“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
Inspiring!!
Maybe those of us who have been blessed with a vacation could do something similar for someone we know who is less fortunate. Not a drawing, but ask God to reveal a woman in our path who needs a “vacation”. Then pamper them using some of your ideas. I recall your mom saying something like, “what if today we were to prefer others above ourselves”? Prefer…..the word has stuck with me in ways I can’t explain. Siestas, let’s think about who we might bless as Melissa is doing for one of us!!
What a fun treat!! Would love it!!
We will not be vacationing anywhere because we have lots of extra expenses due to the fact that we are moving from one state to another. The ministry we’ve been in for 16 years will be coming to an end and God has led us elsewhere.
What a great giveaway. This year I will be spending my vacation at church camp. So excited to serve in this area.
How perfect!
What a great giveaway!
Cynthia Gafford
I could definitely use some sunshine!! Thank you!
Oh…..what a lovely thought indeed. We have no plans to get-a-way this summer since my husband’s job is uncertain right now. This gift would be a small ray of sunshine for sure! Pick Me! Pick Me!
This is a really nice giveaway. Thanks!
What a lovely gift! Thanks for the opportunity!
Thanks for this awesome give-away, it’s so thoughtful of you!
I could definitely use some sunshine!! Thank you!
Samantha Rodriquez
What a fun way to start the summer, and a blessing to the winner!
Hey! Great giveaways!
Thanks for your thoughtfulness, would love a chance to win. 🙂
I care for my grandchildren while my kids work very hard to provide for them. Some distraction would be wonderful!
If I win this gift, I have the perfect person in mind to give it to!!! It is really for her.
What a great way to pass along some summer fun!!!
I would love to win. We haven’t had a trip away from home in almost 3 years due to illnesses, family problems and surgeries. Now my mother in law is facing her last days, so it looks as though it will be awhile again. Good luck to everyone. God Bless
This contest sounds wonderful…pick me! pick me!
Oh my, what sweet memories of beaches and summers, and glorious sunsets! Bless you all at Beth Moore!
I’m turning 40 on the 6th and we are celebrating in July with my very first cruise. I could really use this package!! What a great giveaway!
What a great give away! Love all the items!
Melissa, Thank you for thinking of those of us who are not able to get away for whatever reason this summer. One of the coolest give-aways. Thanks for sharing.
Oh I love all the sweet pampering stuff! A great give-away! We are going nowhere near sparkling waters… though I dream of them often!
I could sure use a little sunshine in my world.
Wow, you are so amazing. What great treasures. Thanks for the “you are loved” at the end of your blog. I needed that.
This would be SUCH a lovely treat to win!
Great gifts!
So thoughtful of you!!!
Thank you for so generously offering this giveaway~
What a great lil’ package:)
I am so blessed by this ministry!
What a great idea. The giveaway will be a blessing.
I, too, love the Moleskin journals. I think I look at them every time I’m at Target!
Would LOVE any of these cool things!!!
Would love a little pampering. A single mom (widow) with 5 kids….. mmmmhmmmm…. 🙂
Oh bring on the pampering.
Tamara Norris
This giveaway would be amazing! We have just moved to Denver, Colorado from IL and with us recently moving we will not get a “break” this summer!! I love this idea!
This is so nice! It will be the first summer in years that I won’t be going to the beach I love so much. Life changes n
Thanks for thinking about thoses of us who need a little escape from reality, even though we wouldn’t trade places given the option. Caregiving is as rewarding as it is time and energy intensive.
Karla Cox
Such fun things any girl would love!
Ooh la la…..love
What a great collection of summer items! Thanks for thinking of us, Melissa! 🙂
This would be so wonderful-even better to share with my wonderful mother!
What a great gift for someone!!!
What a nice surprise this will be for whoever wins.
Hoping to win
Paige Adcock
What a sweet idea! It all seems lovely…like a little mini vacation all tucked away beautifully into a bag. : )
What a great way to bring parts of a vacation to you without having to get on a plane!:)