Sunday, September 25, 2016

Fall is time for major closet cleaning - sorting through clothes screaming with memories –

The wool slacks bought in Door County at Whistling Swan the day after my sister-in-law died when I had college-age children too and didn’t buy myself much. I said why put off an expensive purchase when life was so short. The somber way I walked for days after her premature death is still only a moment’s thought away. I gently slide the slacks into my giveaway bag.

I see the paisley corduroy skirts, matching my own, I bought for my mom in her 80’s to keep her looking young. The long green velvet skirt with the huge embroidered poinsettia I wore several years when giving Christmas programs at Mom’s adult day care center. How the older ladies admired it!

I touch and lovingly fold the two suits purchased after my first radio show in anticipation of many more. A perfect dress to meet my publishers at the CBA Booksellers Convention – what dreams I had for touching millions of lives through my writing – dreams realized in smaller proportions.

Funny how certain outfits remind me of people – dear friends, business associates – I wonder did I dress with them in mind, wanting to fit in? I hope not. Clothes worn for teaching college classes, and for counseling clients - a special wardrobe in itself.

I touch the sweaters purchased to wear during my eleven months of chemo for Hepatitis C when I’d lost a lot of weight. The outfit I bought for our son Dan and Stephanie’s wedding rehearsal dinner fifteen years ago. How the years fly.

Clothes tell the story of all my days, sometimes sweet and sunlit, others sorrow-laden. Lord, it’s been a busy life, lots of outfits, many events, all lived out in love.

Clothing becomes part of my history. It’s comfortable to embrace the past of life’s passage and stay there, but these memories can be clutched for only a limited time. Lord I move forward with You in the garments appropriate for now.

“Having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

1 Timothy 6:8 New King James Version (NKJV)

Update for my Circlemaker Prayer Team:

Praise for Sept. Christian Women’s Connection speaking events in Neenah and Wautoma, WI!

Coming up: October 8^th Cornerstone Shop & Gallery, 1-3 p.m. Lake Geneva, WI

Tues. October 11^th Lake Geneva Museum 2 p.m. Author Presentation

Thank you friends for praying.

Fall is time for major closet cleaning - sorting through clothes screaming with memories –

The wool slacks bought in Door County at Whistling Swan the day after my sister-in-law died when I had college-age children too and didn’t buy myself much. I said why put off an expensive purchase when life was so short. The somber way I walked for days after her premature death is still only a moment’s thought away. I gently slide the slacks into my giveaway bag.

I see the paisley corduroy skirts, matching my own, I bought for my mom in her 80’s to keep her looking young. The long green velvet skirt with the huge embroidered poinsettia I wore several years when giving Christmas programs at Mom’s adult day care center. How the older ladies admired it!

I touch and lovingly fold the two suits purchased after my first radio show in anticipation of many more. A perfect dress to meet my publishers at the CBA Booksellers Convention – what dreams I had for touching millions of lives through my writing – dreams realized in smaller proportions.

Funny how certain outfits remind me of people – dear friends, business associates – I wonder did I dress with them in mind, wanting to fit in? I hope not. Clothes worn for teaching college classes, and for counseling clients - a special wardrobe in itself.

I touch the sweaters purchased to wear during my eleven months of chemo for Hepatitis C when I’d lost a lot of weight. The outfit I bought for our son Dan and Stephanie’s wedding rehearsal dinner fifteen years ago. How the years fly.

Clothes tell the story of all my days, sometimes sweet and sunlit, others sorrow-laden. Lord, it’s been a busy life, lots of outfits, many events, all lived out in love.

Clothing becomes part of my history. It’s comfortable to embrace the past of life’s passage and stay there, but these memories can be clutched for only a limited time. Lord I move forward with You in the garments appropriate for now.

“Having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

1 Timothy 6:8 New King James Version (NKJV)

Update for my Circlemaker Prayer Team:

Praise for Sept. Christian Women’s Connection speaking events in Neenah and Wautoma, WI!

Coming up: October 8^th Cornerstone Shop & Gallery, 1-3 p.m. Lake Geneva, WI

Tues. October 11^th Lake Geneva Museum 2 p.m. Author Presentation

Thank you friends for praying.

Monday, July 25, 2016

I love a good time! I think God really wants us to enjoy this amazing life He’s given us. Having fun is deeply spiritual, yes, I believe that. God sometimes gets a bad rap because He’s viewed as somber and anti-fun. That’s so untrue.

I especially love playing with kids and grandkids during the summer.

We’re mid-July – here are some activities that have worked for me. I encouraged my then ten, nine and five-year olds to put on a neighborhood block carnival on a Sat. morn. 10-11:30 to raise money for a children’s charity. Every part of planning and setting it up was fun. They decorated flyers and passed them out door to door at houses where they knew kids lived. One child did magic tricks. Another arranged plastic bowling pins to knock down. One activity was drawing a picture to see who could best draw our family dog. Crazy, silly games like cupcake walk. Back then we used a portable tape recorder for music – now Iphone works. For costumes the kids wore scarf capes and crazy hats. Best of all my children and their friends felt a sense of purpose and pleasure for hours planning as well as during actual event.

