Monday, March 24, 2014

A Middle Eastern Giveaway and a Blogging Absence

I'll be leaving very soon on a trip to Israel. Teenaged Daughter is a senior in high school and has wanted to travel there for a long time, so we are going. I'm excited, too, and I look forward to seeing the ancient sights, riding a camel, and eating exotic foods. At one point we'll be so close to the Syria they say we'll be able to hear the sounds of the warfare, but I do NOT plan on crossing that particular border.

I'll be out of the blogging world for a while and will probably be back to our great blogging community around the end of April, but I am also hosting a giveaway, something from Israel (I don't know what yet, but when I get there I'll find something neat). All you have to do to enter is leave a comment and include where you've never been before that you'd like to visit. I'll draw a name when we return and announce the winner. It's not too late to enter. It will be too late only when you can't see this post anymore.

Also, if you'd like a postcard from Israel, email me your address at morfam@hotmail.com or message me on Facebook. If I can't mail it in Israel, I'll mail it when we get home. And it's fine if you don't live in the US. I'd be happy to mail you one wherever you live.

(And for those of you who asked, I'm going to try and get an English translation of the poem that was given to me in last week's post up before I leave. I will include it in last week's post.) 

Over and out, friends~

76 comments:

  1. I hope you have a fabulous trip! Hmmm, where would I love to go? I think to the Northwest Territories here in Canada. You are such a generous soul, Shelly!! I love to postcards and would be delighted to get one form Isreal. I'll email you my address. Thanks so much!

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    1. Linda: I hear they're beautiful- I hope you get to go someday!

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  2. Dear Shelly, I've always wanted to go to Israel and Greece. I went to Greece back in 1993 so that's one thing on the bucket list that's done. I'd also like to see many places in the United States: the Grand Canyon; the antebellum homes along the Gulf Coast States; the Lincoln library in Springfield, Illinois; Washington, D.C.; the Gettysburg battlefield; the giant sequoia trees in California. Oh lots! I do want a postcard, so I'll e-mail that address you gave me. Have a wonderful trip! Peace.

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    1. Dee: Oh, all those places sound lovely, especially the antebellum homes. There is so much to see right here, isn't there?

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  3. I know you'll have a wonderful time. I love traveling but I've never been to Israel and would love to visit the Holy Land one day. Be safe.

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    1. Stephen: With your wealth of travel experiences, I know you'll get there sooner rather than later!

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  4. How fun to go to Israel with your daughter. I went there one Easter with a college roommate. We went on the Way of the Cross, saw camel races in the desert, rode horses to Petra in Jordan, and loved Jerusalem's Old City. Sign me up for the give away.

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    1. Terra: That's the trip of a lifetime! I'd love to see Petra someday. You are signed up!

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  5. Oh, ha ha. You said to include where I've never been and would like to visit. Eastern Europe and the grand old cities like Budapest and Prague.

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    1. Terra: Now that would be a wonderful trip!

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  6. Shucks, dear Shelly, everybody seems to be taking a spring break from blogging! I will miss your friendly visits and comments. Your upcoming journey to Israel is an extraordinary opportunity and will be an unforgettable mother-daughter experience. I wish you a safe trip and a tons of fun, excitement and learning.

    Mrs. Shady is part Irish and she and I agree that we'd love to visit the unspoiled countryside in Ireland someday.

    Please take very good care of yourself, dear friend Shelly. I will eagerly await your return and your "show and tell" posts about your experiences in Israel. God bless!

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    1. Shady: Ireland is on my bucket list! I hope you two get to go someday. I will take tons of pics~

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  7. I am a homebody, through and through, and a very bad traveller, but I love hearing about other peoples' trips. If I could do away with all the reasons I don't like to travel, I would go to Egypt and Greece. Looking forward to hearing about your trip. Stay safe and have fun! Oh - I would love to receive a postcard - thank you for your kind offer! I will email you.

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    1. jenny_o: Egypt and Greece both would be wonderful! And I will get a postcard for you~

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  8. You'll be missed, Shelly! Take care, take pics, and SEND ME A POSTCARD!! :-)

    Pearl

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    1. Pearl: A sweet Israeli kitty postcard coming right up!

