Have an awesome Christmas!

  

How exciting to celebrate Christ’s birth again! This is truly our favorite season!  Of course we’re blessed to live in joy year round because of Christ’s entrance into our world – intriguing since through Jesus the heavens and earth were originally made.

 

2021 has been an unusual year for us - two people who grew up in the rather calm fifties. Such social turbulence and medical confusion! Thank God we’re resilient as children of the King of Kings, Lord of Lords and so are you. 

 

Our Personal News: 

Praise God, Wayne, my husband, had a good report on his latest heart echogram! His heart function is back in the normal range. 

 

We plan to winter in Florida again where we spent last Feb. and March. We’ll bring along our laptops so writing continues. Wayne spends several hours a day researching and writing. What fun after all these years of marriage – almost 60– to see him as an author.  He has many people who look forward to his daily blogs. (E-mail me your address if you’d like to be on the list.)

 

While in FL we had a fun week with our adult daughters Tamara and Pam who joined us in March to celebrate Wayne’s birthday. We also had pleasant times with dear friends in Ocala. Can’t forget the beauty of experiencing Door County, WI in July. This October we celebrated my birthday in Branson, Missouri with our daughter Pam and son-in-law John. We enjoyed the incredible Jesus play and visiting Dogwood Canyon and other sites. 

 

Our home base, a thrice-expanded cottage in the woods, is truly a refuge. We awake every morning filled with praise to live in God’s beautiful setting although I did become ill with Lyme’s disease for two months courtesy of a deer tic. 

 

A few years back, I closed my marriage and family counseling practice of several decades. Now I’m now privileged to counsel countless couples virtually via YouTube videos on my channel which gives me great joy.

 

I sensed the need to be an advocate for children this year. I spoke at our local school board about the psychological damage that masking children does to them by creating an atmosphere of fear in what should be a safe place. Child suicide is rising at ever earlier ages and masking doesn’t permit kids to experience facial cues necessary for healthy socialization.  Cloth masks, it’s been proven, don’t stop the spread of viruses and children rarely get seriously ill from Cov anyway.

 

We have no objection to adults choosing vaccination (although it’s been proven natural immunity is way better) but we oppose vaccinating children with an experimental serum when there’s no scientific knowledge of long term effects. Sadly we have a family member harmed neurologically by the J & J vaccine and we await the day when more research is done.

 

Over and over God tells us not to live in fear – it’s the most frequently given command in scripture. There seems to be something evil at work in the world creating tension and fear, but not to worry. Our God will right all wrongs in His perfect way and time. 

 

I love having frequent conversations with Him throughout the day. Some of them evolved into my latest devotional God’s Near, for helping draw people closer to Him. Recently, I completed another new book in 2021, another children’s fantasy novel, Mystery of the Silver Shells - Book 3 in the Tommy Smurlee series.

 

I hope to spend 2022 reading and relaxing more and enjoying extended times of contemplative prayer. With 4 adult children and their spouses, 7 amazing grandchildren, 3 great-grands and a world gone wild, I have plenty of prayer opportunities.

 

We want you to know we appreciate you! We’re all in this together, simply trying to live our best life day by day. I love that Christmas is a season to be enjoyed all year in our hearts and with friends and family at every opportunity. 

 

Our prayer is that this Christmas you will experience the rich emotion of deep unending joy. Joy, joy, joy in Jesus today, tomorrow and always is what Christmas is all about.

 

Sending love,

Judith and Wayne

 

 

Thanksgiving 2021 - So Grateful!!!

 

 
Pondering thanksgiving…

Another year and it’s been an amazing one on multiple levels.
 
We’re grateful for continued good health overall. This means taking the next breath for each of us – not without some pain and challenges. Lyme’s disease darkened my days of September and October, and left behind some continual joint pain, but I’m functioning forward and beyond grateful. I'm thrilled to continue to provide free marriage and family counseling via my YouTube channel - Judith Rolfs.
 
We have a new great grand baby now one-year-old and a new book baby, GOD’S NEAR! 
 
I’m mindful of thanksgiving as a humbling act. It causes us to pause a moment and use a moment of our present life for honoring past moments. When we give thanks we acknowledge that we’re the recipient of a blessing, often times undeserved and often not self-initiated. To be a thankful person requires a focused mind alert to the happenings deserving of thanks that surround us. 
 
Thanksgiving is akin to praise. Why are they connected? Because praise and thanksgiving is naturally due our amazing God who is the author of every good and beautiful thing. God inhabits the praises of His people.
 
