"The Story Behind the Blog: Discovering the Author's Passions and Life Journey"

**Trigger Warning: Pregnancy Loss Mentioned.

Hi, I'm Isabel! As I write this, I am 23 years old. I currently live in my childhood home on our family farm in Western Illinois with my husband and our 2-year-old daughter, Georgia. All together, we have three dogs, one cat, and a fish our daughter named, O'Finn.

Educational Pursuits

A year ago, this month, I graduated from Liberty University with my Bachelors in Psychology with a cognate in Christian Counseling and a double minor in Special Education and Christian Ministries. While this degree is certainly a mouthful, each piece was getting me ready for plans God had for me. After working for six months in an early childhood home visitor role, God layed it on my heart rather heavily that I needed to go back to school through Liberty University to pursue my masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. With much heartache, I said goodbye to the many friends I had made while working this job, and dedicated my full attention to being a stay-at-home mom and masters student.

Military Life

Throughout my time in undergrad, my husband was serving active duty in the United States Marine Corps. Getting married at the young ages of 17 & 18, we have certainly had our fair share of trails and triumphs as we have grown both individually and together throughout the past (almost) six years of marriage. Looking back on our wedding pictures is quite emotional. Knowing the hurdles of deployment, high-risk pregnancy, and stress that would be coming our way fills us both with empathy for our younger selves, but we are so proud of everything we have overcome.

Pregnancy & Mental Health

**Pregnancy Loss Mentioned

A few years into our marriage, we found out I have a condition known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). This news was hard to hear as it would make adding any little ones to our family quite challenging. Thankfully, with the help of a lot of prayer and fertility medication, we had a positive pregnancy test in May of 2020. Quickly, I realized that my body does not like being pregnant as I was in and out of the hospital with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), a severe vomiting condition while pregnant. Unfortunately, I had also been bleeding and was suspected to have a miscarriage follow shortly. At 6 weeks and 6 days, we found out that I had been carrying monochorionic monoamniotic twins, however no heartbeat was found for Baby B. By the grace of God, I was able to carry Baby A through 35 weeks and delivered a teenie tiny, but healthy Miss Georgia.

While losing Baby B, who we have affectionately named, Caroline Riah, meaning "free woman" and "remembered by God", was so hard, I am thankful to know that she existed. It is common for vanishing twins to be missed as ultrasounds prior to 12 weeks are rare. It feels like a gift from God to have gotten to see her on the ultrasound screen, even just for a few moments.

Due to the loss of Caroline, and subsequent high-risk pregnancy, I battled anxiety throughout my pregnancy. After giving birth, I developed severe postpartum anxiety and mild depression. I struggled to allow myself to sleep, worried that Georgia would stop breathing, and often stayed up throughout the night for days at a time. Thankfully, my family got me the psychological help and rest I needed to recover over the following year. Now, I am so passionate about prenatal wellness and mental/physical preparation for new babies. I hope to make a difference in the mental health care field through specializing in prenatal/postpartum counseling.

Sitting in our dining room, this picture is so special to us as it reminds us that our Savoir is caring for our little girl in Heaven. Georgia will often point out Caroline in this picture and wonder about her. Because God allowed us to know about her in the short 6 weeks and 6 days that she grew in my belly, we will honor her memory and tell Georgia about the sister she will meet one day.

Christian Background

With all of that being said, I would love to tell you a little bit about my Christian journey. I was blessed richly by devout Christian parents and grandparents who had been praying for the faith of their grandchildren for years prior to our births. From a very young age, I have had a rich understanding of what it means to be a Christian. While going through military life, young marriage, and a difficult pregnancy have certainly tested my faith, I praise Jesus for allowing me to lean on Him as I grew throughout it all.

While God has given me such a beautiful gift of being raised in a Christian family, I have to say that has never lifted the obligation I have as a human to wrestle through what it means to follow Christ. Blooming Biblically is just this, to grow in Christ each day as I move through trials and triumps. Like a flower, I am continually gathering nutrients through the soil of The Word, allowing me to blossom into the person God made me to be.

Friends, I cannot thank you all enough for being a part of Blooming Biblically. I pray that this blog would allow you to feel less alone in your struggles as a Christian and that Holy Spirit would use this platform as a way to comfort and encourage you.

"But Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (1 Peter 3:18, Holman Christian Standard Bible)."

With so much love,

Isabel Bryant