The End

I’m now officially 30. There is really NO denying it or avoiding it or stopping time. I’ve decided I better just embrace it. I’ve loved my 20’s. My 20’s brought so much change in my life, tremendous change, and as in the previous post TREMENDOUS pruning. God has used so many events in my 20s to change me and make me more like Him. At times it has been horribly painful and at other times unimaginably joyful. My teens had been squandered and I had rejected the inheritance of my heavenly Father, but my 20’s brought reconciliation and so much growth. God showed me his tremendous love for me and has carried me through these years so lovingly and graciously. Maybe this is why I hate to see them go, but I’m guessing that means there is even more of God’s love to come my way and I can’t even begin to imagine what HE will do. I’ve had several friends already turn 30 and have read through their blog posts summarizing their 20s, so I thought that I would summarize my 20s with my “names” during my 20s.
20-Brie White-this was my last full year as Brie White. I had a hard time leaving this name behind because it had been my identity for so long, especially growing up with another Bry in Ouray.
20-Brie White Gomez-jokingly. Stephanie Chaumont just thought it was hilarious to refer to me as this when I became engaged. Something about the combo of White and the Mexican last name. I graduated from my undergrad with the name Brianna White on my diploma.
21-Mrs. Brie Gomez-I got married. It took a while to adjust to the name change but I was so excited to marry Eric and be his wife.
22-Mrs. Gomez-my girls at New Directions could never understand how I was a Gomez. But I really believe that having Gomez as my last night bridged the ethnic gaps I encountered in my counseling internship and definitely gave me a leg up with these hardhearted girls. I loved my internship and becoming a therapist.
23-Brie-I started an amazing job at Buckner as a therapist and was simply Brie…called that way by my clients and my wonderful co-workers. I graduate from Graduate school with the name Brianna Gomez.
Coach Gomez’s wife-Eric started coaching and I became a Coach’s wife. I love being a Coach's wife, even when it is hard. I'm honored to be the one that gets to stand beside him and support him as he coaches.
24-Mommy-The sweetest name EVER!!! I had no idea how special and wonderful this name would sound. I’ve spent the rest of my 20s getting more and more acquainted with this name and enjoying it's sound even more. Those sweet sweet moments of hearing "mamamama" for the first time is a treasure in my heart.
25-Mali’s mom-as Mali grew, I grew into the identity of Mali’s mom. I’ve LOVED it! Also, Miss Brie. As we gained Mommy friends we taught our children to refer to each other as Miss Beth, Miss Brie, Miss Stephanie, and Miss Melissa.
26-27-Ummm, I can’t really think of new ones for these years, but a continuation of Coach Gomez’s wife and Mali’s mommy. Brandon’s sister-when he came home from Nepal we got to spend more and more time together, as I introduced him to people or he introduced me to people, my name was "Brandon's sister".
28-Again, Coach Gomez’s wife as we moved to Amarillo and got to know a new coaching staff, kids and parents. Megan’s sister-as we met their friends and they took us under their wing when we moved here. Miss Brie- to my client that I was privileged to work with for nearly two years. Sister in law-Jordan married and I was a sister in law.
29-Mommy AGAIN!!!!:) I’m now Eleri’s mommy too and a mommy to all girls. Aunt Brie-Jordan and Chrissy had Jove and I became Aunt Brie. I'm also Aunt Brie to their other children Shayna, Austin and Robert. Sister-in-law to be-Brandon got engaged and I so look forward to having a new sister in law...Liza.

I remember that this praise song was sort of my motto for the beginning of my 20's at least. I'm not sure that I achieved it, but it is still my desire and I do know that I have followed HARD after Jesus!

Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You

Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me on magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You

To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your dicsiple in your truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you, my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you
Lead me on and I will run after you

Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after you
To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your disciple in the truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you

Lord to know and follow hard after you
And to grow as your disciple in your truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you
Lead me on and I will run after you
Lead me on and I will run after you

Today during worship at church, I was wondering what praise song would be my motto for my 30s. These are the words of one of the praise songs today, so maybe this is it! I have failed in my twenties, thousands of times, and I will fail in my 30s thousands of times but I do know that God's mercy remains and that it is all ultimately for His glory. And my 20s taught me that!
A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
my heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Chorus 2x
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out
A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
my heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Chorus 2x
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
my heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Chorus 2x
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out
Here is also a picture of Eleri and I in my first picture in my 30s (I look SOO old). Mali was refusing to take a picture with us! I'm so thankful for ALL that God has done and given me in my 20s...it has been a special decade...maybe that's why I hate to see the end.


(This turned into a super long post...I guess that is what happens when you get to blog on your birthday while the house is quiet...and yes if you read my earlier post, that means Eleri finally went to sleep).