Armstrong's Christmas Open House

Our first Christmas in Yuma!

We took our Christmas Card picture before we headed out to school & jobs one morning, and as small towns go I had at least two people tell me they saw us taking the picture that morning!

However our Church family and the town in general have been super welcoming, and supportive of Harold in his role, of the boys as individuals, and of Megan as her own person! In fact many times Megan has been introduced only as Megan Armstrong...and then they ask if she was recently married to one of the "Armstrong boy's"(large family of Armstrong's in town). To cut down on confusion, Megan has since started introducing herself as "Megan Armstrong, wife of Pastor Harold at the Presbyterian Church"!

Here is Josiah and Silas helping making goodies for the open house. Josiah is still proudly wearing his Steelers gear even though we are deep in Bronco country!

Megan as usual made a bagillion cookies, and we increased our turkey count this year for the party from two to three! Here is a picture of one the beauties! And old trusty turkey fryer luckily didn't get lost in the move.

Here are some pictures of our open house spread! We had more room to work with! We missed seeing you all, but we did have a familiar face! Matt Gearke joined us from Denver! We wish you all the best this Advent season as we prepare for the Hope of Christmas Day!

Beer IS theology

Time to open the brew


This has been sitting around in the family room in bottles for the last week or two.


Apparently one adds a bit of sugar for a final finish from the yeast which leads to carbonation before bottling.


There is a certain level of anticipation at this moment. Its about 4 pm on a busy Saturday spent running Christmas errands.

We went to a tree farm this morning and then split up - the boys to brave Santa Rosa Ave where all the big box stores are zoned and I to Trader Joes (on a Saturday afternoon no less!) The local TJ near the house is not as busy as the Marin location and people are nicer to each other with the carts in the aisle thing. None the less...

We're ready for this beer.


First, Bill takes a sip













Beer is good.

Beer is absolutely one of the signs that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

Home made beer is a sign that God loves us a lot.







Time for some more theology.



Amy Moiso sent a link to a great website:

http://www.calvinus.ch/

Behold I am Doing a New Thing

Behold I am Doing a New Thing

Well it's my last day here -- feels very weird to say the very least!
Here's how you can find us next:

Stephanie & Jim Croom
2795 Riley Ridge Road
Holland MI 49424

Western Theological Seminary
101 E. 13th Street
Holland MI 49423
stephanie@westernsem.edu

Love to you all
Merry Christmas
Happy Everything!

Bless your hearts!
steph

Not in Kansas anymore

Remember way back in April when our class had that debate about the invitation to the Lord's Table at baccalaureate? The same topic came up in my ecumenical theology class today; we were discussing who is invited to receive communion in various traditions and contexts. All was going along swimmingly until we got to some of the African students. "In order to receive communion in my church," one student said, "you have to be at least 12 years old, you have to be baptized, and you can't have more than one wife."

Hmm.

It gets better: even though a baptized polygamist husband cannot receive communion, his baptized first wife can.

His other wives, baptized or not, can't.

Perhaps we should have included this stipulation at our baccalaureate service?!?

Oklahoma is OK

Hello all! I have been meaning to post for quite a while, but complacency and hoping for something more exciting to report kept getting to me. Anyway, I am doing alright here in OK, and the search for a call continues.

I am in conversation with a church in Salem, NY, which is upstate, rural near Vermont. They are great people, but I am trying not to get my hopes up too much...however, I really do feel like this is a call. So, keep them and me in your prayers please.

I guess the only other news is that I have gotten a black lab named Knox. He turned a year old at the first of the month. He is super sweet and we are training he to be a service dog for me. Currently he weighs 90 pounds, so he is a sturdy, good guy to have around for balance! Here is a pic of him when I first got him in August...I need to get more I know :)



Anyway, I think that is all for now. Congrats James!!!

Love to you all, Jenn :)