BOOKS

Joy Overcame Sorrow is a heartfelt coming-of-age story about ten-year-old Joy, a bright, adventurous girl whose world is turned upside down in an instant. After a perfect day at the park with her best friend Bella, Joy returns home to devastating news: her father has died in a tragic car accident.

Shattered by grief, Joy struggles to make sense of life without the person who meant everything to her. Nothing in her world feels the same. However, with the quiet strength of her mother, the loyalty of a true friend, and unexpected moments of hope, Joy slowly begins to find her way through the darkness.

As seasons change, so does Joy. She learns that healing doesn’t mean forgetting and that love, especially a father’s love and a daughter’s love for her father, never truly leaves. Through memory, music, and moments of unexpected beauty, Joy discovers a quiet courage within herself.

This is a tender, uplifting story of loss, friendship, and enduring love, faith, and hope that guide her through her darkest days, allowing her to embrace joy again. 

Losing a loved one changes everything. When ten-year-old Joy’s world is turned upside down by the sudden loss of her father, she must navigate grief, healing, and hope. Joy Overcame Sorrow follows her journey—but what about yours?

This companion journal invites you to reflect on your own experiences with loss. Through guided questions, thoughtful prompts, and space to write, you’ll explore Joy’s story while making sense of your own emotions. How do you cope with change? What memories bring you comfort? Where can you find joy again?

Whether you’re grieving, remembering, or simply seeking a way forward, this journal offers a safe place to process your thoughts and honor your journey. You are not alone.

There is a moment in each widow or widower's life where a decision must be made. The choice is whether to trade her/his unexpected sorrows for the life of the past or embrace the future. "Yes, Lord!" This book offers multiple perspectives on widowhood. It is a collaborative effort that began with a small group of young widows that met for fellowship and encouragement over Thursday lunches. Our conversations ranged from how to cope with our grief to dealing with our own realities as single parents and unexpected widows. Jerry began to keep a journal, which lead her and Vickie to writing devotionals from a widow's perspective. This project expanded as awareness arose of other widow and widowers who were open to sharing their stories of going through the mourning process. Healing began when we traded our stories with each other and found the joy of the Lord.

When grief crashes in like a relentless storm, it can leave you feeling adrift and alone. Anchored in Grief, Lifted by Grace is a tender, faith-filled companion for anyone navigating loss—whether from death, divorce, heartbreak, illness, or life’s unexpected detours. With raw honesty, gentle wisdom, and Scripture-rooted hope, Jerry offers practical reflections and soul-soothing prompts for journaling and prayer. His words remind you that grace is not an abstract idea but a lifeline strong enough to steady you when everything feels undone. Whether read in solitude, in a support group, or given as a gift to someone in mourning, this book points to the steady presence of God and the promise that you never have to walk this journey alone.