"Official" Taste Tester

Yes, that would be me.
I have been participating in
a Bread Taste Test
given by the
NCSU Sensory Service Center
(http://www.ncsu.edu/sensory/).

It is the first taste test that they've offered
that I've either qualified to participate in
or have had some time in my schedule to go.

Anyway, I've been going everyday this week.
It's been really cool to try different kinds of breads.
I've always wanted to be a taste tester for something,
and now I can check this off of my bucket list.
It's been fun.
But I'm ready not to drive down to NCSU everyday.
It's just a little out of the way.

Well, my heart is just a little overwhelmed right now.
Maybe not just a little,
but a lot.

I got to go home last week.
And I am so very thankful that I did.
It was such a blessing to spend an entire week
with my family.
I got a lot of one-on-one time
with each of my parents and my sister;
I am thankful.

With all of that though,
I was overwhelmed.
I saw and learned a lot more
about how each of them were feeling.
(I basically knew,
but having them tell me was a huge deal.)
I saw how deeply hearts were hurting.
I saw how greatly comfort was needed.

And all I could do was cry out to the Father.

That's still all I can do.

My heart isn't the only one that still needs healing.
Theirs' are too.

We got some more news today
that presents some new challenges.
And they will force us to lean more heavily
on the provision of the Almighty.
They will cause us to wait
with great expectations
on God.

With all this happening,
I am greatly looking forward to when
I will be back at home with my parents.
I guess it's finally time to announce:
I'm moving back to the 505.
The Lord has been drawing my heart back
to home.
And it's where I need to be
so that I can best support and love my family
during this hard time in life.
So.
Come June,
I'll be trekking back across the country.

With this in mind,
the Lord has been starting to prepare my heart
about what's to come.
I don't necessarily know
what He has in store.
But I'm feeling Him move
and start to prepare me
for this new start.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks.
But,
even in all this craziness,
I am thankful for what the Lord is accomplishing.
I don't know the specifics
of what He is changing in me and growing in me.
But He is drawing me to Himself.
He is making me more like Himself.
And when my heart is overwhelmed,
to Him I can run.
And run to Him I shall.

Psalm 61:1-4
"Hear my cry, O God; give heed to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in Your tent forever; let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings."

Psalm 68: 19
"Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation."

He is my good.

Blessings.