Furthermore, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:4–5 ESV
 
My favorite quote on thanksgiving is by G.K. Chesterton. “Thanks are the highest form of thought, and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

 
On Thanksgiving Day 2021 may we remember in the midst of all that is flawed and unholy and unlovable in this world, there is a God who loves us today and forever. He promises us a holy rescue to the heights of heaven on a future day where pain shall be no longer. In the meantime God assures us of His presence and comfort no matter what. 

 
I’m hoping my new book will remind readers of this. May it find its way into homes and hearts during this season.
 

 
 
https://www.amazon.com/GODS-NEAR-Judith-Rolfs/dp/097998954X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=God%27s+Near+Judith+rolfs&qid=1637792109&qsid=143-3084989-1657669&s=books&sr=1-1&sres=097998954X&srpt=ABIS_BOOK

GOD’S LOVE AND GRACIOUS GOODNESS TO US NEVER FAILS. 
 
 
BLESSED THANKSGIVING!

SAINTS AMONG US!

 It occurred to me how wonderful it would be to celebrate people in our lives who have inspired us. Who comes to your mind?

Some very special women I’m privileged to call friends are Sue Drefs and Karen Sweetman who are first to call and insist upon bringing over a meal or a pastry whenever they hear of someone going through a difficult time of illness or loss. Many times they’ve blessed me like this. Probably not until heaven will anyone know how many people they have helped by not asking what they can do, but just doing.
 
There’s my precious friend Pat Cavenagh with her awesome ministries over the years. She worked in the Joliet prison changing the lives of many black women who were incarcerated and so dangerous many were afraid to have any connection. She also had a ministry with her husband of bringing people to Christ by inviting them for dinner and telling them about Jesus and a wonderful Christian retreat experience which led many to a lifetime of loving and serving Christ. Countless couples have been impacted along with their families through the years. Plus her ministry of powerful prayer for healing has had enormous impact. 
 
Gloria Bianchini along with her husband founded the Christian Royal Oak Apple Orchard Restaurant and Gift Shop. One only has to walk on the property to sense it is a sacred place dedicated to Christ and the glory of God. Gloria has hosted numerous Bible studies for the community on her property. She’s quite a Bible scholar and shares the fruit of her studies with many, including me.
 
Author Becky Melby started a writing ministry to bring writers together to mutually hone their skills and graciously opened her home up to include men and women and even homeschool students interested in developing writing skills. Becky has a recent book she co-authored with Cynthia Ruchti, another godly woman. It’s titled Spouse in the House for wives adapting to husbands who retired or started working at home full-time. Both women are incredible authors of fiction also and I highly recommend their books, especially this new one. https://www.amazon.com/Spouse-House-Rearranging-Attitudes-Other/dp/0825446783
 
Then there’s Joann and Heather and Sandy with their hospitality gifts, and Margaret with her Angel Prayer ministry and Mary with her local Christian book club and Debbie leading a weekly Moms in Prayer Group and on and on. These are only some of the women who have been models for me as they serve Christ and one another. There are many more and it’s a great honor to know them and call them friends. 
 
Now who are the women in your life who have inspired you? Perhaps you’ll want to have a conversation to let them know. We truly do have saints among us still! 
 
WRITING/SPEAKING UPDATE
I’m delighted My YouTube channel continues to grow. Through it I’m blessed to counsel couples with strategies to improve their marriages and parents. You can visit and subscribe for free https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXIRtQGmA77eHR9ZWHi50Cw for marriage and parenting and life enrichment videos.
 
 
My new God’s Near devotional book of poetic prayer prose will soon be available. The cover design is complete. See a sneak preview below. Final text editing is sooooo much work. Several times I’ve been tempted to quit, but then an impetus (can only be God’sgrace) keeps me at it. I pray God’s Near will heighten readers love for God and create even deeper connection with Him as they cope with this troubled, chaotic world. You can check out all my books at my amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Judith-Rolfs/e/B001KI0KLU
 
HAPPY FALL!!!
 
“So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others so they may see your good deeds and glorify your father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Remembering...

 Do we honor them enough?

 
I’ve always been in awe of those who serve our country in the military. What an incredible measure of courage and selflessness to sacrifice one’s life fighting death-defying battles on behalf of others.
 

I also think of what it takes to be married to such a person or one of their children wondering if this is the day a beloved spouse or parent doesn’t return home... We have family members and friends married to these heroes.
 
Words are inadequate to describe the debt we owe, the reverence they deserve. Jesus knows because, fully God, He became fully man and sacrificed His life for us enduring a tortuous death.
 
The police who have lost their lives defending us should be honored also. By the way, the idea of defunding the police must have come from the pit of hell. Who wants to turn our neighborhoods over to thugs and drug addicts? It’s truly one of the most ridiculous ideas I’ve heard. We are so grateful to have soldiers and policemen willing to protect us and uphold law and order.
 
Wondering if our children fully understand the sacrifice of these lives for others. What a sacred gift!  Memorial Day weekend is a great time to have a conversation with adult sons and daughters and grandchildren about why we honor these men and women.

May our flag always fly over our LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE.
Galatians 5: 1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

WRITING AND SPEAKING UPDATE:
PLEASE CHECK OUT MY AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL(JudithRolfs) FOR MY NEW BOOKS AND VIDEOS PROMOTING FANTASTIC FAMILIES. (YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE.) I APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS THAT MANY WILL BE BLESSED.
 https://www.amazon.com/Judith-Rolfs/e/B001KI0KLU%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXIRtQGmA77eHR9ZWHi50Cw

Happy Day-After Mother's Day!

 The Fatherhoood of God is great and glorious, but around Mother’s Day I love to contemplate Mary, the mother of Jesus.

I have questions I want to ask her. Like Jesus’ first thirty years with you, Mary, what were they like? Was it ever boring washing His dishes, cleaning His clothes as a young child, the routine of life with the Son of God? How special was it?

When He matured did He still live at home? I assume so. Did you pray for Him, as I do for my grown sons and daughters?

 

Did you ponder, as I sometimes did with my two sons and two daughters, what details would unfold in the future or were you too busy caught up in the dailies to give much thought to what came next?

 

Finding the right balance between training and encouragement – was this a challenge for you Mary, as it was for me? Did Jesus ever become unruly, silly? I imagine Him being strong-willed and very articulate.

 

I didn’t raise the Son of God, but I’ve had the privilege of being a mom for over fifty years and what an adventure it’s been! When I meet moms with kids in the grocery store I often tell them to enjoy every minute of this fleeting time of hands-on parenting. I don’t tell them the big secret I never knew when I had four kids. I’m not sure young moms are ready to hear it yet. Mothering never ends.  

 

In those early years it didn’t occur to me I’d still have a modeling and prayer role to play in my children’s lives when they were grown. They still keep watching me.

 

My humble privilege is to pray extensively for our adult children, seven grandchildren and three greats.  I know prayer has supernatural power releasing intensified activity of God in their lives. My continual mothering through prayer is intangible, invisible and DAILY wherever their location. Through prayer I feel connected even when our children live a thousand miles away. 

 

I pray God’s peace, protection and guidance for them in this often-turbulent world. 

My parenting wasn’t perfect, as I expect Mary’s was, but I’m counting on my prayers to redeem mistakes.  What a lifelong blessing it is to pray for our children! James 5:16 … The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous (wo)man availeth much.

 

MY MOTHER’S DAY GIFT TO YOU DEAR READERS:

It’s my great pleasure to make available FREE through amazon this e-book for you.

*May 18^th Jesus Time, Love Notes of Wonder & Worship – a prayer devotional that may set the tone for your personal prayers. It can be read on any computer, smart phone, Ipad, etc. FREE only on the day listed so check the date

 

WRITING UPDATE

 

FOR FUN WITH KIDS OF ALL AGES THIS SUMMER DON’T MISS MY NEW BOOK: Parent’s Treasurebox of Ideas great present for moms to give themselves. Packed with special activities for fun times and bonding with your children.

 

My YOUTUBE ON 10 WAYS TO SHOW RESPECT FOR YOUR SPOUSE IS UP TO 3000 views! You’d help me out greatly if you’d take a moment to subscribe to my channel “Judith Rolfs.” Thanks!

 

I’M SO EXCITED THAT THE NEW TOMMY SMURLEE/GRELLA WELLER ADVENTURE WAS JUST RELEASED IN TIME FOR SUMMER READING. My first readers have been adults who like the mystery fantasy also! 

 

LATEST IN THE POPULAR TOMMY SMURLEE AND GRELLA WELLER MYSTERY, FANTASY AND ADVENTURE SERIES

Tommy, Grella, and friends journey to the amazing Dunster's Camp of Mystery and Inventions for fun, intrigue, and danger. Campers compete to create inventions and solve the Mystery of the Silver Shells as battles of good against evil rage around them. 

