Noni's News

Being A CASA

gaylerg — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:30:13 +0000

Years ago I decided I wanted to help foster children in one manner or the other so I became a Georgia CASA. For those of you who don’t know what that is, CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. Each CASA goes through training and then is assigned a case, that involves usually a foster child or a child that is under DFCS care.

You can be assigned an infant or a teenager, up to the age of 21. Some of these children live at home still, some are in foster homes and other, who are less fortunate, are in homes for children or hospitals that work with emotionally disturbed children. Unfortunately, one of my cases involves a child in a hospital where he is receiving care. I use that word lightly, as care to me means feelings and love. My CASA child just had his Christmas toys stolen, only one day after he received them.

Please don’t get me wrong, CASA is a wonderful organization, and I am proud to be able to stand up for children in court, but sometimes our hands are tied and events happen that we have no control over.

I received a call from my CASA child, who by the way is only 7, saying his toys were taken and can I help? It’s hard saying there is nothing I can really do but call and complain to someone who works there. That could have been who took his toys in the first place.

To put this all in perspective, at least I know that he felt like he could call me and ask for help. Someone out there cares, even if its someone he doesn’t know too well. I want to be that person for as many children as I can. I can’t take them home with me, but I can be available for them to reach out to.

Join CASA in your county. So many children need help, some to earn the right to go home and others to find a permanent living situation.

Golf Pro?

gaylerg — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:57:06 +0000

My husband and I have been married for over 33 years. We met when I was 13, so we do have a history. Recently we moved back out into the country, where we definitely feel more comfortable. We were living in a golf community with not too friendly neighbors. The fees were high but they offered some wonderful amenities. It’s our own fault we never used them.
What is most ironic is now that we’ve moved, we have taken up golf.
Taken up might be a stretch. We have starting trying to hit a little white ball into a very small hole under less than 10 strokes. Par 3 holes are really par 10 for us.
I have always considered myself pretty good at specific sports – bowling, softball, tennis, horseshoes (I know that’s a stretch). My dad was an incredible golfer and I believe when he reached an age that he could no longer play, his life wasn’t the same.
I am one of the few people in the world that love to watch golf on television. I don’t care much about football or baseball, unless I am there in person, but I love watching Golf. Maybe this is a sign of aging, I don’t know. Tiger was my hero, until his little episode, but I do enjoy watching him attempt to play now too.
If he has trouble, then I guess it’s okay that I am not very good at something I enjoy. Someone asked me what my handicap is. All I can say is, it depends on the day – it could be my back, my legs or the weather!

Pre-school for Ashlynn

gaylerg — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:41:27 +0000

My first grandchild started pre-school last week. It is so hard to believe that she is old enough to go to school. It’s hard to believe that I’m old enough to have grandchildren. To say that time flies is an understatement.

When you hear the word grandmother, you think of gray hair, slumped shoulders and walking like “Tim Conway”, well that’s what I think anyway. Somedays I feel like that, but most of the time, I still feel a little bit on the young side. I still love having fun, riding my motorcycle (yes I have a street bike) attending children’s church camp, going on mission trips and loving life. Next year I hit a new milestone. A number that makes me sound very old, to my ears anyway. My husband turned 60 last year and it’s almost my turn. Wow, where have the years gone.

Three beautiful daughters have blessed me with 4 incredible grandchildren and a new edition coming in November. It’s wonderful being a grandmother and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.