Sunday, October 04, 2009

My Adventure Today

The Gallery has moved the morning service from the UWS to the SALT space, where the church offices are located. This is a great building where the church rents a floor that houses the offices and the SALT art space. This doesn't necessarily affect many people who normally go to the morning service other than having to leave the apartment a little earlier to go a little further to church.

Our family is another story...

Any of you who know the schedule of a pastor on Sunday mornings know that the pastors wife and kids go to church alone, no help from dad. Usually this is not a big deal, but today was another story.

Since the church decided to make the move downtown I have been given permission to drive the churches 4-Runner each Sunday morning. Freddy will pick it up on Saturday night and we'll load the car seats in it so Sunday morning I roll the kids down the the car, strap everyone in, and go to church... not a big deal!

This morning the truck had to be used to move a keyboard to the new space and I found out a little too late to get any help from another church member in our area to help me get to church. I had the urge to just stay home but Jack LOVES Gallery Kids. He talks about it multiple times a week and I could not with good conscience not go to church this morning and make him miss Gallery Kids.

So I put Elliott in the single umbrella stroller. Strapped Lillie on me in the Baby Bjorn. Threw the diaper bag over my shoulder and Jack walked. We went to the corner to catch a cab. Easy. The cab driver put the stroller and bag in the trunk for me and we loaded up. I've never gone in a cab with all 3 by myself before. I quickly realized that traffic was a nightmare this morning. The West Side Highway was blocked for some biking event. Riverside was jammed from all the traffic rerouting from that event. I told the drive to just find the shortest route and he cut over to Broadway. We got to Broadway and 110th, 20 minutes from leaving my house, 15 blocks away. Broadway was closed for a street fair. Street fairs are fun if your not in the taxi trying to get downtown. We were right at a subway stop, so I told the driver I needed to get out and catch a train. I had 30 minutes by this point to get to church on time. I've never been on the subway with all 3 kids alone before! Another first for the day. I got help with the stroller down the steps, we got on the train, everything was good. Until we got to 34th St. My stop was at 28th, the next one down. The conductor came on the intercom and announced that due to construction the 1 train would be express from 34th to 14th. So the only good option I had was to ride down to 14th then transfer to a 1 train going uptown and get off at 28th. So that's what we did, again had help with the stairs. We finally made it to church 20 minutes late. Crazy morning, thankfully the kids were great. Jack and I talked as we traveled and Lillie and Elliott just took it all in, hardly a peep out of them. By the time I got the kids signed in and sat down I had missed most of Freddy's sermon and most of the music, but I did make it in time to see a sweet friend of ours, Laura, who was in our small group last semester, and her mom(who was in town visiting) get baptized this morning. What a sweet celebration! So cool! And it's Laura's birthday. It was a great morning at The Gallery even though it was quite the adventure getting there.

Freddy drove us home. I was thankful. The kids all fell asleep in the car, but all took great naps once we got home. Again thankful!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is a blessing in everything that happens (I like to think). The blessing in this is that I didn't know all of this was going on. Great Gran

Bo and Katie Kitchen said...

Wow Susan, makes me feel bad for complaining about trying to get Maddie and I somewhere on time! Glad everything worked out, you've really learned your way around the city. Would love to have the opportunity to live there and learn my way around as well, maybe one day!

Melcy said...

I really admire you Susan! You are super mom. :) I wish I could've helped out somehow. I knew you had encountered some difficulties in getting to church this morning... but I had no idea!!!

Mel said...

Girl! I'm exhausted just reading it let alone doing it. I don't think I'll ever figure out a subway system well enough to know where I need to go and get off to transfer. You're a City pro!

Lori said...

Ok so 1st question, when you ride in a taxi do the kids not have to be in car seats? How does that work? I totally relate with the craziness. I remember Robin and I going to Central park zoo with Ian, Cameron & Taylor. So I of course had my huge double stroller and she had a little stroller for Ian. So we battled with getting the kids up and down subway stairs. some people helped, but I remember one specific stop that no one even offered to help. We had baby back pack things so we would put them in that and try to carry the strollers. It was crazy. Glad you made it to church.

Lori said...

I'm super impressed by the way that you were only 20 min. late. I think I would have gotten so frustrated when the conductor came on and said it was an express, i would have just said forget it. You are Super Mommy!!!

Susan Wyatt said...

Lori,

You just hold your kids in the taxi, no car seats. It is the law for a child to be in a car seat in any other vehicle, but not taxis. Of all places you would think the taxi would be where you'd want your kid in a car seat. Funny though how used to just holding your kid in a car you become after doing it so often.

Brandi Pitts said...

Wow, Susan, you make my life with three under three seem so simple. Thanks for that! I laughed out loud reading this, right around the conductors announcment. I can just see your facial expression so clearly in my mind. Love the new apartment! Very cute! Oh, and the gate is next on my list!

Anonymous said...

Wow, the enemy obviously did not want you to win that battle!! Isn't it wonderful when we persevere and win!! and what a blessing to get to see that baptism. You are the winner for Super Mom of the Year!!!!!

I love the new apt and I bet you love it too. The kitchen looks so nice. I love how Lillie seemed to follow you around in the pictures. Very precious!

Patti Smith

Danielle Merante said...

That's the city for you! Missing you here... You're doing an AWESOME job!

pam said...

WOW! Impressive! You are definitely blessed and you bless me by your not giving up. Yes, #1 super mom of the year! :) Praise The Lord! God did reward you with a ride home with your husband and the kids going to sleep. :) Have a wonderful week! I love the street fairs in NYC, you can find some really good deals on really nice things and yummy food! :)

Christi said...

Wow! Bless your heart! But, praise God for the salvation of a friend!

The Boyds said...

I laughed out loud when I read this... Not because I am glad you had such a difficult time, but because I TOTALLY identify with everything you related about NYC transportation. This was our experience most Sundays. For us it was like, "the trains into Manhattan aren't running today. Let's take the bus. Wait, what? There's another stinking parade today and the busses are being re-routed through the Bronx?!" I feel your pain. Hang in there. We love you guys. See you soon.

-Leann