A Proper Intro

Everyone starts somewhere.  Judi Braddy was born in Monett, Missouri, but spent her growing up years in Wichita, Kansas.  These were happy times of involvement in an incredible number of church, school and civic activities—including journalism.  Her first article was published in The 206 Times, her sixth grade newspaper, followed by a stint on the junior high paper and yearbook staff. There must have been budding talent as she remembers her yearbook sponsor, Mrs. Rutledge, making her bring a note from her mother to prove she really wrote one submission.  Her report cards all say she would’ve been a better student if she didn’t talk so much.  Now it’s her full-time job.  Go figure!

In college she met and eventually married a handsome young minister named Jim Braddy.  His first assignment brought them to California, then on to various ministries throughout the west and Northwest.  This included 10 very interesting years in Alaska and has provided opportunities for travel in the Far East, Mid Pacific, Central and South America, Africa and Europe.  Jim’s current position as a denominational executive has allowed Judi more freedom to pursue her life-long passion for writing and speaking.

These days Judi is a busy author and motivational speaker for retreats, seminars and workshops.  She is a regular contributor to magazines such as Woman’s Touch, Enrichment Journal and Side By Side, an online newsletter for pastor’s wives and has published numerous other articles, poems and essays, both religious and secular.

Her five books are all non-fiction works.  Prodigal In The Parsonage: Encouragement for Ministry Leaders Whose Child Rejects Faith is written from personal experience and provides hopeful, helpful and heartwarming insights for parents, especially those in ministry, who are walking the prodigal pathway.  Simple Seasons: Little Lessons for Large Living, is a devotional featuring a compilation of her articles from Woman’s Touch Magazine. It All Comes Out In The Wash: Sorting Through Priorities When Your Load Is Out of Balance, weaves a wash-day theme that helps women Gain the knowledge to help turn the Tide in bringing their spiritual lives and relationships back into balance. True North: Staying on Course Through Life’s Changing Circumstances, employs her experiences living in a remote Alaskan village to create an enjoyable journey, helping the reader find faith and footing whatever direction life takes.  Camp Gramma: Putting Down Spiritual Stakes for Your Grandchildren is her newest book which combines personal examples with practical helps to impart insight, wisdom and the tools for embracing modern-day grandparenthood.  Excerpts from all five books can be found in the Book Nook.

As for speaking, any event crafted to make folks feel encouraged, inspired and valued is Judi’s kind of gathering. She especially loves speaking for women’s events and has taught a number of writing workshops.  This includes several consecutive years at the annual Redwood Writer’s Conference held in Castro Valley, California and three years as president of Sacramento Christian Writers.  A sample of popular topics can be found by visiting the Dining Room. You might also be interested in seeing the events Judi already has scheduled for 2009 which are posted in the Office.

Other interests include music, sewing, interior decorating, gardening and reading. Judi and her husband, Jim, are both credentialed ministers who travel extensively in the U.S. and overseas conducting personal enrichment seminars. They have been married for 41 years, are the parents of three grown sons and the (very young) grandparents of five adorable grandchildren.  They currently reside in Elk Grove, California.

Updated 03/21/2011 using Microsoft FrontPage 2003