It’s a MIRACLE

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

I received a miracle yesterday. Oh boy, you guys. Do I have a story for you.

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Ok. Here it goes.

This whole weekend, I’ve been staying with my brother and his wife while I’m in town in Ohio. My parents are on a weekend trip so I had the pleasure of staying with two of my favorite people in the whole world.

Well, yesterday morning, being Sunday, we went to Mass. I love Christmas time, and Advent in particular. Seeing the ginormous advent wreath dramatically suspended over the Church always takes my breath away with its majesty and beauty.

And the priest was talking about how, during this time of prayer and preparation for Christmas, the Advent wreath is like a gateway to Heaven, with our prayers shooting upward through it. And he suggested we all walk under it as we left church.

Cool idea, I thought. It added a new dimension to this massive bundle of holly and candles. So on our way out, we passed underneath, and in true blogger fashion, I had my sister-in-law snap a pic. Because…Instagram.

Driving home and checking out the picture she took, we were remarking at how, in it, it looks as though Jesus is directly blessing me. This was a truly candid pic, and somehow, my position directly underneath the wreath ended me right in what looks like in His “blessing path” from the mural on the wall.

Awesome. That’ll make a great Instagram post. What a stroke of luck.

So we went about our day. I took some photos for her website and new business. We had some lunch. And on a whim, my sister-in-law and I decided to go back to church and go to their “Christmas Lessons and Carols.” The Church has a world renowned chamber choir and this was a truly spectacular musical and spiritual event.

Well. All of the readings at the Lessons and Carols were about the Annunciation of Mary: the miracle of Jesus’s birth. How the angel Gabriel proclaimed that Mary would miraculously conceive of Jesus in her womb as a virgin.

But I kept seeing the word “womb” be used over and over in the readings. And to be honest, I thought to myself…odd choice of wording.

ANYWHO. On our way out of the Lessons and Carols concert, my sister-in-law and I stopped in the side chapel to light a candle. And during this time, in addition to praying for my mom and family, I just prayed that God’s will be done in my life regarding my love life, my health, everything.

Fast forward to that night. ((I told you…this is quite the story. So keep up, people! We’re just getting good!))

That night, I come to learn that it is “IBD Awareness Week.” For those that don’t know, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (one of the two IBD’s — Crohn’s and Colitis) when I was 16 years old, and I ended up healing myself through the Specific Carb Diet. (Hence, the recipes I have begun sharing on this blog every Wednesday.)

But thinking about how we’re preparing for the miracle of Christmas, I started to draft a post for tonight, about how miracles don’t always just happen. Sometimes the miracle is God’s spirit inside of us, giving us the ability to work towards the miracle itself. Much like my Ulcerative Colitis: God bringing the idea of this diet into my life, and then blessing me with the self-discipline to follow it every day. Thus leading to my complete healing of my UC! That’s the miracle.

And then along the same “work for it” lines: the miracle of my healing from anorexia – God equipped me with the disciple and strength to choose recovery every day.

So that was the post I was going to publish tonight. However, it didn’t quite settle with me, because as I have shared in the past, I am struggling with infertility. One of the devastating repercussion of severe anorexia and being so deathly underweight for such a prolonged period of time is that your reproductive system shuts down, and sometimes, never comes back…as was my case.

Even though I am now healthy, my reproductive system had never recovered, and I have never had a period, as my anorexia developed before I “officially” went through puberty.

So I was thinking that, how could I publish that I was living a miracle in my recovery from anorexia, when the #1 tell tale sign of an ED is amenorrhea?

My eyelids had become too heavy, so I decided to just figure it out in the morning with a fresh brain.

Well friends, wouldn’t you know, that on the evening of celebrating the miracle that took place in Mary’s womb, a miracle took place in my own, as well.

Yes friends, you can now call me Fertile Myrtle.

And I’m crying joyous tears as I type that.

Now, why on earth have I decided to disclose this mortifying information with the world?

Not just because I truly believe it was a miracle. Not because we’ve been on this journey together and your friendship and support has been such an important part of my story, but because God can make all things new, and restore, even the most hopeless of situations.

I had completely come to terms with my infertility and mourned that loss. I should have never counted God down for the count.

Advent is the time where we prepare for the miracle of Christ’s birth. Maybe it was the candle my sister-in-law lit for me. Maybe it was shooting my prayers up through the Advent wreath. Or maybe it was God working through my day-in-day-out dedication to recovery all these years.

I will never know. But I do know that I have a lot to thank God for.

***THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS ORDERED MY BOOKS, BLOOM: A JOURNAL BY BEAUTYBEYONDBONES AND “MY BLOGGING TIPS“***

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BBB: Because we're all recovering from something. // For speaking/business inquiries: beautybeyondbones@yahoo.com

472 thoughts on “It’s a MIRACLE”

  2. This is the BEST news I’ve heard all week! Talk about an early Christmas present–I am so very, very happy for you and this awesome blessing!

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    1. Aww thank you so much for sharing in the excitement and joy with me!! It really is such a gift! Hugs and love xox

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  4. Celebrating with you as I wipe tears from my eyes!! God is our miracle worker. And no, it wasn’t the lit candle. He responds to faith. The fullness of His nature wants you completely restored so that as you tell what He has done, faith rises in another for their healing. Glory to God!

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  5. Wow! This was the first post I’ve been able to read of yours, :’) so glad I did!! I’m so new to this blogging stuff, can’t wait to gleen wisdom from you! Praise God for making Himself known to you is such a powerful way! His timing is always perfect!! 💗 I have a “womb” story as well! I’ll have to write about it someday ☺️.

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  6. GOD IS GOOD!!! Celebrating with you and remembering back to when my wife was healed in a similar fashion. After 18 years of marriage, and having died to the dream of having children, He saw fit to heal my wife and blessed us with our daughter, whom we named ‘Raphaella – Healed by God’. She is our testimony and HE is an AWSOME God!!!

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    1. Thank you so much Scott. Yes He is SO GOOD! Thanks for sharing that story. Wow – that is so touching! Hugs and love xox

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  7. Thank you for sharing this Christmas miracle with us. I’m so happy for you. I, last year was worried (well I have been for a very long time) that I could pass my medical condition to my future children and was so terrified. I finally asked my professor who is a scientist and teacher with a great deal of knowledge with great fear in my eyes. He had me sit down. He told me that it was not passable.That day I cried in my bed knowing now I could have children and not have that fear. So while our stories are not the same, I am truly happy for you. Your writing inspires me to share more of myself with my audience. I hope one day, I can give people the Christmas miracle of beautiful writing like yours.

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    1. Thank you so much Maria, i appreciate you sharing in the joy with me. Oh i am so happy to hear that for you. Thanks for your kind words. Hugs and love xox

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  9. Oh oh, what a miracle indeed. I am so happy for you and I pray that God continue to bless you with good health and happiness. Praise be to God forever and ever. 🙂

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  10. Dear Myrtle! What great news! I’ll bet you can’t ewomberate how many kinds of happy you are right now! I think this miracle is all part of the miracle of your overall recovery form ED. Look at how you’ve grown both physically and emotionally in the last few years. How many years was it before you could decide to put yourself out in a blog, however anonymously? How much longer before you could share your voice and name in that oh-so-shy, self-conscious video?

    I’ve said it before; I’ve watched you grow – and Blossom – as a young woman since the first day I started reading your blog two years ago. Originally, you were wombed kinda tight, but you gradually loosened up. Your courage has grown, your confidence is apparent, and I think all of this physical and mental healing has contributed to your miracle. Sometimes the mind follows the body, and sometimes the body follows the mind. Just like attitude is critical in a patient’s fight against a disease, so it is in one’s overall health. Time heals all wombs.

    Couple more thoughts for you at Patreon…

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    1. Thank you Jeff 🙂 ahaha Myrtle. Yes so joyful and grateful! That’s so true – and I’m so grateful for your friendship through it all. I think you’re right – time, attitude. Looking forward to reading your thoughts over on the Pat 🙂 thanks so much Jeff. Hope you’re having a nice week! Hugs and love xox

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  11. I am overjoyed at your blessings!!!!!!! Oh sweetheart! This weekend I was delivered from DEPRESSION, and have not taken a Zoloft in 5 days. Glory goes to God, and love, love, love you girl.

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  12. When we “listen” to all that is being said around us ~ isn’t it amazing what we “hear”. I love this story. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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      1. Your words pushed me to share my own listening moment in which I almost didn’t share. Thank you. xoxo

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      2. oh that’s so awesome! i’m so glad you took the plunge. i know your words are going to touch the hearts of those who read it 🙂 hugs xo

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  13. Your beauty continues to blossom in the Lord. As we seek Him, He delights in our aroma of faith. And we takes pleasure in His gift of the fragrance of Life. Peace

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  15. It is amazing how big of a God we serve!! I am so happy to hear of your blessing!! I know that God has great things in store for you!!! I am praying for a miracle of my own and reading this has given me hope. Praise God on His goodness and mercies!! Blessings this Christmas!! HUGS

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  18. Thank you so much for sharing your miracle story. What a beautiful hope offering! To God be all the glory from your “Beauty beyond bones” Story! You are radiant inside and out. Merry Christmas!