Often kids and grandkids just need the spark of the idea to guide them in creative play! Savoring moments with family, pausing to admire nature’s beauty, laughing over blunders are some of our favorite ways to have fun. As we make summer memories we teach life lessons that a mom, dad or grandparent can transmit best.

Our kids and grandkids hear from Wayne and me that even God’s “Do’s” and “Don’ts” are so we can keep having fun. Like this one: Don’t steal, so you won’t end up in jail and lose your freedom. Don’t steal from your friends or you won’t have any. Do rest on the Sabbath so you can avoid burn-out. Passing on our faith in God and His teachings assures us we're preparing our children and grandchildren well for life.

Hide those early back-to-school flyers until the end of the first week of August! Enjoy every summer moment! These family times can become memories that last forever. Have fun with your family in this beautiful world God made! He loves when you do!

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Writing News:

WOW! I’ve been writing my blog Fun, Faith and Family for eight years. I chose that title because these three F’s of Fun, Faith and Family are my life’s priorities.

A mom recently introduced me to her eleven-year-old daughter who read my mystery novel Bullet in the Night set in Lake Geneva and loved it. I knew kids enjoyed my Tommy Smurlee books, but my adult mystery novel at age 11? This was a surprise. So if you think your child is mature enough for the theme go for it. It’s packed with good life lessons. But for sure every child will have fun with the Adventures of Tommy Smurlee. Reading is one of the most wonderful interests you can give to kids and lazy summer days are a great time for developing this.

Grandparents Secrets to Being Super ebook has more ideas for fun times and for training children. One grandmom keeps it handy on her Iphone to use whenever. My parenting book Soaring As A Parent has suggestions too.

The TWELVE EVENT BOOK LAUNCH for my new mystery Never Tomorrow has been great fun! http://amzn.to/28WR4UC It continues

Sat. July 30^th from 10 to 4

Lake County Authorfest - Round Lake Beach, IL.

I always look forward to meeting readers – former and new. (Notice I didn’t say old.)

I'M POSTING MORE IDEAS FOR SPECIAL SUMMER FUN

TODAY ON MY WEBSITE AT: http://www.judithrolfs.com/Dr._Judith_Rolfs/Home.html

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Happy Fourth Friends and Family!

Happy Fourth Friends and Family!

I always feel a little thrill over the words independence and freedom, because I know they’re more than nice-sounding words. In 1776, we Americans wanted freedom enough to fight and die for it. We didn’t want to be under England’s oppressive taxation or have rules imposed on us without our agreement or representation.

WOW! In some ways have we come under our own government’s oppression? Senselessly piling up debt upon us by foolish spending? Being tantalizingly close to repressing freedom of speech by telling us what “hate” words we can’t say???

Just a few thoughts. I like to be free.

On a personal note: Thanks to those who sent Anniversary wishes. We enjoyed special days in Spring Green, WI and Devil’s Lake hiking, biking and golfing. Great news. We both re-upped for another year.

I’m thrilled how graciously you’ve received my new mystery novel, Never Tomorrow, with amazing reviews and by telling your friends about it. I’m humbled.

Two Timely Scriptures You May Wish To Ponder:

“Therefore the law is slackened and justice and a righteous sentence never go forth for the wicked surrounds the righteous; therefore justice goes forth perverted.” From Habakkuk 1:4 Old Testament Book of the Bible Written between 612 B.C. and 585 B.C.

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

I’m looking forward being at the Lake Geneva Authorfest next weekend at Library Park, Lake Geneva (along the lake path – one of my favorite places in the whole world) from 10-4. It’s always fun to meet other authors and readers.

Below is a list of my upcoming speaking events. I’d love for you to come see me if you’re nearby. Appreciate your prayers always for my writing/speaking ministry.

Author/Speaker Events July thru Sept.

Lake Geneva Public Library Author Panel Discussion, Wed. July 6^th, Lake Geneva, WI. 7 p.m.

Lake Geneva Authorfest Saturday, July 9^th, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Library Park Lakefront, Lake Geneva, WI.

Fontana Public Library Saturday, July 23, 2016 10:30-11:30, Fontana, WI.

Lake County Authorfest Saturday, July 30 10-4 p.m., Round Lake Beach, IL.

Waupaca Women’s Connection Dinner, Waupaca, Wi. Aug. 8^th 6-8 p.m.

Marshfield Women’s Connection Dinner, August 9^th Marshfield, WI. 6:30-8:30.

Wisconsin Rapids Women’s Connection Breakfast, August 10^th, 9:30 – 11:30

Women’s Connection Luncheon, August 10^th, Steven’s Point, WI, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Women’s Connection Dinner, Merrill, Wi, August 9^th, 6 p.m.

Fox Valley Women’s Connection Luncheon, Ridgeway Country Club, Neenah, WI Wednesday Sept. 14^th, 12- 1:30 p.m.

Wautoma Area Christian Women’s Club, Silvercryst Supper Club, Wautoma, Wi Sept. 19^th, 12 noon
Email for contact info.

Have an awesome Fourth of July!