We finally made it to winter church (First United Methodist Church of Mission) on Sunday, and really enjoyed the “praise and worship” service. This is our 6th year attending here. Brother Bill Duke preached a short, but good, sermon, and we took communion as it was the first Sunday of the month. A late breakfast at Diaz Diner, one of our favorite eating places in the Valley, followed. Sue Mercer joined us at the Rio Grande Valley’s 29th Tuba Christmas. Tuba Christmas is a music concert held in cities worldwide on the same day each year, celebrating those who play, teach, and compose music for instruments in the tuba family, including the tuba, sousaphone, baritone, and euphonium. The RGV’s Tuba Christmas features 580 tuba players in a packed gymnasium; it is the largest assembly of tubists ever in North America. Though unusual, the concert was very good.