“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 an amazing gift! No vacations on the horizon for me this year – count me in for the drawing! Lindsey Jodts 🙂
Taking care of my husband that’s having multiple medical issues. No vacation this year! Trusting the Lord through every bump in the road.
This is delightful. My first post, just figured out how to. 😀 actually in the process of moving from Seattle to Jackson, MS to teach. Ill be super busy teaching all summer so ill enter 😀
Jen Binkley
Melissa
Just the thought of a beach getaway is almost therapeutic today. Everything seems to be falling apart and I have been trying to renew my mind and put on Christ….I will add fantasize about getting away from it all as a post script!
Blessings
Penny
What fun!
What a fun idea 🙂
How sweet is that?!? What a great way to share the start of summer or the start of any new season. You have inspired me to do something like this for my mother-in-law. She is having her 2nd hip replacement on June 12th and a trip to the beach has eluded her for several years. Thank you for sharing!
Wow! What a wonderful idea. So sweet and thoughtful. Thanks for lovin on us.
Blessings, Mary Jane
I am starting a “Siesta” Bible study for the summer at my church. Guess what day? Wednesday with Beth! Wonderful Wednesday! Thank you for your faithfulness and obedience when He gives you a Word!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Would love a “Beach Vacation”,
at Creek Song Hill, Boone, NC
So exciting ~ for someone who cannot get away then a giftbag full of fun things comes to them. Creative!!!
Would love those goodies to share!
Could really use the smell of the beach! I hope you are feeling better!
Kiersten Griffith and I could certainly use this gift!! I’m moving this summer to NC to start school along with continuing to work and there is no rest in site!!!!!!!!!!!
Ooooh, I hope I win! Not only am I not getting a break this summer, but me and Josh’s anniversary is the 31st and we’re broke, so the only celebrating we get to do is by watching our son in his all-city track meet and then seeing (and hearing) him sing a solo and his school’s choir concert tomorrow night. (Some people have way more than their fair share of talent!) I am 63 days sober and can’t slow down on recovery, so must keep at it hardcore! So no vacation for me!
Thank you for considering me for this!
Ohhh, those look like fun! Consider me entered! 🙂
Thank you. Just thinking about those things you are offering made me smile and relax for a moment. It was an ahhhhhhh moment. (smile)
Yay for sunshine and goodies! Not much vacation in the foreseeable future. 🙁 Oh well!
What a fun way to kick off the summer season!
I am entering this for a friend, who deserves this much more than I! Her pastor husband has left their family to be with another woman. She has a teenage boy age 15, and a daughter age 10. She is the most godly woman I have ever known! She is amazing and has remained close to her First Love, no matter what the circumstance is. She has handled all that has been thrown at her with grace and dignity, and still treats her husband with respect and kindness. I would love for her to receive a little piece of the ocean and loveliness for her summer. It is one of her favorite places, and she will not be able to go this summer. Thank you for your prayers in advance for this amazing woman of God!
Katey Flynn-Jacksonville Fl. and yes I live by the beaches but its an hr drive and I cant take my son so I dont go.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and giving heart. I would love some sunshine in my life and it looks like there is plenty to share with some special friends :)!
Hello: I am entering this contest for a home schooling mom with 6 little children. She will certainly not get a vacation this year, but would be encouraged and have her spirits lifted by this gift. I would be thrilled to give it to her. Thanks, Mary
Looks wonderful!
What a thoughtfully sweet post Melissa, so relatable for those of us who love our pets and even the things, the expensive things they eat when they are growing up and for those of us who do feel left out of the loop but know we are not because we’re always in the company of our Papa. I was working out at CrossFit this week and almost close to cardiac arrest, listening to the girls talking of a cruise here and a beach trip there and longing to get away, but resting in knowing that would come in time.in a place of transition right now…hope you have recovered from your Mexican trip.
Oh, what a slice of beachy heaven this would be! Thanks for thinking of us!
Wow! What a fun and exciting giveaway. No vacations for me this summer. This would be wonderful to receive.
My name is Kelly, but I want to enter my friend Dallas’ name. If I win, I will give it to her. She’s been in a LONG season of suffering…you know when one thing lasts a long time… other little things are gonna happen, so it gets sort of layered up? But, she continually lays it at His feet and still glows and speaks the name of Jesus so others will know! Thanks Melissa!
What a wonderful treat for some lucky lady!
This is a very sweet gift for a “Staycation” this summer!!!
Oh yea! How exciting! I might even get some gift ideas for others from this little give away- everything is so cute! Thanks LPM crew!
Thank you so much for something fun to look forward to.
I love it! Even if I don’t win, it’s fun to participate. Thanks for thinking of all us siestas!
Yay!!! Looks like a great bag of goodies!! Thanks for entering me!
Marci Dighton
love the vacation package!! great choices.
As Lizzie’s mother in Pride and Prejudice said, “I could do with some seabathing myself.” Please enter me – it’s been a long time since I’ve been to the beach. Thanks.
Hi Melissa,
What a sweet and awesome gift to give to others! Due to finances and medical bills, vacations have been absent for years for our family. Will never give up praying for one, though! God has blessed us with respite in other ways when we have needed it! Even though, there is joy in my heart for your special time with Colin on the beaches. What a great blessing to both of you! Hope you are feeling much better, and it was good to hear your voice on the blog. I know you are one busy woman! Blessings! – Jill H.
What a fun contest!
That you for doing such a great give away! I would truly be honored to receive such a great gift. I long for the day when my husband and I can get away to someplace like Bora Bora but I know that it won’t be anytime soon. I hope this giveaway makes it into my hands because it will be much appreciated!!
BTW your puppy is precious! We had a rottweiler when I got pregnant with our first child. He was a magnificent dog but unfortunately we had to give him up because taking care of a new and him was too much. I know he went to a good which made it okay.
My husband had to take all his vacation time as sick time this year, so if we go anywhere it will just be over the weekend. We may run to Groom Texas. I hear there are some awe inspiring statutes of the life of Jesus.
Melissa, sure hope that you are over that stomach bug and feeling better. No summer vacation or beach get-away planned for us either with college bound kids and bills to pay, but I’m so thankful anyway for our health and family. What a great give away gift idea pkg. I am truly not needing for it. I pray it will go to a woman who needs some much TLC & pampering this summer. Feel better soon & may God continue to bless this ministry.
Please enter me. Thanks!
Yea!
would love love love this! my own 2 babies, daycare and my husband’s demanding work will not allow us to get away this summer. Crossing my fingers!
Very sweet of you to do a giveaway..:)
Alas no Maldives nor Bora Bora for me this summer or any summer. But I am refreshed when I read the blogs. The humor and whit brighten my days. And the lessons garnered from the wise and learned fill me soul with love and peace…
I really just want to put my Mom’s name in the mix. Meggie Kornelsen. She will definitely not be getting a break this summer. Two out of three daughters are flying the coop and the third is getting married. There will be no breaks for her. So here’s a little prayer that she’ll get drawn ’cause I know, Lord, her lot is in your hand.
This looks just wonderful!!
Looks like such a neat giveaway!
Beverly Moore
greetings, i miss my colorado 10,000 ft in the air home…so many years since i’ve smelled a beach. i live in a room with a window and that is a GIFT! i was blinded in a car accident for 6 years. i now can see. so much grace, so much hope! vacation??? if it brings me INTO life again. Bless you ( all ) .