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  20. I know the feeling of being relieved to have your period! Ha ha! I was told about a year into being on a certain birth control that other women on that birth control had had side effects of infertility. I was SO mad and worried and scared. Then, as I got off that birth control, that first cycle was like an answer to prayers! Congrats girl! Embrace those cramps and flow! Ha ha (tmi?)

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    1. Thanks Gill 🙂 I’m so glad you can relate! Hahha yes! Embrace them! Not tmi at all 😎😎😎Hahah Hugs and love xox

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  22. Caralyn, this is such wonderful news! Never thought I’d celebrate a sister getting her period, but there’s a first for everything, right?

    A friend of mine has a blog, Barren to Beautiful, that I believe you’d enjoy. God worked in such a way as to heal her heart before all else.

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    1. Oh thank you so much Lynda! Hahaha yes a first for everything! Awesome. Thanks for passing her info along. Hugs and love xox

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    1. Thanks so much Margaret! Yes! ALL things are possible! Yes she came to mind for me as well. Thanks for sharing in the joy with me. Hugs and love xox

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  27. I cried tears of wonder, amazement and joy for you in this miracle, Caralyn. Our God heard your cries and saw your tears, and all I keep thinking/praying (to Jesus) is, “You have SO much in store for her!!!”

    It reminds me of a really moving song I know called “(77) You Heard Me” by Loud Harp. The lyrics go:
    “My voice rose up to you God
    I cried out loud
    My voice rose up to you God
    You heard me, you heard me
    Oh in my day of trouble
    When I couldn’t see
    Oh In my day of trouble
    When I couldn’t speak
    You held my eyes wide open
    You sang to me.”

    Its based directly off of Psalm 77. It’s lyrics and melody both speak o Jesus’ faithfulness and goodness to us. May it bless you.

    Rejoicing with you,
    Annalee

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    1. oh thank you so much Roshonda 🙂 hahah oh I am going to believe right along with ya!! pretty soon!!!!!! come on Father!! haha 🙂 hugs to you xx

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  30. Amazing. Completely amazing. Your miracle was inadvertently a miracle for me too. Between medical issues and surgery, family stuff, stress looking for work and just the general stress of the holiday season, I wasn’t feeling very fulfilled in my faith. Seeing this miracle happen to you reminds me what an awesome God we serve and how good He is even when we’re not looking. ❤ Hugs and polar bears!

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    1. thank you so much! Oh wow, friend, that just made my heart so warm. I’m so glad you feel that way. you’re right – He is good even when we’re not looking! so glad you stopped by! big hugs xo

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  31. Well now … firstly, wonderful news and surely a huge blessing of hopefulness and promise … secondly (in case nobody else has pointed this out), God was at work within you before you had those signs and pointers in church … your womb had to grow a lining before it could shed one! You may or may not have ovulated this time…But he chose to show you the miracle with a wonderful lead-up of blessing and hearing the news through those readings! It’s wonderful how it was all co-ordinated – and you were being prepared for receiving the gift … being made whole.

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    1. hi Mari! aw, thank you so much 🙂 yes! a HUGE blessing. and wow – what a great point! i didn’t realize that, but you’re so right! so true – He coordinated it all behind the scene 🙂 this made me smile. thanks for sharing your kindness 🙂 big hugs x

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  32. i am going to say the best “I told you so” ever.
    I am pretty sure I commented awhile back that this could happen. And it did.
    Even if my memory is wrong, I still thought it, so partial credit. Congratulations.

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    1. haha yes!! I’m 95% sure you did too!
      i remember that, and thinking how amazing that would be. i was guarding my heart at the time, trying not to allow myself to get my hopes up, but i should’ve never discounted God’s immense power. thank you friend 🙂 big hugs xox

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  33. I’m in joyful tears reading this!!! If God the Father could send God the Son into the world to be come the Incarnate, Word Made Flesh through a Virgin Birth in Our Blessed Mother, surely he could facilitate any miracle that is asked of him. God bless you! You have Saints in Heaven, known and unknown who have interceded for you as well! I will remember you in my prayers! God be praised! Alleluia! God bless you sister in Christ!

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    1. Aw thank you so much for sharing in the joy with me! Amen to that! Thank you for your prayers and kindness! Hugs and love xox

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  34. What a phenomenal testimony to share! Thank you for making hundred (or thousands) of people smile this week.
    And indeed, praise God from whom all blessings flow.
    Pun not intended 😮

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  36. As I was reading your post I thought ‘wow it really looks like she is being Blessed in that photo’ and then got to the end and was just OH MY GOD! Such wonderful news, congratulations!

