“My husband is in Afghanistan and a few ‘favorite things’ would brighten my day!”
How about that, Sisters?!? OK, Edie, please contact Living Proof Ministries at toll free (888) 700-1999 and give us an address. Please ask for Kimberly or Susan. Knowing what we now know, all of us here would want so much to send you to the beach…but, instead, we’re sending the beach to you. ENJOY!!!
PROCEED WITH CAUTION: this post will embody most everything you anticipate and perhaps even despise about women’s ministry. There will even be pink nail polish. As the great Professor Thornbury said a few weeks ago on the Twitterverse “something is not a stumbling block if you can see it coming.” So, consider yourself warned.
Colin and I just returned from a week at the beach in Mexico. It was crazy fantastic. I slept. I read classic literature. I also swam with a dolphin named Duey. And on the day I returned home I was greeted abrasively by a stomach bug and a crick in my neck so bad I could barely move my head. Oh, and then my 100 lb puppy Winston ate my over-priced prescription eye-glasses. But how can I really be frustrated with this bad boy?
Anyway, since this weekend was the Memorial Day holiday I scrolled through numerous tweets from people who were somewhere fabulous while I was at home with a bag of frozen corn under my neck. And I began to weep for the serenity of the ocean and my dolphin Duey.
But enough about me.
I want to talk about you.
I got to thinking that there may be some of you who won’t get a break this summer. While nearly everyone you know is off to some fabulous island, you won’t get a moment’s rest. For whatever reason, you won’t be able to retreat to the beach or the mountains or to wherever else makes your heart happy. We want to send a little fun and lots of love your direction so we’re doing a random give-away. And it will not include commentaries, concordances, or anything super useful or meaningful.
This giveaway is simply full of some of my personal favorite summer things including: Bobbi Brown Beach parfum (seriously smells exactly like the beach!), classic Ray-Ban aviators, Votivo Candle in White Ocean Sands, a pair of bright yellow Moleskine notebooks, Tea Forte’ Pomegranate Blackberry Iced Tea, and America’s Test Kitchen Best Summer Dessert recipes. See the contents below:
There are really no conditions for this giveaway. My hope, of course, is that this gift makes it into the hands of someone who simply can’t get a break this year and not someone who is heading to the Maldives or Bora Bora next week to stay in one of those little huts with glass floors sprawled across sparkling turquoise waters. But truly, if this gift brings a big smile to a single one of your faces that is quite enough for me.
So, please enter your name in the comments section if you could use a little sunshine in your world. We’ll do a random drawing and announce the winner at noon on this Thursday the 31st.
You are loved.
Melissa
Please enter my name in the drawing. The basket looks fun!
Would love so sunshine. 🙂
What a sweet idea. I’m craving the beach so much I stand in the sunscreen aisle at Walmart and sniff Coppertone #8 till I’m dizzy. Just kidding. It doesn’t make me dizzy…just happy. It’s the little things in life, you know. Maybe next year I’ll have sand between my toes once again. 🙂
That would be a nice treat! Although I am not taking a vacation away from home, I am an educator and will be spending my summer at home with my 8 year old daughter!
I have always been in love with the ocean but haven’t had the pleasure of being there in a few years. What a lovey gift this would be!
how lovely Melissa- Thank You!
This would be so fun to win! Such a great idea. I am feeling weary from caring for a sick child. Please pray for her as she undergoes many medical tests on Friday at Mayo Clinic….colonoscopy, endoscopy and MRI of her small intestine. Very hard for a child to undergo tests that require drinking nasty tasting stuff to prepare for these tests. She has had much abdominal pain and slow growth. Pray that the doctors will know how to successfully treat her from the test results. Thanks for praying.
not an ounce of the joy in that package would be wasted on me sister! 🙂 on my way to spend the next 15-20 years in a tribal village of papua new guinea -and i don’t mean that in a luxurious way lol! my teammates and i would love taking your beach escape care package into the bush with us! 🙂
What a fantastic giveaway!!! So fun! Thanks for thinking of it!
FUN!
Goodness how sweet that is. I LOVE Votivo candles!!
what a beautiful way to love somebody!
