Sunday, December 3rd -

The moving van arrived in Jackson, TN this past Thursday. The movers began unloading Tom and Margaret's stuff around 4:30 p.m. They finished around 12:45 a.m. Don't worry, though! Tom and Margaret had turned in for the night long before that! Tommy finished up the move. Everything is in Tennessee now, and the next challenge is unpacking. Tom and Margaret have been taking it slow and easy getting settled in. The stress of the move is being offset by the fact that they don't have to get it all done immediately since they have a place to live in the meantime. Although, they really want to get settled in their own home, they are doing just fine at Tommy and Elizabeth's house.

Margaret will be heading back down to Corinth, MS tomorrow morning for her first chemo treatment with her new doctor. Tom and Tommy will be driving her down, and they will wait with her. The doctor said that it will be a five hour infusion process. We are all hopeful that the treatment will be successful and that she will be strong enough to sustain the duration of the prescribed dosages.

Tom and Margaret went to church today for the first time since arriving in Tennessee. As luck would have it, First Pres Jackson had a potluck dinner after the eleven o'clock worship service. Tom exclaimed afterwards that there just isn't anything quite like a good ole Southern potluck dinner! The congregation was extremely excited to see them in church today. They have been praying for Tom and Margaret for a long time now, and they have been anticipating their arrival. It was good to see them receive an open armed welcome to 1st Pres Jackson!

Baby Meredith is absolutely in love with her "Paw-Paw!" Tom sits on the couch in the den, and Meredith crawls straight up to him, pulls herself up on his leg, and grins and squeals with delight! Tom is in hog heaven! Friday evening, Elizabeth and the other kids were gone to a fundraiser at the school leaving Tommy, Tom, Margaret, and Meredith at home alone. At one point during the evening, Meredith got the hicups. Tom picked her up, gave her a little bottle with water, and worked on her until she burped. Hicups were cured. Nobody could tell who was more happy - Meredith or Tom!

This is a new time for Margaret and Tom. New town, new church, new faces . . . but rest assured, the transition is going smoothly so far. Tomorrow will present a new challenge with Margaret's treatment, but everyone is optimistic. Tommy and Elizabeth will be here to help Tom take care of her. They will be here to help Margaret take care of Tom. Isn't it funny how God works sometimes? Right when you think you know what God is doing, He does something different.

Years ago when Margaret and Tom first experienced the "empty nest" syndrome, it became abundantly clear that their family would not live in the same town anymore. Tommy and Marty began their own families and moved away, Tom and Margaret accepted God's call to California, and all of a sudden, the Suttle, Jr. family was spread all over the United States. Each member of the family, however, felt comfortable that they were where God wanted them, despite the painful separation.

Now, despite the undesirable circumstances, the Suttles have been pulled together again. Tom and Margaret have been afforded the opportunity to become a present force as the matriarch and patriarch of their family again. They live around the corner from their son, and they are a little less than a full day's drive of their daughter.

Human nature leads all of us to be saddened, worried, and upset about the hand that has been dealt to Tom and Margaret. Human nature, however, is also the reason that Jesus Christ was sent to us by our heavenly Father. Grace, forgiveness, deliverance, and hope is what God gave us through his Son. Believe it, brothers and sisters, the comfort delivered through Christ is the very thing to which the Suttle's are clinging. May all of you also hold fast to the promises of God made through the sacrifice and resurrection of his only Son. Godis in control. He loves and cares for his faithful servants Tom and Margaret. His will is sufficient. Believe this good news, and hold fast to the hope!