I was looking online tonight and couldn't find it... so, here's the menu for Evergreen Express Restaurant in Nashville. Click the image to the right to view it larger.

Evergreen Express is a Chinese Takeout Restaurant located at the corner of Edmondson Pike and Old Hickory Blvd in Nashville, TN.

How do you write a Christmas letter about 2008?

To say that 2008 has been a whirlwind year is a gross understatement. The ramp-up in January came to an abrupt halt when our son, Adam, decided to arrive early. Lydia's record-time labor has sort of set the pace for the year - expecting the unexpected.

As we grew used to the 24/7 nature of parenting an infant, the Internet really proved helpful to keep track of things like Adam's first doctor visit, his early cry sounds, early victories in sleeping, pictures from his first trip outside the house, and other firsts you wouldn't find in a baby book.

In March, our ebay and paypal accounts were compromised (lesson: change your password and make it strong,) but we thankfully ended up with no loss.

The summer was spent on the road, on what Lydia called the Great Hymnalpalooza Tour of 2008. At work, we launched the LifeWay Worship Project, which included the 2008 edition of Baptist Hymnal. We made a trial run trip to Atlanta to meet Aunt Allison (who was featured on TBS's "Movie and a Makeover" this year!) and then hit the road, going to Ridgecrest, the SBC annual meeting, Glorieta and Austin for the National Worship Leader Conference. It was capped off on August 8, 2008 with the Nashville PraiSing event at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Lydia has been working twenty-four hours a day at being Adam's mom, but taking time to be involved with her Missions in the Morning group and her Moms Together book group. She's been able to help with things like the Nashville Baptist Association Toy Store.

In September, we visited Texas to meet the relatives. In October, we visited a pumpkin farm with our good friends the Owens, Patrick and his team launched lifewayworship.com, and Adam got his first tooth, but by far, the biggest news in October was the arrival of Adam's new cousin Zoe.

The rest of the year has been a blur, primarily because Lydia had some post-Adam surgery done in the first week of November which has slowed her down. We did manage to get to Kentucky to visit Adam's second and third cousins on his mother's side, and Adam got his picture taken with Santa.

We're still teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir, and you can find us often on Facebook connecting with friends old and new. We're looking forward to 2009 and all the new ways that God will teach us how His Christmas incarnation continues to touch our lives and yours all year long.

Love,

Patrick, Lydia and Adam

Today, Mommy and Daddy took me to a place called the mall. Mommy says there are lots of malls, but this one is where the real Santa is. Mommy also says there are lots of things to buy there, but they don't have any things she calls "deals." Instead of buying things, I got to meet someone special!

Mommy dressed me up in my special clothes, and Daddy met us there. When he did, we found a magical looking place... it was all red and green and gold and had pokey branches with pinecones on them. Daddy let me touch a pinecone, but he wouldn't let me eat it.

There were more kids there, one about my age, but mostly older. We waited in a line, but I was patient. Both Mommy and Daddy kept telling me that we were going to see someone named "Santa," but I didn't know who they were talking about.

All of a sudden, a lady with antlers said, "are you ready to see Santa?" I was mesmerized by her head decorations. Then, Mommy carried me over to a GINORMOUS chair. On it was an old man with a pretty red suit on.

I was amazed! He reminded me of Mister Larry because his voice was so gentle, only Santa was chubbier. He reminded me of Daddy, because he had hair on his face only it was longer and all white. He looked at me, so I looked at him for a while.

Then I noticed that Mommy was jumping up and down, and so was Daddy. They were snapping their fingers and waving like something was going on, but I just wanted to look at my new friend. He was so kind. He talked to me like he knew me... like he knew when I was sleeping. I knew he knew when I was awake, because I was awake right now... and then...

Daddy picked me up! When he did, I looked at Daddy, and immediately, put on my just-sort-of-sad face, because I thought I was making a new friend! Every time Mommy and Daddy hand me to someone, I usually spend lots of time with them, but I guess this time was different.

I miss Santa, but Mommy and Daddy got a picture of me and him together. I think I will like seeing Santa later, but for now, I'm glad I have a new friend.

After a fun evening at Papa and Yia Yia's house with Mrs. Narula, Mommy, Adam and I came home to THIS!

The roads are fine, but we have about a half inch of the white stuff on the grass and shrubs. And before Christmas!