Jack's Broken Elbow

A few weeks ago Jack broke his elbow.  He was playing Freeze Tag, nothing out of the normal.  He came off the slide full speed ready to run instead he got ahead of his feet and landed on his elbow.  He is in a cast for 3 weeks, hopefully next Wednesday he'll get it off.  He's been pretty disappointed to be out of baseball for the rest of the season, but he's had a great attitude and continued to want to go sit with the team in the dugout.

About a month ago he hit a home run and ended up scoring the only run of the game.  I thought for sure he would get the game ball, instead it went to another player who had one of his better games in the field.  After two games encouraging his team in the dugout and showing up to support them he got the game ball.  It was a great opportunity to talk about character over performance.

Now his just claims this Fall is going to be busy... school and fall ball!

Easter 2014

I'm going to play a little catch up with pictures from my phone.  

Our time in Tennessee has been so good, but our normal rhythms have been off.  Blogging has not been on the forefront of my mind.

We spent an hour one afternoon dying Easter Eggs.  This year I bought each kid their own kit, no need for unnecessary battles!

 My brother and his family came into town from Pittsburgh.  Lillie and Karlee wasted no time getting into the dress up clothes.

 When I was 5 on the Saturday before Easter my mom took me to get my ears pierced.  I showed up at church and surprised my family.  Lillie is 5 now and has asked a few times about getting hers done, so I decided to start a tradition and took her the Saturday before Easter.  She said she was nervous but mostly excited!

 Egg Hunt

 The most exciting thing this Easter was Freddy T. getting to baptize Jack.  A little over a year ago Jack began to believe in and follow Jesus.  We've been talking with him for a while about baptism and Easter Sunday seemed like the perfect time. 

 Our family on Easter.  We're all in the picture.... about all you can say about that.  

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Harlem Memories - Fire Hydrant Fun

Today we hosted a brunch for all of our individual NYC supporters. We got to tell the stories of our the five years that we spent in NYC. So many amazing experiences. So much to reflect upon.

One of our favorite things to do while we lived in Harlem was playing in the fire hydrants on hot days. Here's some fun videos. I can't believe how small Jack looks here.

Fire Hydrant Fun in Harlem Part 3 from Freddy T. Wyatt on Vimeo.

The Stars are Shining Brightly

The week of Thanksgiving, after five years of church planting and pastoring, we moved out of Manhattan to Clarksville, TN. You can read a little more about our transition here. God is good and his gifts to us in this season have been many. I'm excited to be working in a temporary role in my home church - First Baptist Church of Clarksville, Tennessee. These people are precious to Susan and me. I'm looking forward to collaborating with their pastor, Larry Riley on a number of evangelism and ministry ideas. I'll also be reflecting and writing about our experiences of the past five years. Perhaps something special will emerge in my writing that will be a blessing to others.

A dear friend asked the other night what we'd miss most about the city. It is difficult to put a simple response into words. The masses and diversity of people in the New York Metro area is simply unparalleled. Living among so many people that God loves, amidst so much darkness and brokenness, yet so much beauty and culture is difficult to describe. To live in NYC is as much a fight as it is an adventure that brings solidarity to all who have called the Big Apple home. To live in New York City with small children, several small children is well....impossible for me to describe in a blog post. So say a prayer for me as I write about our journey during these days. We will miss New York City in countless ways and will forever be changed having lived in the capital of the world.

We've laughed often as our kids have begun to experience what they call the "country." Yes, this town of 150,000 people is the country to kids from Manhattan.

• They know very well how to walk the sidewalks of Manhattan without running into the street but have no idea what to do with the parking lot of Kroger here.
• "What number is our school" The twins are in a preschool and can't understand why it doesn't have a number since every public school in NYC had a number. They went to PS40. 
• "Why are we putting trash in the car?" All they've ever known is putting it down a garbage shoot. 
• "Why are we driving to school?" They've only walked to school before now. 
• Fun conversations explaining what a mall is and how it is different than a grocery store
• They can't quick looking at and commenting on the stars. 

We had a great Thanksgiving and Christmas with family. Our kids have loved being with their cousins.

Pray with us as we discern God's direction to our next long term post of ministry. We know something special awaits. In the meantime, we are grateful for this precious time with family and dear friends.

Transition

Yesterday I shared my resignation letter with Gallery Church. Here it is. 

Gallery Church Family,

Five years ago, gripped with a vision to plant churches all throughout New York City, Susan, Jack and I moved to New York to join the church planting team of Gallery Church, as a teaching pastor.  By God's grace, this city quickly became our home and this church quickly became our family.

In December of 2012, Susan and I got unexpectedly pregnant with our fourth child, Parker. The months following this news were a roller coaster for us. We weren't immediately sure what our next step would be. Eventually, we determined to stay and to seek every sustainable advantage that would enable us to thrive in the city with four kids. We are grateful for the generous churches and many people that partnered with us to secure these sustainable advantages. Yet, now after living in the city for a year with four kids and after much, prayer, reflection and counsel, we believe that God is leading us out of New York City and into a new season of ministry.  

And so, it is with sincere sadness and sober gladness that I announce my resignation as Pastor of Gallery Church. 

We are sad to leave you, the people that have become precious to us. It has been one of my life's greatest privileges to serve as your pastor and to grow with you over these years. Our elders, staff and deacons have been a great joy to serve with. They have been very gracious and patient with me as a young pastor.
 
We also have a sober gladness. We are glad because our hearts are unified and this is God's direction for us. We are glad because this signifies a new day for us and for Gallery Church. Our God is the glorious maker of all things new and we will watch expectantly to see what wondrous things He does in this next new season at Gallery Church!

Our exact timeline is still falling into place, but our family will be in New York City at least until the week of Thanksgiving. We will be moving to our hometown in Tennessee for a brief season of rest and renewal as we prepare for whatever season of ministry God has for us next.  

We thank you for how you have loved our kids. So many of you are their heroes. You will not be forgotten. Large families can and will continue to flourish in New York City. It isn't easy, but it can most definitely be done. Everyone's story is unique and we each must faithfully sojourn the path that God leads us on.  

We believe now more than ever that New York City is one of the most strategic places on the planet for gospel ministry. In the years to come, we hope to encourage more and more churches around the country to partner with ministries here in New York.

During this season of transition, I encourage you to follow the leadership here at Gallery Church. God has given this church gracious, wise, and godly leaders - you can trust them. Susan and I are confident that Gallery’s brightest days are ahead.

We are thankful for you. We ask you to pray for us and we commit to praying for you. 

With all our love,

Freddy T. & Susan Wyatt 

Jack's TKD Orange Belt

On September 28th Jack took his Orange Belt test. 

 Working with Master Yoo on "Form Number 1"

 He had to break 2 boards this time, kicking with each foot.

Orange Belt!

Future MLB Pittsburg Pirate

In honor of how well the Pirates did this baseball season, here is Parker wearing the Pirate uniform my dad bought years ago, I think way before Jack was born, so his grandsons could one day wear it. (Jack and Elliott)