“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
What great stuff! I looooooooove that bag!
What fun! So sorry about your glasses. My son’s dog, who looks much like yours, just did the same thing with his glasses…guess they look like something amazing to eat!
Blessings to you and all the Siestas!
Ah! Made me feel like I was at the beach just looking at the gift items! Y’all are sweet!
Christina McClure stationed in Germany, while her soldier is deployed to a sandy place that is anything but a vacation!
I am entering Melissa’s give-away. 🙂
What a lovely summer treat Melissa! Relocated our family this past year to Atlanta. Three boys, three different schools, husband job transferred and I am still job hunting … We are renting an apartment and I am starting over with no girlfriends within 1000 miles! No beach vacation this year … But lots of scripture, prayers and late nights. I write scripture and prayers on pink note cards, my little love notes that remind me that God is my deliver, Jesus is my companion and the Holy Spirit comforts me.
What a sweetheart you are! Kathryn Carpenter of Glendale Arizona
What a sweet thought! I gotta put my name in the hat as my summer is mostly about getting some summer classes in. Thanks for the opportunity to enter:)
My summer involves being home with my 3 rambunctious boys, and very very little time away from anything involving loads of testosterone. Thanks for a chance to win!!
Summer fun right here in siestaville! thanks so much~
Great giveaway! Love your dog!!
So fun! Love the beach theme 🙂
So fun – thanks :)!
This looks so fun!
Rain, rain, rain! That is the forecast for the Seattle area…. Would love the beach stuff!
Hi, wow! All I have been fantasizing about is the beach! My mom became sick this year and I have become her caregiver. I never thought about the beach, and now that’s all I think about! I guess I am really tired. She isn’t able to travel. Literally, today, I was wishing for some Ray-ban aviators! I’ve given up most of my income to be here! Well, God is good! 🙂
Love,
Michele Denman
How fun for this new mommy! Thanks! 🙂
Please enter me in thanks
Wow…..I am relaxing just looking at all that fun stuff. I would love to win this bag of goodies.
Thanks so much for the chance to win!
Mmm. what a sweet gift! Moleskine notepads…my idea of a beach accoutrement =)Oh and the bag…oooh la la!
Just looking at all the goodies made me smile. Thanks for sharing your favorite things!
Such a fun give-away! Would love to win it! Thanks for the chance!
Wow. Thank you do much for thinking about us who cannot get away or afford to get away to the island getaways or mountains!!
Love you!
Yes I would love to receive the giveaway!! I have enrolled in 9hrs of grad school classes. My summer has been spoken for. Praying for His strength to succeed this summer. 🙂
I was so excited just seeing the picture of those goodies. My summer will consist of spending my days with my three boys while my husband travels for work so no islands for us. Please pull me! 😉
I would love to win this! I would share it with my friend who isn’t going anywhere exotic either and we can pretend together!! Thank you for thinking of all the little details. How fun is this!!!
You are loved back! And, I can assure you there are no sandy beaches in my summer! Anyway, I’d love to win your goodies. Thanks for offering.
What a fun idea! I have actually been dreaming recently of the place my family vacations every summer and how bummed I am I cant join them this year. But maybe if I smelled like a beach I could close my eyes and feel like I was there with them 🙂
What a wonderful idea. Would love to enter your drawing. I’m one of many who find there won’t be even be a weekend getaway this summer.
The need is great..my heart breaks at the great need of all these ladies…is there a way that some of us who have been blessed can donate so more than one could get this gift?
Oooooo! What a treat. Vacation in a bag. I love it.
I would love a “beach getaway”!!
A small baggie of white sand would be perfection!! Thanks.
This looks fabulous! If I win it I will share it with my 18 year old daughter who is graduating from high school this Saturday. I might keep the Ray-Bans to cover my tears and dark circles from all my crying though…. happy and sad…:-)
What an awesome gift set! It’s very generous and thoughtful, not to mention, a really cool idea!
Thank you for the offer. I don’t deserve it at all! I would love to win, just for the point of winning. We are all winners, aren’t we. We (believers)have been redeemed, rescued and ultimatly have all we need, Jesus, heaven.
It has been a rocky start to the summer, daughter with nasal surgery, losing friends to places far away (but never in our hearts)and storms are a brewing.
So if I win I know how to share and share I will, I have some precious friends out there who just need a little pick me up and some times PRETTY TOE NAILS JUST DO THE TRICK. Love to all of you out there in LPM FAMILY and may your summer be filled with the LOVE OF YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER, WHO IS CRAZY FOR YOU.
Stephanie Collins. Thank you for being so thoughtful.
Looking at all those wonderful items and thinking that I wish I didn’t have a head cold…in the summer!
Yes, please! 😉
A sweet friend named Joanie sent me this link! She really needs a vacation in the sun, with her feet up and her sunglasses on! She’s always taking care of everyone else!
What a great a idea this is…..
How fun! I’d love to win.
Kim Ulkekul
Sammamish, WA
Just entering into the beach contest…good luck to me!
I love the pic of your rottie! I have a 9 yr old Rottie named Jake. He is so spoiled, but dearly loved! thanks for a chance to win too!!
Right now, I’ve opened my home to my oldest daughter, who’s husband left last November, along with her three kids under 6, my youngest daughter who had an unexpected blessing born into our family in January, and now my ex-husband is in the process of relocating to TX from NY and staying with us a few more weeks till he gets his bearings.
Here my hunny and I thought we were only two years away from empty nest and now our days are filled with peanut butter, strained peas and homemade playdoh, so there is no vacation on any horizon.
Of course, I’d love an at home pedicure day with my 5 year old princess, who knows she is God’s gift to her Gigi!
My summer is unsure as I’m battling cancer. Will I be in treatment or will I have a break…God knows. Either way a little comfort is always appreciated. We suffer sisters all of us in the light of the perfection that awaits. Alleluia!!
How generous of you!
Thank you for your thoughtfulness. I’m going back to school this
summer. —> Mary Ellen from Kansas City, Mo.
Melissa, I hope that you’re feeling all better!
I loved your post and am glad that you had a fantastic trip! I love your favorites and think it’s so nice
you are gifting to bless another!
Bless you!
judy
Thanks 🙂