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  9. I went to Israel a few years ago and loved it! (And yes, I rode a camel.) Galilee is a really pretty area. I assume you're going up to Golan Heights if you're going to see Syria. I did that, too. Are you going to the Dead Sea? It's a really cool experience to float in it. Hope you have a marvelous trip! Can't wait to hear about it when you get back!

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    1. Sherry: Yes- Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, too! Going to coat myself in that rich mud. Yes, it will be the Golan Heights. It is going to be surreal to be so close to such brutal fighting. Thank you!

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  10. Have fun! I'd like to go to Israel too actually, it's on my list of places. I won't have time this year though. I am glad I got to see the amazing sights of Syria before the war, I believe so many of them are being damaged now. I really look forward to hearing about your visit.

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    1. Jenny: Yes, it is so sad that in addition to the horrors of the war, so many priceless historical sites are being irretrievably damaged. I wish I had seen Syria before. Thank you!

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  11. Hi Shelly. First of all, may I wish you and your group a very safe trip, and have a very special time. As you know, I went to Israel quite a few years ago, but did virtually all the sights mentioned in the Bible and where several of the miracles occurred. Also went bathing in the Dead Sea! I'm sure you will return with lots of memories and, hopefully, photos for us to look at. Where to go - well, I would very much like to visit America (never been) and meet up with some of my very special bloggy friends :) Take care my friend.

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    1. thisisme: I'm looking forward to the Dead Sea! I will coat myself in that mud. And if you ever come to America, I will travel to find you!

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  12. Oh Shelly time travelling with your daughter is the best thing ever. M and I went on that train to Vancouver and it was so much fu, something neither of us will forget. I would love to go to Australia someday and see friends I have never met or Montana to see a friend I never met:) Oh I will be mailing my address and you have a wonderful time I know you will. I will miss you but be smiling because I know you are with your daughter having a blast. xoxo Hug B

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    1. Buttons: I think it is going to be great fun! Montana, I hear, is amazing, especially for us country folk. I hope you get to go there someday!

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  13. What a wonderful opportunity!! I hope you have an amazing time and I can't wait for your return! The one place I've never been but have always wanted to go is Ireland :)

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    1. Optimistic: Oh, beautiful Ireland, the land of my dreams!

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  14. Dearest Shelly;
    Oh My, what an exciting and exotic trip you will have with your daughter♡♡♡ I'm sure you have a MARVELOUS trip. Oh, I've never been to America and will be really lovely to be able to meet up you and other blog friend, my dear friend.
    Wishing you a great trip and safe back home♬♬♬

    Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

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    1. orchid Miyako: Should you ever get to come to America, my dear friend, all your blogging friends, including me, would throw a huge welcoming party for you!

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  15. Have an awesome time! There are too many places I've never been to pick just one. So I'll just say London. One of many. See you in May!

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    1. Carol: I'm sure they have tiki huts in London!

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  16. Where have I never been that I would like to visit? Israel! Color me green. Back story: JoAnn and I wed in 2000. I was planning a "honeymoon" trip to Israel. Her comment upon learning this? "But I want a carnal honeymoon. We can go to the Holy Land another time." Well, we've not been to Israel yet, but this little story has garnered a fair amount of laughter over the past fourteen years! (Oh, we went to Texas. Yee-haw!)

    Safe travels.

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    1. vanilla: As partial as I am to Texas, I don't think it can hold a candle to Israel. I do hope you two get there someday!

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  17. I hope your trip is beautiful and filled with meaning. I want so badly to go to England. I'm afraid I'll never get there.

    Love,
    Janie

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  18. Oh Shelly, how wonderful! I hear it is such a great place to visit! So glad you are doing this with your daughter! I'll say Israel is a place I haven't visited, but would like to.

    Have a wonderful trip!

    betty

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    1. betty: I'm so looking forward to it- and I have a feeling you will get to Israel one day!

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  19. Awesome, Awesome!!! What a great adventure, I gotta know what it's like to ride a camel! Looking forward to your post after you return! Have fun!

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    1. