“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
I’m facing a divorce after 21 years…Will be looking for a job after being a stay at home mom for 15 years…I could definately use a little sunshine. 🙂
Nothing like unexpected blessings to brighten any summer day.
Unless your mom is bringing a beach to Knoxville for the LPL event, then, well I’ll have to wait, because that’s my vacation this year. I wouldn’t have been able to be upset with those puppy eyes either!
Thanks Melissa
Valerie Harned, Louisville KY
This is such a great idea … I think I’ll put little baskets together like this for my small group of moms who can’t catch a break! Thank you, Melissa! What a blessing!
What a thoughtful idea Melissa!
oooooooo!!!! What fun!! I do appreciate how you minister to us at all times!
Thank you for what you do…my vacation is in Kenya at this moment doing a summer internship. Prayers to all!!
I really enjoy this website. It is very uplifting to read the posts and savor the teachings. God Bless your ministry
What a great idea! I’d love to replicate this for the moms in my small group who can’t catch a break! Thanks for the blessing of this giveaway … this young mom was inspired by it!
What a fun blessing! Thanks for this post and the opportunity for such a fun-time pick-me-up. Hope you are feeling much, much better.
What fun! My mom broke her hip, had to have the pin removed Tuesday because it worked its’ way out of position. My own surgeon is fighting my insurance company to cover my own spinal reconsruction, my 17 year old has mono, 19 year old’s a Marine awaiting deployment, and 21 year old’s trying to start a business. I sure could use some fun, but then I know people who are burying their children right now. All that’s keeping me together is knowing God will carry me through this.
I have done my student teaching since January, graduated with a degree in Special Education, and am waiting on God’s placement in a job so there is no money to enjoy myself for the moment. Any little ray of sunshine is appreciated.
A friend in my MOPS group could use a break: she has a 3 1/2 year-old and her husband’s been in Kuwait since their daughter’s 1st birthday with very few trips home. She could use some reminders of a beach and a God who holds her in those times when she’s falling apart.
Such a sweet idea! Will be working all summer… Grabbing happy moments where I can!
I often wonder: What about that sweet sister who doesn’t get a vacation this year, and hasn’t had one in twenty years because the difference between a vacation and not having one is whether or not her family eats and has a place to sleep? Thank you for remembering our sisters who can’t ever take a vacation…
Thank you for remembering me.
What lovely gifts! I miss the ocean so much! Will be moving my mother into a small apartment this summer so this gift will be my vacation!
Thanks, Melissa, loved your commentary in the James study!
How nice!!! What a sweet treat!
Beth, You always surprise me. Thank you for brightening our lives with Jesus GOD BLESS YOUR MINISTRY Gayle
A friend in my MOPS group could use a break: she has a 3 1/2 year-old and her husband’s been in Kuwait for almost 2 years, with very few trips home. She could use reminders of a beach and a God that holds her when she’s falling apart. Her name is Tempie.
Everything sounded great till you got to the bug part. I’ve never been to much out of mid-west, but I was always told not to drink the water anywhere and figured bottled water would be great, right? Then I saw where they were refilling the bottled water with their tap water and just deferred to what I know works pray over everything and trust God.
I don’t know what the beach smells like so it would be nice to get a whiff from the perfume, and my eyes could use the shades. Never built sand castles, but dream about my mansion in heaven alot.
It wonderful to hear you did get some rest and swimming with dolphins sounded really great.
thanks for the chance to enter….
What sweet relaxation the beach brings!! The glorious sunrises and sunsets that God brings us. God is certainly the master planner and creator to remind us in His word of His love for us. May the winner of this be blessed!!
What an awesome idea! Love gift baskets. Last year I was able to get away this year don’t think so. God bless you Beth for being such an awesome women of God.
How awesome for you to think of others. Thank you!
Love all of the stuff and you coordinated it so beautifully in the picture!
This would be great! So fun.
How thoughtful! Please enter me.
Thank you!
How sweet of you!!
this is fantastic! this stuff looks like so much fun!
This is fun. Thanks.
True stewards. God bless you all.
Sharing summer (without the beach)-how fun!
Diana Edgar, Lewis Center, Ohio
I would love this bag! I am not able to get away this summer. I start grad school in August after years of being out of college! I could use the smell of the ocean in my living room!
What an sweet idea Melissa! This is an amazing gift,
Oh yay! A giveaway!!! How fun.
I sure could use a bit of sunshine. It seems the clouds are always rolling in.
So sweet of you guys to do this!:) I could really use a “fake-cation” as we aren’t able to go anywhere this year. Please enter my name in the drawing! Thanks!
No beach break here in 120 degrees this summer.
Looks heavenly!!!!!
Thanks so much!
Xx oo
Everyone could use a little beach in their lives, right? My son is getting married in July. And my daughter is heading to graduate school from Texas to Boston, Massachusetts, in August. Busy summer filled with God’s blessings, but probably no vacation!
Love all the beach goodies! The beach is my favorite place to visit one of God’s best creations! Thanks for thinking of those who can’t make it to the beach for a vacation.
Thanks so much!
What fun!
Spending lots of time this summer with my 4 grandkids! I would love the beach vacation in a bag 🙂
Stacey DeYoung
How fun:-)
With three little girls, under three years of age, i don’t think we will be making it to a tropical paradise. Thanks for this awesome giveaway.
PLEASE send the beach to me. Kentucky is nice but we don’t have the OCEAN!
Linda Peel
Lexington, KY
Oh yes!!! Please pick me!!
And thanks!
A beach vacation in a bag! Now that’s a unique give away!
Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Swimming with dolphins is an amazing experience. 🙂