And the winner is...

Gayly.  And Ruth.  And Melissa.  Because I couldn't limit it to just one person.

Weekend Wonders (and a giveaway!)

 

Palm Sunday kind of snuck up on me.  With two botched attempts at getting Aaron and Henk out to the village (the ship didn't go again this weekend), other things have been crowding out this important celebration.  I did like attending the 6:00 a.m. service this morning and watching the sun come up.  And God gave us sweet rain after we got home and enjoyed Sarah's cinnamon rolls for brunch.  A sweet Sunday morning, indeed.

 

 

Friday night, our kids gave a small recital featuring the musical pieces and some of the memorization they've been working on since our arrival in the Solomon Islands.  Margreet took pictures, thankfully, since I turned on my camera to discover a dead battery.  We were super grateful for the adopted aunts and uncles who willing to come sit and listen to our kids.

 

The lovely coconut soap here is now packaged differently than it was when we left last year.  That is reason enough for a blog giveaway!  And supposedly, the soap is anti-ageing.  I think we should do an informal survey on that quality.  Especially since Katherine was looking at me funny while we were playing games this afternoon.  I asked her what she was thinking, and she said, "I don't want you to get old."  Then I realized she had been looking at my gray hair.  She likes to keep track of how many I have.

So, if you are interested in owning a few bars of Solomon Island coconut soap (which may or may not be anti-ageing), please leave a comment by Wednesday, March 23, midnight, CDST.  We ship just about anywhere!

And the winner is...

 

...Lisa and Brennen.  Before we drew names, we decided that two boxes of goodies would be more fun than one.  Thanks for celebrating the bounty of summer along with us - God surely blesses us abundantly!

I Love Zucchini - Giveaway

 

Nope, the whole box that comes to your door won't be full of zucchini.  But it will have a loaf of zucchini bread.  And some of Sarah's amazing fudge.  And other surprises, too.  If you are interested in celebrating the bounty of summer with us (especially zucchini), please leave a comment by midnight, Saturday, July 11th, to be entered in the drawing. 

The suspense...the anticipation...

My handsome assistant draws the paper out of the bowl, and the winner is...

Giveaway

 

Way too much time has elapsed since I've hosted a giveaway on the blog. 

 

Yesterday at market, I found this beautiful set of polished shell earrings and a necklace.

Leave a comment by Tuesday, 11:59 p.m. Central Time, to include your name in our very scientific drawing.  I'm so thankful for the blog community that encourages and prays for our family, and this is just a tiny way to say thanks.

Giveaway

We thought it appropriate to offer one of these beautiful carved doves on this Pentecost weekend.  If you would like a chance to own this, please leave your comment by midnight (CST), Sunday night.

Giveaway

Sarah decided that it just wasn't right for me to always put pretty pictures of models smiling for the giveaways. So, to please my girl...

This white shell necklace would be great for a child or it would also work as a choker for an adult. I have field tested each giveaway item! This necklace also has a matching bracelet. If you are interested in putting your name in the drawing, please leave a comment by midnight CST, Friday, February 18. As always, we are so thankful for our amazing friends and family all over the world who encourage us and uphold us in prayer!

Giveaway

Our local carver, Roland, has come by recently with some beautiful bracelets. So, we just have to share! If you would like to wear this hand-made work of art, please leave a comment by midnight CST, on Monday, February 7.

Giveaway

I found this beautiful shell necklace in Honiara's Central Market yesterday, and I wanted to take advantage of the beautiful model to wear it. The necklace also has matching earrings that I forgot to have my mother wear for the picture. If you would like to own them, please leave a comment by midnight CST, Sunday, January 2. May God bless you richly in the coming year!

Giveaway

Just a small giveaway this time, and it's a little corny, I know. If you would like to be the first of your friends to own an "I love Solomon Islands" mug, then leave a comment by midnight CST, Friday, October 22.

Giveaway

If you would like to own these beautifully carved salad tongs, please leave a comment by midnight CST, Monday, September 13. We were so excited to find a new batch of carvings had just come in to the shop! Thanks for all of the encouraging words you leave on the blog, the care packages you send, and the prayers you offer on our behalf.

Giveaway

This small salad set was too beautiful to pass up, and it's one of those things I've only found once. The rosewood bowl is a perfect size for a small green salad. This will be our last giveaway until we come back to Honiara at the end of August.

Please leave a comment by midnight (CST), Sunday, June 13, if you would like to add your name to our scientifically accurate "kids draw a paper out of the bowl" approach.

Giveaway

We found this beautiful, gray necklace at Central Market in Honiara. If you would like an opportunity to own it, please leave a comment by midnight (CST) Sunday, June 7. Thanks for encouraging us as we serve in the Solomon Islands!

Giveaway

We found this beautiful little butter dish and knife made from a shell. (I just noticed that my foot made it in the picture, too!) The shell really catches the light and refracts it into a rainbow of color on the back.

Please leave a comment by midnight (CST) on Friday night if you would like to enter the drawing for the butter dish. I continue to be amazed at God's beautiful creation and the way our neighbors make more beautiful things with God's good gifts!

Giveaway Time Again!

One of our favorite things about being back in Honiara is being able to find beautiful things and share them with our family and friends. These earrings are intricately carved turtle shell. Turtle is a common food out in our village, and we think it is delicious! After enjoying the meat, then the shell can be used to create beautiful carvings.

If you would like to wear these earrings, please leave a comment by midnight (CST), Monday, May 24, and our random generator (four pairs of small hands) will choose a winner.

Giveaway

This small, rosewood tray was labled a "bread tray" in the craft shop, and it's the only wooden tray I've been able to find. I liked it so much that I tried it out with my morning coffee. If nobody comments, I get to keep it! But if you would like to own it, please post your comment by midnight CST, Monday, February 15. (This will be our last giveaway for a few months as we prepare to go back to Marulaon.)

Giveaway

It's time once again to say a BIG thanks to those of you who mail cards, support us financially, pray for us, send care packages, drop us an e-mail...all of the many ways you encourage our family as we go back and forth from Honiara to Marulaon. These are lovely handmade rosewood tongs inlaid with shell. We own a very similar pair and use them almost every day. Drop us a note in the comment box before midnight CST, Sunday, Febrary 7th, and the last name our kids draw will receive these in a care package from the Solomon Islands.

Giveaway Time

Aaron found this beautiful bowl in town, and it's the perfect size to be able to share with those of you who encourage us so much. The carving here is astonishing, I can't even imagine the amount of time it takes to make some of the really big bowls. So, if you would like to own this bowl, drop me a comment before midnight CST, Thursday night, January 14, and our kids will once again become giddy as they draw names out of the proverbial hat.

Giveaway

Enter your name in the comments by midnight (CST) Wednesday for a chance to receive a pair of these fabulous mother-of-pearl earrings hand carved in the Solomon Islands. (Of course, we would love for you to come visit and pick out your own jewelry at the market!)