Help for a Magnolia Family Member

There is a member of our Magnolia Park family that is in need of our help. Natalia P.  She lost nearly everything in a fire last year.  She purchased #334 from the park and has now found out the floors are all falling through and need replaced.  She has worked all winter trying to make enough money to fix the floors and replace other essential things. Unfortunately she was laid off her job before the end of the season.  She is still looking for work.
What we would like to do is help her out with what we can.  We are taking up a collection.  Anything each of us can do to help would be greatly appreciated. If we all chip in a little it can help a lot.


Donations of any size can be sent to :
Magnolia Park Office
3707 E US Hwy 83
Donna, TX 78537 
or 
Marie Flood
3707 E US HWY 83 #316
Donna, TX 78537


Please put on the envelope "For Natalia"


PS from Barb: My family suffered a fire on Christmas night 1957. I was 14 at the time. Along with all of our possessions my 10 year old brother also lost his life. People were so generous to us it was unbelievable. I think about and am grateful to those people every time I hear of someone losing everything in a fire.

From Bernice Moritz

hi, just a short  note to let you know i'm home from the hospital again for the 4th time this winter and i'm tired of needles. i had congestive heart failure.
 It is still cold here but they are saying it will warm up this weekend so don't hurry home but were ready for sioux fallls. the most i can do is watch the cleaning lady clean house.      bernice moritz

Ocean Sight and Sound

One more trip to the island...

Service at Magnolia

As the weather warms up and more of the Magnolia Family heads NORTH for the summer the attendance drops some what each week, but is still filling many seats in the hall for the Sunday service...I know that with each week more will be on the road so they will need prayer for their safe travel... The lesson this morning was a continuation of last week's teaching , taken from the Book of Romans, chapter 12 with the theme of "Renewing of our minds" that we may prove what is acceptable to the will of GOD for our lives....A great teaching with much to study and think about...It will take some time to go over the scriptures a couple of times to be able to grasp just what is taught....A great teaching for all... Remember to continue to pray for all that are sick and those that are in the hospital...Also for the ones that will have surgery in the coming weeks....Pray for all that come to mind as we need each other to pray for us when we are in need.....GOD BLESS ALL...

It's Different

The park has such a different feel at seasons end. There is an echo in the streets much like a deserted town. A very different feel indeed. The hustle and bustle of all the activities is suddenly quiet. You may have to look a bit before finding someone to engage in conversation. This season like others passed in a heartbeat. When I was in my 50's a woman of more years told me the older you get the faster it goes. I knew even then the ring of truth in what she said.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that those "Converted" Texans we leave behind are not all that unhappy about the sudden quiet. I know in their shoes I wouldn't be. We are all getting older and I am sure I could not keep up the frantic pace of the three busiest months here. So we all get on with the next phase of our year. The converted Texans have a summer of peace and look forward to the next busy season and we winter Texans leave sunny South Texas and go on to different adventures knowing that fall will soon be here and we will start all over again...if we are lucky

And we all think of each other as we go on about our lives. We want to keep our ties to our Magnolia family and know what is happening with each and every one. And we look forward to reconnecting with those friends and family we left last fall. It is always a bittersweet kind of thing.
Butch and I usually feel like we are on 'Vacation' when we pull out in our happy little home.
New adventures here we come!!! BUT we will be thinking about all of our friends too that we will not see now till November. Looking forward...looking back...but living in the now.

On my walk...

Dale C. has been gleaning onions.

Roses on Willow street

Ed & Eleanor Piches's lovely rose

Donn & Peggy Gordon's yellow roses( Formerly Bill & Jo Brookers)

Olive tree in bloom on Cherry Street

Cactus on Texas street

Parrots still nesting.

"I have an eye on you."

Bill & Kay Stilson's tomato. Get it before the birds do!!

Blue Hall Ladies

These women can be found in the Blue Hall nearly every evening playing cards. Pictured from the left seated are Erma Cleaveland,Vera Salmon,Vivi Piche,Kitti Toomire,Eula Henderson,and Charlotte Nigh
Standing Leslie Cleaveland, Norma Cooklin, May Gehman

The game sometimes changes but the ladies stay the same.

