Jerry L. Woodbridge

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Hi! I am Dr. Jerry Woodbridge, the author of Joy Overcame Sorrow. Creative writing has always been a part of my life. I think as a child the first book I put together with words and drawings was about a dolphin who befriended a little girl. The dolphin’s name was Jamie. The little girl and Jamie would play together along the shore! I loved dolphins and I still do. I have also made a few laminated stories for my grandsons.

As a teenager, creating poetry and journal writing became the norm. I think I still have the black and white photo of me standing next to a visiting poet in our junior high classroom while he reviewed my poems. I wrote articles for the Englewood High school newspaper and eventually served as editor in my senior year. After graduation, I answered the call to become a teacher. There were periodic times of inspiration where I caught myself with pen in hand or fingers on the computer keyboard to record my thoughts and feelings. I journalled as I carried my first child. I journalled and wrote letters to a birthmother through a closed adoption. I saved her letters to give to my son when he was old enough to understand the why of it all.

I became familiar with academic writing when I completed my dissertation and earned the PhD in Education with a specialization in Educational technology in 2003 from Walden University.

I found clarity in writing, especially after encountering losses of babies, my beloved husband, Dave, and other family members. I became a widow in 2004 when my husband died quickly from colon cancer. 3 years after my husband died, I could no longer ignore my grief. Out came the journal! I scribbled all my thoughts on it! Then, I was invited to attend a Christian Writers Conference near Indianapolis, so I brought my latest journal. At this point, I had no idea what I would do with it but then the widow’s devotional concept was birthed, and I began to seek out how God looked at the widow through scriptures. I self-published Trading My Sorrows for the Joy of the Lord in 2010.

I have been an educator for 40 years. There were times, as a teacher I was on the front line with helping children grieve the loss of a loved one. Originally, my goal in 2019 was to become a TEDX speaker about how ballroom dancing helped me get unstuck and move through my grief. For some odd reason, the group did not understand why I wanted to do this. They challenged me to write a children's book on grief. At first, I resisted, then I began to learn what was really involved in writing a fictional book from a 10-year-old girl's point of view on how she coped after losing her dad in a car accidents.

I believe Children need to read books written from their perspective, especially around difficult topics, such as grief and sorrow. I am in the final stages of publishing through Hope Books, Joy Overcame Sorrow. Since Joy records her memories, thoughts, and ideas about loss, heaven, and her beliefs.

Joy Overcame Sorrow

Book COMING SOON!

JOY'S Journal Prompt

Joy’s journal prompts compliment the book, Joy Overcame Sorrow. Part of moving through grief and sorrow is reflection. Reflect on the good memories we shared with the one we lost. Reflect on our response to the loss of a loved one. There are questions related to the book and open-ended questions for the reader to respond to in their own way. It could be used individually or in a group like in a classroom or in counseling setting.

"An Inspirational Voice of Hope for Christian Women!"

As a women's group leader at our local church, I recently had the privilege of hosting Ella as a
guest speaker, and her message of hope left an indelible mark on our hearts. Ella's ability to
captivate and inspire our group was nothing short of remarkable.