Prelude to Joy

A Journey of Hope and Healing Through Trauma and Grief.
A hidden adoption. A forced separation. A long goodbye.
We all have a story, but stories get lost unless we share them. Broken stories. Healing stories. Often, the circumstances are not important, but what we do with those circumstances is important. Our response and reaction can change everything. Patricia survived a childhood of complex trauma, and she uniquely intertwines reflections of trauma with glimpses of humor and grace. Ultimately, she discovers that grief and joy can coexist.

Told with honesty and raw emotion, her words powerfully reveal nuggets of wisdom and gratitude from a variety of life experiences. Many of those were gained on unforgettable short-term mission trips around the world. The faces, the work, and the landscapes show the enduring yet fragile pulse of life.

Prelude to Joy is a redemptive memoir filled with resilience, vulnerability, courage, and relentless grace. It will speak to anyone who has suffered unimaginable grief and felt abandoned and alone. Patricia's journey proves pain does not have the final say. Love does.