Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Tuesday, 30 December 2025 12:05

Have a Blessed and Happy New Year

I hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed Christmas. I also hope that whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year, that you are blessed and happy. This is the time of year that memories are made, that we fill our moments with good times, and usually our favorite people.

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December 23, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Tuesday, 23 December 2025 20:30

It has been a great week. It has been unseasonably warmer than usual, but that means we get to enjoy the outdoors a little bit more. Because of that, you can walk around your park to see your neighbor’s Christmas lights.

A lot of parks have been having Golf Cart Christmas parades. Fully decking out their golf carts with Christmas décor, sometimes fully dressing up in ugly sweaters, or other Christmas attire, and carting their way throughout the parks. It’s a delight to see the fun that is had during these parades.

Some parks even have groups that go throughout their park singing carols. What a joy it is to see you enjoying the holiday, your friends, and the Valley, and bringing joy to others.

We love seeing photos and hearing stories of what you are doing in your park. We also love seeing what you are doing for your communities.

During this time of year, we get to see what you have been working on during the month, or with some, what you have been working on all year, so you have quilts and other handmade items to give for Christmas.

It’s such a blessing to have you in the Valley.

Last issue we had a few park stories, and we continue this week with a few more. We know there are many more parks out there that do things for their park residents and for their communities. We love to share your news. So, if you want to share something, please send it to us.

Being a Christmas issue, we thought we would deck out our paper a little for the holiday. We hope you enjoy the look this week.

I invite you to remember the reason for the season. Among other Christmas classics, we really enjoy watching the Charlie Brown Christmas during the holiday. Finding the same type of comfort that Linus did when reciting the story about a Savior being born. I also invite you to find your own way to Light the World. Anyone can find simple acts of kindness to bring joy to others.

However you celebrate this holiday, we want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a very blessed holiday.

~ Rina

December 17, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Tuesday, 16 December 2025 11:40

I hope you are having a great season so far. There have been so many holiday celebrations throughout the Valley that I am sure you have had a chance to go to at least one of them. I am also sure that your park has had something too or has something planned soon.

I have seen photos on Facebook of parks helping those in their community with food, clothing, and more this season. We even have some in this issue of the paper that has been shared with us.

We would love to see photos of your gatherings at your park, your Red Hat adventures, and anything else you want to share with us. We love seeing you having fun.

Our community loves having you here. And it not just because of your giving, but because you are like family while you visit the Valley. You adopt those around you. You make friends. You find causes that you relate to. You really become a part of the Valley, a part of us. Your giving is just a bonus to the communities you help. You are truly a treasure to have for the few short months we do.

There are so many ways to give this time of year. Most of the big organizations like Salvation Army and Toys for Tots are already done collecting toys for children in our area by now. Most will be distributed this week, just before Christmas.

The Salvation Army and RGV Food Bank are just two of the organizations you can give to all year long. Many of the cities in the Valley have their own food banks as well. Then we have church and school organizations, animal shelters, police and fire department organizations, and so many more.

You have a lot of options if you choose to give a little, or a lot, this season.

Like I have said in previous weeks, if you can’t give anything monetary, give a little bit of yourself – a hug, a smile, a touching note, just a little something that tells someone they are appreciated, that they are seen. Sometimes that is more important than anything else.

~ Rina

December 3, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Thursday, 04 December 2025 09:21

I had the chance to volunteer at the Giving Machine in San Antonio this past week. It was only for a two-hour slot, and it was in the morning, while it was still slow, but I was so thankful to learn about The Giving Machine, San Antonio, and the organization the machine is supporting in the area.

Next week we will be sharing the information about The Giving Machine that will be opening right here in the Valley, at the McAllen Food Park. I am excited to see what organizations the machine will have items for.

In the San Antonio machine, you can donate as little as $1 for seven meals for the San Antonio Food Bank, $35 for diapers for the local homeless shelter, or even $115 for a goat for a worldwide service organization.

There are so many organizations in the Valley that we can donate to, so it will be nice to see who gets sponsored through the machine this year.

This machine is like a vending machine, but you get to give something to someone in need. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to the organization you choose to support. The machines are placed around the world for visitors to give a little bit to their communities.

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November 26, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Wednesday, 26 November 2025 09:22

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you have a pleasant one with your family and friends. As we all know, especially here in Texas, our friends become family, especially during the holidays.

For us, our family is spread in many directions, so it’s often that we celebrate Thanksgiving with our close friends. We truly are truly thankful for them, and our families, when we can get together. The holidays just make those moments all the merrier.

When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of the past and getting together with my grandparents on the farm. Having fresh veggies and fruit, my aunt’s Italian crème cake, and other goodies. My go to was always my grandfather’s wonderful citrus salad. I usually try to have a citrus salad for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I fix my salad just a little different nowadays and I take shortcuts in sectioning the citrus as well. My grandfather would spend all morning working on his – peeling the fruit and then getting the membrane off the citrus. Today, I cut the tops and bottoms off the citrus, round the sides, and then use a small sharp knife to pull out the citrus. I try to waste as little of the fruit as possible.

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