Oh, Dear Random Generator,
Pick me! Pick me!
Love,
Nikki Brungard
Richmond, VA
So wish I was vacationing in one of those little huts with glass floors sprawled above sparkling turquoise waters, but I’ll be taking the last of my prerequisites in summer school, so that I can apply to UT at Houston School of Nursing in September!
Hi!! I enjoy reading all y’alls entries!! Thank you for the nice gesture! Everyone needs a little sunshine in their life! Brittany Blevins benbrook Texas!
Thank you so much! Looks like a lot of fun gifts! Summer is my busiest time of year. My husband and I work in Children’s Ministry. Summer Fun events, Vacation Bible School, Children’s camp and getting ready for Promotion. That is our summer vacation. Lots of fun with the kids!
Who couldn’t use a little sunshine in their life 😉 What a wonderful idea, Melissa 🙂
Love every item!
Yes ! I could use some sunshine !!!
My oldest daughter is leaving for college in August…any vacation I would have will be filled up with preparations for her big move. This just looks awesome!
Julie From Texas 😉
This is so kind! Just reading this brings a smile to my face… And I just love Winston 🙂
Lawdy, lawdy, I hope I win something! It’s gonna be a long summer.
I could not stay mad at that puppy either, Melissa! Please enter me in the goody giveaway. I will not get any farther than the parents’ backyard pool and VBS family night this summer! Thanks!
Sounds like a piece of heaven. Could not afford to do a lot so driving to a beach for 3 or 4 days with my 2 kids. Would love this gift – thanks Melissa!
the beach, my favorite, would love to be going back but nothing planned anytime soon!
I would love to be pampered by these goodies! Our family of 5 will be moving this summer so there won’t be much time for rest.
Oh, what a wonderful giveaway! 🙂
I love this! I sure could use a little sunshine… just graduated from seminary and still praying for a job opportunity!
I could use a little package of sunshine. 🙂
You guys are amazing! Thank you for Blessing us.
Love,
Angie in Michigan
Hi there, I’m not actually writing bc I want this stuff, but just because I feel desperate and don’t know where to turn. After four years of misery, I left my bullying and manipulative husband this past weekend. We have been in counseling but it’s not helping. I tried to kill myself twice this past year. Finally I decided I needed to save myself and leave him. But in leaving him I have lost my whole life — my community, my ministry, and my job. I don’t know what to do now and I am lost. When we married I was convinced that God wanted us together for ministry — we have the same heart and vision in ministry and have been serving together. But I don’t know what God wants me to do now. I feel so lost and alone.
So need this… Getting ready for our 9th military move and been apart from
Hubby most of the last three years with two children;)
So, so fun!
By the way, your new puppy is adorable and I love your name choice!
No big vacation plans for me this summer, but I did just agree to host an exchange student from Spain in July, so that will be an adventure. Thanks for thinking of us 🙂
Wow! I love summer time! 🙂
I’ve been out of work since the end of Feb. I will not have any money to take a break this summer and I would love it if my name were drawn!
I’d love to win! It’s been a tough last few months but I know that others are in a worse shape than my family. Blessings to whoever wins. Thanks for spreading joy.
Melissa-
You are the best! I don’t even know where the Maldives are.
Love summer time! Thanks for sharing!
So fun! I’d love a little summer get-away right in my own home! Thanks for doing this!
Oh, how awesome! Best wishes to everyone, and thanks for the kind gesture!
Beth
The beach is my absolute favorite place to be. I find it so very relaxing. I bet this beach in a bag would work just as well as being there.
So sweet. Thanks for the fun things you ladies do.
What fun! Okay,I admit it – I love the nail polish colors!
How fun!!! Ashley!
How do all puppies perfect that sweet angelic look! My grand-dog who is a puppy looks just like that after he’s destroyed something when I keep him. Great idea for a giveaway!
You so made me smile tonight, when I read this…
Isn’t life a vacation?
Hope you feel better soon Beth……gift basket looks great…..
I’ll take some sand and sun!
What a cool set of awesome! My single momma, full-time employee, and grad student self would love a little virtual beach time! Glad you had a good time while away. Sad you got sick when you got back. I’ll be praying for you!!