Poor Captain Hook----he got hit so many times on the corner----

PS- Captain Hook-formerly a decoration on the corner of Lime and Center street at the Jon and Edy Larson residence. Now deceased.

Bo and Art

Bo is the canine son of Myron and Susan Van Houweling and Art lives over on Lime Street with his wife Mary. But these two have a special bond. Art now and then gives Bo treats and a ride on the golf cart. They both enjoy the experience tremendously.

The Woodpecker

The bird noise has been phenomenal. I never ever thought the sound of the birds would be too much but here in sunny south Texas it can certainly seem so at times with the woodpeckers drumming on anything metal, the doves doing their whoo-hoo-hoo, the always present sparrows chattering and the mockingbirds copying them all.

Sunday Service

Another beautiful day in deep south Texas again this Sunday....Spring starts later on this evening, but it can't get much better than it is now....There is more talk of more of the Magnolia family heading north for the summer as the weather breaks in the north country and then the number of worshipers will start going down but in the mean time the attendance has been great with between 75 and 100 each Sunday...

This morning the lesson was taken from the Book of Romans, Chapter 12 with the theme of "The body of the Church"....A great lesson reinforcing the meaning of just what the Church consists of, or just what the Church is....This lesson reminded us of what Christ taught the disciples the meaning of the Church and our part in it...

On another note please say some prayers for Pastor Stacey's family as Tina's mother passed away Saturday....I know that Pastor Stacey and Tina would appreciate your thoughts and prayers at this time....Also remember to pray for any that you may think of as at times we all need prayer and guidance from the Lord....GOD BLESS ALL....

Gas Powered Recliner

Okay you handy types...how soon before we see one of these around the park.

Produce on Wheels

Two carts loaded with fresh produce come into the park behind the office each Friday between 1:00 and 3:00 PM. This is a new feature for us and very handy.

Flowers coming on

This hanging basket is at the Chet and Irma Johnson residence. It was brought from up north and has thrived down south.

Spring is in the air...

And the birds are nesting... These parrots have a nest in a nearly dead tree in the lot west of the park. Fun to watch!

Magnolia Park Roses

Roses are in bloom all over the park

Champions

Char Wolfrom and Carol Kapke once again win the Mid-Valley Pool League and bring home the traveling trophy. Thumbs up to our champions!

Assembly Line

An assembly line was set up to assemble the small side tables purchased for the card players in the Blue Hall. Helpful hands are always ready in Magnolia Park.

It appears that Al Gehman is the main assembler here.

Photographer: Norma Cooklin

Sunday at Magnolia

Today was the day of the time change for daylight savings time, but it didn't stop or slow down the people from getting to the church services at Magnolia...Some times there is some confusion because of the change but it didn't happen today that I know of...We had quite a nice group of worshipers today with a few guests as some of the families from up north were down for a spring break so to speak and visit for some nice weather for a change..

The lesson today that Pastor Stacey brought to us was from the Book of Luke , chapter 5, starting from verse 17....The theme of the lesson was "Your sins are forgiven" and told how Jesus was able to preach and heal the sick according to the faith of his followers....A great lesson for all to study on and learn from.....During the service several names of the Magnolia family were brought up as having some illnesses and some sickness....Prayers were given for all to be healed according to the Word of God.....Remember during the coming week when you think of someone or someone comes to mind, just say a prayer for them as it will mean much for that person and also for yourself.....GOD BLESS ALL.....

Wall of Recognition

Don Louks and Karl Kapke have moved the plaques commemorating our past champions in the in-park pool tournaments giving them a new home on a different wall. Great job guys! They will be much easier to see now.

Photographer: Norma Cooklin

Random Shots

Seen at the Cleavelands place

Yin and Yang- Puppy girls belonging to Bill Sager

Pool......Shark

Darlene fixed up Don Louks on his birthday. Appropriate considering he IS the pool shark of Magnolia Park.

Crafters Luncheon

I love this series of pictures. Made me smile just looking at them! Send me your caption ideas.