 

Unique activities encourage creativity and imagination and fill each day with wonder! Camp counselors, Spindlesticks, Wishkowski and Zeller direct wild activities such as Kadiddles, Slap/Dash and Dreamology. 

 

HERE’S WHAT CHILDREN SAY ABOUT The Adventures of Tommy Smurlee: 

“It’s great! A fast-moving, fun book.” Drew, age13 

“I read it twice in one week and many times since." Steve, age 14.

“Mom read Tommy Smurlee aloud to me. I loved it!” Daniel, age 8 

“I couldn’t stop reading. Grella is my favorite character." Christine, 12

Other Tommy Smurlee books: Tommy Smurlee and Dunster's Camp of Mystery and Adventures and Tommy Smurlee and the Missing Statue. 

 

The author, Dr. Judith Rolfs, a marriage and family counselor, specializes in the development of children's creativity and providing valuable life lessons about character and values that her readers absorb through the Silver Team's adventures. jwrolfs@gmail.com

 

The Adventures of Tommy Smurlee is fun and fantasy at its best! 

FOR AGES 8 THRU ADULT

Available now on Amazon 

Coming soon to local bookstores like Angelus Shop

 

Mother's Day 

To God be the glory!

Our grandchildren Joshua and Anna's Confirmation:

 

 

MAINTAINING JOY IN YOUR MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP, Simple Ways To Add Zip

Pain and Joy

This past weekend was the 8th anniversary of our grandson Drew's death. Today would be his 33rd birthday. We mourn losing him so young. As I prayed recently about his life, I sensed the following words  I hope they encourage you as they did me.

         My name is Drew Swan and I’m in heaven. I left the earth at age 24 and I’d like to tell you about my life experiences before and after that. I’m sharing this through my grandma who is a writer. She was close to me and would know the things I want to say.

        I got into drugs early starting with alcohol and then other drugs in high school but I’m proud to say that I didn’t die from drug overdose. Although that could’ve happened twice in my life when I was taken comatose by ambulance to the ER. 

I truly did get my life sorted out and I am proud of the fact that I was able to help some other cool young people find purpose and courage to live their best lives. I had a very sweet girlfriend and she laid the law down against my opiate use and sadly that ended our relationship. I certainly made the wrong choice there. I realize that. 

I wrote music, lots of songs, and played the piano even the drums for a while. Music was a release for some anger I felt when my parents divorced which I never thought would happen because we were a Christian family but some bad choices were made. None of us are perfect so I’m not putting blame on my parents, just saying it was a tough thing to go through, even in my late teens. 

I’m glad to know that many of my relatives have read the book Imagine Heaven and they kinda know what it’s like to be where I am. I’m totally excited about having them join me here someday. I pray that’s true for anybody reading this to come here, too.

The last conversation I had with my younger brother, Jack, I said to him, “It’s all about Jesus, it really is.” You get that relationship straight and it’s easy to live up to your life potential. OK so I know I left earth earlier than most, but I don’t think my premature departure will be wasted if I can help some guys and gals now. 

I did have a lot of life experiences that were great in my twenty-four years. I traveled to Costa Rica, Australia - had school semester there, went to Hawaii a couple times, Florida many times, Colorado, Door County biking, hiking. I had a really loving, fun family. We had great times together.

I lived in a small town in Wisconsin and teachers and coaches were good and kind, neighbors were friendly and life was good. I have no complaints. Problem was once you get started on drugs, those drug dealers are very persistent. When I came back from Australia the first call I got on my iPhone was from a guy with a promise of joy for a low price. I wasn’t strong enough in my inner self to resist. Later with the help of a good support system, which is essential, I made better choices. 

Sure, life is hard at times but if you think drugs are an answer you are living a mirage, because they truly are not the way to go. 

I hope I can help others realize this in time. I also want to say I am loving the life of heaven. It’s beyond anybody’s imagination the colors, the music! I could do some stuff on earth, like I could paint – I had a lot of gifts. But nothing like this. I like the sound of the ocean in my ears. Heaven is beyond beautiful. Life is awesome here.

Back to my past a bit. People were attracted to me like a magnet. I was very outgoing and had lots of fun wherever I went. I sensed joy deep inside when I’d be in church service singing Christian songs and they went through to the core of my being. I loved the experience. Wish I had the mental maturity to choose better than I did with my priorities at the time. 

