“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
How thoughtful! I heart you! 🙂
Oh my goodness! It All looks sooooo amazing! I am on a new mission. My theme word for this year is JOY! If I would happen to be the winner—it will fit right in with what I read this morning–God is in the details. 🙂 and if I happen not to be…He is still in the details 🙂 and He has another surprise around the corner!!! Have a blessed day and thanks for the generosity!!!:-)
Oh mercy. This looks SO very fun! Thanks sweet one for sharing!
Blessings,
stephanie
Well, since I am about the only person I know that is NOT able to go to the beach this summer, how wonderful to just SMELL like the beach. What an awesome thought on your part. I hope your neck is feeling much better soon!!
That is such a great gift! Y’all are so thoughtful and fun!
I’ve been craving the beach for weeks now…and no hope of it in sight. I’ve tried changing my computer screen to a beach scene. I’ve tried laying in the sun a bit (while pretending I’m at the beach). I even put on a bathing suit and played in the sprinkler with my son. Nothing has worked. Maybe all these wonderful goodies would seal the deal. 🙂
No matter what…this is a super idea. Thanks for throwing in an occasional “useless” giveaway!
Awesome summer giveaway!
I never enter things like this but you are singing my song. I haven’t been on a bonified “vacation” since I was married 11 years ago. I’m a mom to a toddler, newly staying at home…just not in the cards. Its nice to think somewhere sometime out here this side of heaven theres a beach i’ll one day see 🙂 Thanks for the post!
That would be a great gift!
Cindy Schwartz
I am so ready for the beach!
So glad you had a wonderful vacation. I pray you start feeling better soon.
Thank you Melissa, for your thoughtful kindness! I am one of many who hadn’t ever had the means for a vacation, and won’t this summer, either. I am so thankful that God has always supplied my family s needs, so I will not complain. I would love to win this! I already have a grin on my face because of the picture of the pooch, and your wanting to bless someone else. Thank you.
Susie W.
I read the first part and thought, “must be nice”. Then, I kept reading…can you say humbled?
I am most pleased at the thought/heart behind this post. I am going through a rough place and have had my whole world turned upside down. Living Purim, I like to say. I had to move in with my brother after my marine husband announced on deployment that he wanted a divorce. I am utterly dependent on God’s mercies being new every morning. Just to have the Spirit of God move you to think of those of us in a place that limits our getting away, is a blessing. It’s nice to be thought of even if not by name.
I pray that whomever receives this gift feels the full measure of the heart behind it.
Thank you so much for having this giveaway! I’d love to win, but am happy to know that someone WILL win, even if it’s not me! I’m not getting away anywhere this summer, except for my back yard, but I’m happy to have that, so it’ll be fun!
Melissa, I would love this gift package! I know I am sounding selfish, but there I am. Thanks for all you do!
All I can say is ahhhhh…that is the release of a heavy sigh.
What a fun giveaway!
Could really use a pick-me-up right now!
Oooh, I need a vacation! Our oldest graduated from college at the end of April. Our twins just graduated from high school last Friday night and will be heading off to separate colleges in August. I do not foresee a real vacation anytime soon in my future!! Oh, and we still have our little surprise blessing 9-year-old at home too!!! All boys!!
Thanks for feeding our female souls with your favorite things!
Would love to enter! We’re leaving sunny Florida for snowy Billings, MT to church plant in two weeks. 🙂
Wow, Melissa! That is an incredible Princess gift package. I am so excited for whoever wins. (Pick me!) I am not going anywhere this summer, but truth be told, we never WANT to leave our beautiful town of Hood River, Oregon in the summer. We moved here for the sparkling Columbia River, where my husband and daughter windsurf, and the outrageously glorious Mountains on either side of the Gorge. (Mt Hood and Mt Adams… your mom would love it!) My 13 year old daughter and I are the pedicure queens… we would put everything in the basket to VERY good use!:) God bless you and thanks for the fun!!!
Hope I win!
Thank you for this blog and your generous giveaway! I would love to win a “vacation” in a box, basket…even a Baggie!!!! No vacation on the horizon here for the second year in a row…but God is good..ALL the time!!
This is my first posting, encouraged mainly by the random giveaway. 🙂 We are not taking a vacation this summer because my husband is in law school and must work an unpaid internship. I am very excited to host my first Bible Study alongside the Siestas this summer, and nail polish and ice tea would be great additions!
