and said,…
A Special Lesson for Families
My blog post today is one close to my heart. It is also unusual because in it I share a Bible study lesson you might like to share with your children. While preparing to teach a children’s Bible class recently,…
Thank You, God, for Making Me a Homeschool Mama
In 1989-90, a close friend began to think deeply about the implications of what was happening in the public schools in our local school district. She began to share her thoughts with me. She shared resources from Christian radio and…
I was once a weepy, insecure, what-have-I-gotten-myself-into homeschooling mama.
I was once a weepy, insecure, what-have-I-gotten-myself-into homeschooling mama. It took me four years to make the switch from homeschooling feeling like a heavy burden to homeschooling feeling like a joy. If you are still in the burden stage, I…
One of My Happiest “Little” Moments Yet
Though my happy moment didn’t exactly look like this, it was idyllic for me nonetheless. In August by William Ladd Taylor was an illustration for Baby’s Lullaby Book, published in 1888 by L. Prang & Co. Courtesy of the Library…
50 Years Ago Today I Had My First Date with Ray Notgrass
In the spring of 1974, I was living off-campus in a rented room in an old red-brick mansion across the street from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The first floor was furnished with impressive antiques. The lady of…