Merry Christmas

Most of you (that would be the 3 or 4 of you who actually read this blog) will get this in the mail but since my sister worked so hard to design our Christmas card this year, I thought I should put it to good use. Below is the Christmas letter that included with our card this year...happy reading :-)

December 2010

Merry Christmas!!

Is it just me or did 2010 fly by? it has certainly been a busy and exciting year for us. At this time last year, Bobby and i learned that we were going to be parents and as you can probably guess we spent the first nine months of the year preparing for that adjustment...as if you can prepare for that!

Rosemary Elizabeth kiger joined our family on august 25th at 9:29 p.m. she weighed in at 6 pounds 14 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. of course, we were head over heals in love with her the moment we met. it’s hard to believe that she will be 4 months old on christmas day. as one of the newest editions to our church, rosie will be staring as baby jesus this year!

in other exciting news, bobby began working at our church as the children’s ministry leader in april. he has been working hard in his new role and i am excited to see what God is doing in the lives of the children in the Tree house at warren woods. he had the awesome privilege of baptizing two of the boys from Treehouse in November. bobby also keeps busy substitute teaching and we hope that God will provide him with a full time teaching job soon.

SInce rosie blessed us with her presence just before school started i was given an extended summer vacation. i went back to work at the end of october. I was very hesitant to return, not only because i was leaving my baby girl but because i was transitioning from a middle school teacher to a high school teacher. It didn’t take long for me to get back into the groove and i am loving my role at the high school. i am also happy to report that i received my master’s of education degree last may and am content not being a student for awhile.

we are so fortunate to have our parents close and rosie is lucky enough to spend everyday with one or both sets of grandparents while we go to work. She just might be a little bit spoiled but that is ok with us :-)

We pray that you have a wonderful christmas and a very happy new year!

Love,

Bobby, Melissa, & Rosie

Night in Bethlehem

This weekend our church gym has become the the Bethlehem market place and our foyer is the site of the stable where Mary & Joseph stayed the night of Jesus' birth. Our little family has the privilege of playing the part of the Holy family. Last night while I was holding "baby Jesus" and listening to Silent Night, I couldn't help but think about what that night may have been like for the young couple. Mary was a young girl who had been given a BIG job...to be the mother of the Savior of the World! Can you even imagine what was running through her head that night as she and her new husband (who was not her baby's daddy) searched the town for a place to stay because she was about to deliver a baby? Last night as Bobby and I wondered the market place asking people if they knew of a place for us to stay I couldn't help but wonder....Was Mary having contractions? Were they severe? Did her water break? Was there anyone else with her & Joseph in the stable to help deliver the baby? Then there are the questions I have about baby Jesus....Did he cry a lot? Did he have explosive diapers? How often did he have to feed? Did Mary have trouble getting him to take naps (that thought just came today while trying to get Rosie to do this)? Did he melt their hearts with his smiles? Did he love to snuggle in his mama's arms? Did Mary & Joseph know who this baby boy really was? Did they understand what he had been born to do? Did Mary know that one day she would watch him die a terrible death?

It is easy for us to get so busy during this season that we forget why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Jesus is the reason for the season! Yes, it's wonderful to give and receive presents and eat yummy cookies with our family and friends, but it's also important that we take some time to reflect on that night in Bethlehem when Jesus came to make a difference in humanity for all of eternity!