Really, who can’t use a little summer sunshine! Being part of this blog is uplifting and sunshiny enough. A fun little summer gift giveaway is the extra syrup in the sno-cone! Thanks! ~Sarah Sykes
Yes please!
Hello! No vacation this year! We’re broke as Job’s turkey. God provides all our needs…and I’m figuring we don’t “need” to run the roads with the Griswalds (ha!) this summer. Fun to all who will…
What a fun giveaway! Love you girls! Would definitely bring some sunshine to my day!
Thank you for this FUN giveaway, Melissa! What a treat for those who desperately need a break!
Thankyou
Such a great giveaway. What a great idea!!
This is awesome, thanks! 🙂
No break in my near future. What a blessing. Thanks for thinking of us!
As the wife of a full-time pastor I hardly know what a vacation is! Such a neat giveaway!
Andrea Cook
How thoughtful! I’d love to be treated – no big vacation for me. 🙂
What a blessing of a gift. Thank You!!
I’d love to win the giveaway…. and I’d surely share!
Hi Melissa!
What a great idea! I won’t be going on vacation this summer. I am a caregiver for my husband of almost 35 years, as he has Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease, and Dystonia. I recently had to place my 82 year old mother in assisted living because she has severe dementia. I handle all her affairs, and check on her often. I care for my 7 month old grandson 5 days a week. He is a pure joy! I am blessed with 2 amazing children and their wonderful spouses, and of course, knowing Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior! 🙂 I just finished the JAMES study! AWESOME!!!! LOVED it! Thank you for all your hard work! I look forward to seeing your mom in Long Beach this October! I cannot wait! Wishing you many blessings!!! Deanne
Boy could I use a break right now! But not going to get one for quite a while!! And it won’t be a beach then, but maybe a couple of days away for a seminar and a little bit of shopping therapy 🙂
Any piece of the beach I can smell or feel between my toes, would be absolutely wonderful. Thanks for such a great gift!
Fun Fun! What a sweet idea!! My name is Debbie Robison.
What a great giveaway – I myself being a sick, pregnant-for-the-first-time, gal would love this!!
This would be a wonderful gift to share with my prayer group at work because several of us are unable to go on vacation this Summer due to financial constraints. Thanks for the words of encouragement. I hope that the crick in your neck is better. I would suggest a massage and some easy listening music to take you back in spirit to your beach in Mexico. Blessings to you!
That would be a fabulous retreat at home I could share with my daughter. 🙂 Thank you, Melissa, for thinking of those who often can’t get away for a little r&r for various reasons. Blessings to you.
My exciting vacation this summer is traveling to Dallas to watch my son play in a baseball tournament. I can not contain my excitement at the thought of sitting in the Texas heat in July. Sitting through a 10 hour car ride with not just my children, but also my husband who hates to travel. Are we there yet?? Then I get the pleasure of trying to keep my entire family entertained between games. What’s next mom??
Maybe if I win the prize I will take the Beach book with me and I can look at the pictures and image that I am sitting at the beach. The dirt blowing on me from the baseball field will probably feel just like sand.
What a fun treat! The last vacation to a beach was ten years ago – and as we sat on the sand I was reminded of the promise in Psalm 139 that tells us the Lord’s thoughts toward us outnumber the grains of sand!! He is thinking and caring and loving each one of you this day – and every day!!
Jan…Could definitely use a little sunshine.
Thank you for doing things like this to brighten others days…
IT’s been a long couple of years…filled w/chemo, radiation, a stem cell transplant,blind studies, a 2 lb. preemie grandson(doing fine after being in the hosp 4months)
A true test of faith and lots of questioning…we cry out our miseries;God just hears the melody..thank goodness…I have no desire to travel anywhere…it feels SO good to read the newspaper in the morning and sip coffee in my home…the things we take for granted..the blessings of living in this country…the medical advantages…would this 2 pounder have survived in another country? statistics show they don’t..
I feel wounded and confused by all that’s happened but know He was there every step of the way…
How thoughtful and giving! I little slice of vacation at home. Thanks for your thoughtfulness, Melissa! Someone is in for a treat! With love, Leah Baughn (Atlanta, GA)