I was the first grandkid to read the Adventures of Tommy Smurlee which I loved. She even let my picture be on the cover of the first edition. Yeah, I know she loved every one of her grandkids just as much as me. We had so much fun together playing games, on Halloween scavenger hunts and playing egg and balloon toss at the lake and in the woods. My grandpa taught me golf and I went to several of the great golf schools that he ran for Christian athletes. 

Growing up I heard the gospel – Jesus lived, died for my sins and rose from the dead – and I believed it was important to love God and my neighbor. I wish I had lived it out as well as I knew I should. But hey, this is about encouraging all of you to be brave and be a fool for Christ. 

In my last year on earth, I wrote several blogs and was truly humbled by the positive responses I got from readers. Maybe you wanna check those out. https://drewswan.wordpress.com/2013/02/

This is going on my eighth year in heaven. I’m glad to see my family coping without me. I know how loved I was and they’d want me back on earth in a second. No way would I leave this place, much as I love them.  We will be together again which I’m really looking forward to – we’ve got a lot of celebrating to do. 

I’m glad to know that my girlfriend on earth is a mama with a good man to take care of her - she knows I love her forever. I know what we had but I’m wanting her to have a great life right there on earth now.

 I am so grateful to God for loving me and for snatching me straight into His arms. So no tears for me. Crying time is long over. Family, you just keep living to the fullest. Thank you all for loving me so much during all my years on earth. 

Go ahead say Christians are crazy and be crazy yourself, because of believing Jesus rose from the dead. Whose going to do that? Well I want you to know that the resurrection is real and not just Christ but I Andrew Swan am living in heaven forever and it’s all because of Jesus. Hope to see you here someday. 

From Drew signing off from heaven (via Grandma).

WRITING UPDATE:

As Drew said, "It's all about Jesus." If you haven't already done so, I urge you to read Jesus Time, Love Notes of Wonder and Worship, 365 Devotionals that will encourage your faith and can deepen your relationship with him. https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Time-Notes-Wonder-Worship/dp/0979989574/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1603732535&sr=1-1&asin=0979989574&revisionId=&format=4&depth=2

 

New Adventure For You - An Invitation

Interruptions, we all have them. Some are critical, like our 53-year-old son David’s open heart surgery on Jan. 17. All the world seems to pause when someone we love is critically ill. David barely survived a placenta previa birth. At age eighteen, he developed acute leukemia and months later was hit by a drunk driver. Later that year, David had an experimental bone marrow transplant which worked, glory to our miracle-working God! 

However, that life-saving transplant required extensive total body radiation which, thirty-five years later, has dangerously impacted David’s blood vessels and heart. Dr. Weiss at St. Luke’s restructured his heart physically but we know God gave David a new spiritual heart when he was very young and the strength of that heart carried him through this surgery and the numerous challenges of his life. Happily, he’s recovering well with the support of his wife Kathy, sixteen-year-old twins Joshua and Anna and the help of loving family and friends.

 

I’m eager to share with you my New Year’s resolution to read through the Bible in a year again.  It’s not too late if you’d like to join me. (You can start and end with the month February.) The picture shows the Bible I’m using, but any version will do or even just a reading plan.

 

During this emerging year that’s already been filled with clamor and public expressions of hatred, it’s been a joy to immerse myself in the great love story of God for his people. Returning love for hate, and offering forgiveness readily when we’re hurt is tough stuff to do without God guiding our life. I hope you’ll consider this adventure too. We’ll visit ancient lands and cultures and experience the justice, love and mercy of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit firsthand. 

 

Praying for you, dear friends, that you’ll be energized by knowing God has a continual, valuable life purpose for you whatever your age. May you find huge delight in loving Him and being attentive to the needs around you.

 

WRITING UPDATE:

 

January whisked by. I have no book signing events planned in the near future but my books are all available online as e-books and the print versions are at Angelus Gift Shop in Walworth. If you have a Kindle Unlimited account you can read my e-books for free. You might enjoy my mystery Bullet in the Night in front of a winter fire.  I’m privileged to edit Wayne’s Monday through Friday blog. If you’d like to receive his free inspirational messages please send me your email with a request.

 

Do visit my free YouTube channel. I’m happy to report almost four hundred people have watched the presentation on Ten Ways To Show Respect For Your Husband. May it be of great benefit to every viewer! Check out the kid’s stories for your little ones. 

 

Here’s To A FABUOUS February!!!