“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
Graduate School is hard. Summer Graduate School is intense! I NEED A VACA IN A BAG!!! Great post, great idea! Thanks for sharing your fun vacation and not your nasty bug.
Take Care!
We were just talking last night about how we would love to go to the beach since it has been two years but…home is where we will stay again this year. Life gets in the way sometimes….but I am blessed and not complaining!
Thank you so much for offering this giveaway and for all of the time spend (posting things) helping me to live a life that glorifies God. Bobbi
Lynda Tuten
What a fun idea! Thank you!
No where big this year. We have two kids in college.
Thanks for this!
Melissa Houser
Love it!
Entry for giveaway
Wow! So thoughtful. Glad you enjoyed your trip and hope you are feeling well again.
Awesome!
Rhonda Blevins
We all love you guys so much too-thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you for always thinking of others and for all that you have given to me.
This looks wonderful!!
Beautiful, fun goodies for Summer! I would be blessed to win!
Dustalyn Graham
What perfect treats for the summer!
Shara
Awwwwwww. LOVE THIS!
Hi Melissa…your pup is just too cute. We had two lab retrievers, brothers, one tan and one black. Combined they weighted 150 lbs. Unfortunately I herniated a disc in my neck which resulted 18 months later in surgery (last August) and we adopted them out to a wonderful family. How I miss them and understand your inability to get mad when your pup Winston does anything wrong. Just look at that face!
Would love to receive a summer give away. As a mom of a 3-year old, a break is just not in the works. I am serving in our church part time on a major revision of their logo, website and implementing a church management system due to roll out in late August early September so no vacation for us. We also are about to embark on a new journey with both my husband and I returning to University to prepare for our second careers…me in my late 40’s and my husband in his mid 40’s. We are thrilled about what plans God has laid on our hearts. For Mike it will be vocational training to open his own motorcycle repair shop with a Christian focus (Exodus Cycle) and for me, Master’s in Counseling pending acceptance into RTS in Orlando. Great program with such a wonderful compliment of theology, spirituality, and psychology.
Not much time in our future for any big vacations. Glad to see you were afforded some extra special time with your husband and sorry to hear about your after effects. Pray for a speedy healing and recovery.
Much love,
Sue
So ready for summer!!! This is the perfect way to welcome the season. Thanks for the opportunity!
Oh my Melissa, I do so enjoy your writing! We haven’t been on a vacation in over 5 years, except for a occasional day trip. It matters not if I win, but it did put a smile on my face to see there were over 3000 comments already, so when I feel like wallowing in self pity, I am not in this boat alone! AND yes, I have been there in years past with the post-vacation trauma. Whether it be sickness or a disaster when you get home. Makes for good story-telling for sure!
What an absolutely sweet give away. It would be such a treat for anyone of these fabulous items let alone all. Thank you for the opportunity!
Yay! What fun!
Wonderful!
Mmmmm….those little gift items look like a slice of heaven! Take me to the ocean and I’m so reminded of the power of our God!! God bless you and all those in the Living Proof Ministry…thanks for all y’all do!! 🙂
What a beautiful and thoughtful idea! Thanks for sharing your favorite summer things.
great summer items!
Single Mom of two teenage boys!! Working full time.. I need some girlie summer fun!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
I love this idea of a give away!! How thoughtful!! But that is what LPM is all about. If I win this fantastic gift I would give it to my sister Joy. She just turned 60 and wanted to be able to visit the sands of Cabo, Mx. with us girls to celebrate it. Her health and the fact she is caring for our elderly aunt full time kept her from experiencing that wonderful feel of sand between her toes and the smell of ocean breeze. Instead she is out in the hay fields at midnight helping her husband change waters in our aunts hay field. Not the way she wanted to spend her retirement years! lol She loves Beth and this would be a fantastic gift and awesome blessing to surprise her with! Oh how I love your generosity and fun thinking Melissa!
Love to all!
Sandy
Great summer staycation give-a-way,,,,,,,,,Thanks so much!!!!!
This would be wonderful! I am so blessed by your blog!!! (My name is Erica Meshell, and I approve this message <3)
How sweet of you to share!! 🙂 I can’t get to the beach – I would love to smell that perfume! 🙂
What a great giveaway! Glad you got to get away and enjoy the beach.
This looks so awesome! How thoughtful!
Enter my name– those items brought a huge smile to my face! My summer is filled with wedding planning and nursing classes :/– Super grateful, but must admit there are some days I’d rather be on a beach some where!
I recently purchased a copy of your book, “Praying God’s Word” and have been blessed tremendously! The book was my first introduction to Mrs. Beth Moore and I decided to visit the website today…. happy to stumble upon the Summer give-a-way! Blessings to ya!
Thanks
LOVE IT!! Hope I am not too late!!!
Cathie
Jacksonville, Florida
I can almost taste the pomagrante blackberry tea!!!
Oh man. This is amazing.
A beautiful basket full of goodies. Thanks for sharing.
My favorite things too! Thank you!
This is beautiful! No vacation this year. My health is isnt very good right now but I am healing! God is good!
Thank you for the sweet offer!
Since I don’t get to go anywhere near a beach this summer, man, would I enjoy this giveaway! Very cute and exciting!
Count me in! What a wonderful summer giveaway!
Wonderful idea. Blessings to you all.
Thank you.
I need this!!
I would seriously love to win this, I’ve always wanted some Ray-bans! Thanks for the opportunity!
Count me in, as well!
Love anything beachy…so fun. We are on a tight budget right now so a pick me up is always good. Thank you so much for always encouraging all of us.