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    1. Thank you so much! I know isn’t it crazy how that photo turned out? And it was totally candid! My sister in law was just snapping a couple pics! God is amazing! Hugs and love xox

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  40. Congrats Caralyn! So happy for you and excited to follow you on your journey with God. He is so faithful and often blesses us when we least expect it.

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  43. By the grace of God, broken people like you and me get to be reconciled through Christ’s shed blood! He loves you so much sister. I’m joyful with you in this miracle! The beauty is, God is good no matter what happens to us during this brief life. I’m so thankful Jesus is our Redeemer. Hugs and love to you❤

    but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
    Romans 5:8 ESV

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    1. Thanks Annabeth! Amen to that! He is our redeemer and we are made new. Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox

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  44. Congratulations!!!! 🍾🎊🎉What a miracle! It’s these big things that where said to be impossible that remind us in this world running from God that he loves and cares for each and everyone of us! Did you break into like a happy dance??? I think I would have been crying tears of joy and dancing all at the same time, Your excitement might fade after a couple months just saying but it will be reminder that God is there!
    Love,❤️
    Izzy

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    1. Thank you so much Izzy! I really appreciate you sharing in the Joy with me. I did many a happy dance! Haha Hugs and love xox

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  45. I rejoice with you!! What God has done for you is no small thing (as you well know!). It is all part of the bigger plans that are unfolding in your life. He is always working… and sometimes He just surprises us with the depth of His love!
    Your miracle reminds me of something that we can so often forget. Jesus not only came to give us new life, He came to make that life the best it can be. Even in areas where “the enemy” has brought devastation and destruction. Jesus is in the business of restoring us too!
    I would like to ask your permission to share a little bit of your story (and your miracle) in one of my posts. No names. Vague on the details. But your story reminds me of things I would like to share.
    Thanks for sharing your miracle with all of us. God is glorified most when we delight in Him! M. A.

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  46. I’m so happy for you !!! great news to hear indeed, I was having the same problem but not to your degree and when I read your post it gave me hope that God is still in control. Thank you for sharing

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  47. So, the old married Catholic chick rejoices with you. I am going to encourage you to check out Creighton, and Natural Family Planning to help track your fertility. Because “normal” is only defined in a dictionary and not in the mysterious personhood of woman. Tracking your fertility now will help you a lot even as a single woman, our bodies give us a lot of information. Our cycles can be anywhere from 21 days to as much as 60 days. The gift of this is that we are individuals, the hard part is finding a physician that will listen when we bring concerns. I remember teaching one of my docs how to look at fertility differently, and why we did this.
    The beautiful thing goes beyond the gift of fertility, and the potential to bear children, but to the mysterious working of God in our lives, in our bodies, and in our faith.
    Rejoice!
    Gaudete!
    Teri

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    1. Thank you so much Teri! Thanks for passing along that information. I’ll definitely check it out. Yes! He works in very mysterious ways. Hugs and love xox

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  49. So happy for you Caralyn! Yay! From the picture of Brad Pitt I thought you were going to say that you found yourself a man. Lol! But seriously, this is BIG! God loves you so much and has not forgotten about you and He showed you that by healing you. Like you said, you had come to terms with that area of your life, showing humility, which God saw and so He gave you a little early present for Christmas. Next thing, colitis! Gone, in Jesus name!
    Love you sis!
    KEEP THE LIGHT ON!

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  50. Congrats! This is my first time stopping over at your blog and I’m glad that the first thing I get to see is news like this.

    Miracles. I’ve been thinking, praying, and writing (in emails) about them so much lately. Our God does the impossible, all the time, everyday, every moment. How do we not see it, believe in it? I love what you said about God’s spirit in us working us through and towards the miracle — sometimes that really is how it is.

    A few years ago I went through some very difficult and traumatizing health issues that left me believing the lie that I’d never be able to carry. Well, not only am I 35 weeks pregnant (due Jan 4th!), but it has been the healthiest and most hopeful journey, ever.

    God is beautiful in that he surprises us with miracles even when we don’t believe them possible, or see them coming. Love that you are living out His blessings and writing to tell the story.

    Blessings on you and your baby!

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    1. Aw man, I just reread your post and realized Fertile Myrtle was implying something else…

      Even still, God can do the impossible. I am seeing it in my very own life and womb right now and will continue to believe that he could do the same for other women, even you!

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      1. Hahaha no worries! Yeah i probably could have been a little more specific, but i just could bring myself to be like -“i got my period!!” (snort laughs while adjusts glasses) hahah yes!

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    2. Aw thank you Rae! Yeah it’s super exciting! You’re right nothing is impossible for Him. And wow that is just amazing. I will keep you and your baby in my prayers! So exciting! Hugs and love xox

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