“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
Thank you so much of thinking of us!
I have to work all summer 🙁
ok, I am not one to want sympathy, but…I went through ovarian cancer 10 years ago. Have done great until the last 4 weeks. I was just diagnosed with leukemia last Fri. They think it is from the damage from the first chemo. At this time they believe it is CML and will be treatable. I can’t help but think, “Really? Me? Again?”
I now have no shame….I love, love, the beach, want those Ray Bans like something fierce. Love the tote. So…what the heck. I am going for it! It sure will make the trips to MDAnderson a little smoother with those cool shades on! Love you all no matter what!
Rebecca
I’m in! Such a cool idea 🙂
Neat stuff!
I’m not going anywhere fancy this summer, just a couple of small family trips, so I don’t want/need to be entered in the drawing….I just wanted to say thank you, Melissa, for bringing a smile to my entire being…it doesn’t matter where you are as long as you are with the ones you love and who love and treasure you in return!
I am entering for my friend Jaynel who definitely will NOT catch a break this summer. Her husband is incarcerated and she is holding down two jobs while dealing with the physical pain of lupus and great financial stress.
Entering contest:). Thanks
Aw how sweet! I would love to enter. Maggie Hall 🙂
I could use some sunshine!!
what a lovely idea! i could definitely use a beachy get-a-way gift way up here in minnesota! just to be clear i’m a born and bred southern girl from arkansas married to a yankee these some 26 years.
Thank you for thinking of all of us. It looks like fun in a cute little bag. It would be so uplifting, and I think as much as I can, I am going to duplicate the contents of this bag and give it away myself.
And I was just feeling sorry for myself because we aren’t able to go to the beach this year. I was even looking at websites for hotels on the beach KNOWING it is impossible. I gave up and started perusing my favorite blogs and, lo and behold, LPM may make it possible for me to BELIEVE I’m on a beach somewhere!! 🙂
This is such a sweet idea…and came just as I was hammering out the details of my own hectic summer to my cousin 🙂 If I don’t win, I might just go buy all this stuff and put it in a cute tote as an early birthday present anyway!
Love it!! Enter me please, Olivia Hinojosa
Kristy Ufheil. Thanks for the chance to win, Melissa! 🙂
How sweet of you! As a stay-at-home/homeschooling mom of four kids ranging from 7yrs – 2 months, this would make me feel as though I’m on the beach! We have no vacation plans this summer, but hope to throw in one “staycation”.
I am a single mom to 3 kids and have been for 10 years. Bills are hard to meet and each month is paycheck to paycheck…so definitely no vacation….I am so thankful for your ministry and am just in the middle of the patriarch study and am hoping to join you all in Nehemiah this summer:) many blessings!
Hi Melissa,
I hope you are feeling better! Thanks for sharing some of your fav. beachy things with us! I’d love to win and host a girls night out to share with friends.
Thanks!
Lori
Wow! 😉
Just reading what is in the giveaway led to visions of sand, blue sky, and crashing waves dancing through my head
What an awesome gift for those who just are dreaming about the sand beneath their feet and the smell of the ocean breeze!!!
This fun bag of sun would be so welcomed in my house. Guess my last vacation was on 2007, but I have been on a few mission trips. I could sure use a little pampering. Sure enjoyed the James study by you and your beautiful Mama! Keep the studies coming our way!
Thanks,
Sue Ann Glass
The moleskin and china glaze got my attention right away! My husband and I haven’t gone on a vacation in a few years. We’ve been taking care of my parents who just recently went home to be with the Lord within 6 months and 11 days of each other. We’re having to handle the estate, clean out the house, do repairs on the house, etc. Maybe next year we may be able to do something. To end on a positive note, we’re going to be grandparents for the first time in the fall! Can’t wait!
Hello ~~ What a special idea ! Should I win it would be like a vacation on the beach : ). Since I live in Idaho getting to a beach takes a days journey.
How precious and kind.
You, your sister and your mother amaze me.
Love and prayers, Denise
OH MY!! That whole spread looks, AMAZING, would love to win that!! God Bless you!!
Wow! What a GREAT giveaway Melissa 🙂
Gotta LOVE summer!!
Michelle
I’m on the Mother of the Bride track this summer heading for an October wedding at our home. Vacation may have to wait. 🙂
This mama of toddlers would be hog high in heaven to win. 🙂
What a beautiful gesture. With no break in sight, what a lovely retreat this would be.
thank you so much for the opportunity to win this!
emily
Some mornings I do my quite time on my back porch where I have a sound machine set to wave sounds. There is something so soothing about the sounds of the sea. I think these goodies could make it even better. What a sweet thought!
Blessings!! What a fun give away~
What an awesome giveaway!!!! Love the chance at this. My vacation will be on my back patio
Such a sweet, fun idea. I am entering my name on behalf of my daughter, Ivy Morrison. She and her husband are youth pastors at a church in Texas, with two small children. I think a vacation is not on the horizon for them this summer and she would absolutely love the mix of gifts you chose. It would bring quite the smile to her face. So if my name is favored this week, I will send you her address.
Be Blessed dear sister, you are sowing some rich seed!
Denise Wilkin
This is so much fun! Thank you for the thoughtful idea!
I live and work in Malawi, Africa, so my getaways are only every 4 years.
Please pick me!!!
Wow what a nice give away
Love the picture of your dog!!!! looks like a happy guy…thanks for this fabulous idea. sweet. Pam in San Diego
I would love, love, love this amazing gift!! What a blessing to whoever receives it! Thank you!
Thank you so much for thinking of this wonderful give – away! So glad you had a wonderful trip! Also, loved the shoes you bought your momma.
What a great way to start out the summer…..jealous of your beach vacation. But a perfume that smells like the beach would be close enough for me 🙂
God Bless,
Candyce
Looks amazing! It would make me smile for sure !
Very generous!
This will bring a smile to anyone’s face. Thanks for thinking of us! Susan Provo
Two of my became engaged three days apart. So I will have a wedding this summer and another one to plan for in January. Fun times!! I need some fun in a bag!
Two of my kiddos!! (oops)
Not going anywhere except across state line to Moline, IL for LPL, YEAH! Finishing our commitment to our daughters college expenses. Will be done in November, that certainly deserves an Amen!! Love to win 🙂
What girl doesn’t need to be pampered?! We all do but I sure hope I WIN! I can smell the ocean breeze already:)
Bless You,
Shirle