“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
My husband lost his job a couple of years ago and took a job that paid much less. I have been dreaming of a trip to the beach! Thanks!
Melissa:
how wonderfully thoughtful! The first thing that popped into my mind is how much my friend Deb would adore this: she who will only have a “staycation” this year. I’d love to surprise her with this love gift, but no matter what, praying it lands in the hands of a thirsty soul Siesta!
Have a blessed day!
Pick me! Pick me! So fun. Thanks, Melissa!
Thanks so much for doing this for us. It’s a fabulous bunch of gifts.
Sounds like a vacation on a bag (or basket)! Would LOVE to win!
Pick me!!! What a fun basket! I love everything!!! Thanks for doing this…so fun. ☺
Fun!
Love it!
Melissa,
It looks like many of us need a little relaxation & smiles this summer! Thanks for thinking of us.
God bless.
Ann
Hi!! What a sweet and absolutely wonderful gift! I sure don’t think I’m the most deserving but with three kids under the age of 6 and twin boys in their 2’s, I will be in and out of church camps, potty training (prayers welcomed) and vacationing around a wal-mart pool. 🙂 No complaints here but would welcome any blessing the Lord sees fit. Love your sweet ministry. Hugs!! Jess-
I’m relaxing just thinking about your giveaway. 😉
What a fun gift! I was blessed a similar gift a couple weeks ago and plan to enjoy it for 1 hour today before my boys come home from the last day of school. Next month I am priviledged to visit my family for one week (first visit since 2009!). Whoever receives your thoughtful gift will enjoy a spot of sunshine, even on a cloudy day. Your generous spirit shines forth again. I pray you feel better soon.
I woke up this morning dreaming of the beach (seriously). Then was immediately depressed because I knew we can’t afford to go. What an amazing gift you are giving away. Blessings to you!
Still dreaming of summer here in the Pacific Northwest… what a fun gift basket!
Oh this giveaway just made me swoon!!! Thanks for putting it together!
Thank you so much for the “fun” give away. What a great idea!!
No time to comment….:) thanks for your thoughts.
No sand between our toes for this summer. We just can’t swing it! Would love to win these goodies!
Rachel Newham
What a thoughtful treat! I love it all –
What a fun idea! It will certainly put a sparkle in someones day. I have my fingers crossed. : )
What an awesome gift!
What an awesome giveaway!!!
Your getaway sounded heavenly thank you for sharing 🙂 sorry you came back to not the best circumstances.
Wow, that’s so sweet! This summer is def gonna have its share of challenges. I’ll be thinking beachy thoughts even if I can’t get there in person.
Oh what a fun giveaway…I am that girl who needs this. I will not be getting away to anywhere. Pick me…
God Bless all…KathyMills
This is awesome! We don’t get to go away this summer so this would be fun. Thanks for thinking of us.
I would love to win the beach gift pack. I grew up in southern California and I miss the beach desperately!
What a bounty of goodies!
What a great treat!
Love you all…love your ministry…love knowing more about your lives. 🙂
What a fabulous giveaway!! I am leaving a omment in the hopes I win this for my best friend who has gone on many beach vacay’s in her life but in recent years, due to the economy and her line of work, is struggling to keep her head above water (no pun intended). If I win, this gift would be for her since I cannot afford to send her to the beach. Thank you for the chance to brighten her day 🙂
I haven’t been on vacation in years, but whose complaining?? Not me :-)! Thanks for being so thoughtful!!
I would love to be blessed with the sunshine goodies. I would actually gift it to my daughter-in-law who only gets to go on vacation to soccer tournaments. With 2 boys who play soccer and a little princess, she has her hands full. They don’t have the finances to go on any vacations and the only break they get is when they go to a soccer tournament in a different city. She is a wonderful mother and wife and works hard. It would be so nice to be able to bless her with this.
Oh MY what a beautiful giveaway! We are approaching a move, just waiting for my husbands company to say where so we are not going ANYWHERE this summer 🙁 Kind of bummed, but we are so blessed I cannot complain! Thank you for such a wonderful and thoughtful giveaway, everything I would just be tickeled to have!
Blessings
xo
Lyss
Seriously….how much fun are y’all?? Love LPM…hope you all have a fabulous day!
What a fun bunch of goodies! Thank you for your thoughtfulness for those of us that will only be daydreaming of the beach this season 🙂
Something fun? My husband passed away Jan 1st, my dad passed away April 15th. It will be a difficult summer taking care of things and without two important men in my life. The gifts look fun for catching moments of summer and a mini breaks.
Melissa, what a perfect pick me up for those of us with a long hot (Mississippi) summer ahead and no hopes of a break this year. A perfect combination of treats! Thank so much for thinking of us!
I’m glad that “puppy” didn’t eat you just the eye glasses!
How sweet! I just got an email from my friend with a picture of her family on the beach attached – little “wish you were here” note! I’m working 2 jobs (I love them both!), teaching a Bible class and caring for hubby and 3 spoiled rotten dogs! I could use a weekend at the beach!
Kerry Cotten, Jackson, TN
What fun!! Time for the beach! Is it July yet??
What a delight of a gift. Very short vacation this year because I am back in the job searching mode again. Job ends due to grant ending. Need an escape!!
Joy
Wow. I am stuck at home recovering from surgery for the next 6 weeks.
I will need to sneak those ‘summer moment’s in at home while I am working to keep my kiddos in college 🙂
Aww aren’t you sweet! Thank You!
WOW, what a sweet thing to do…we run a business for my father-n-law and it is very hard my husband and I to get away together.
I work a full time job, am going to school full time working on my MBA in the evenings, and am a single parent to three kids. Looking at a screen saver of the beach is as close as I will get to a vacation. This is a great idea, thank you for being so thoughtful.
God Bless!
Fun! Cute! Way cuter than I already am. 😉 We’re heading to TX, our real home, this summer, but no beach time. Maybe next summer. 🙂
How caring of you to share a little sunshine with someone. I retired over 8 yrs ago to be a caregiver and have enjoyed doing that but I would love to go to the beach, especially for a rest and refreshment from God. Thank YOU!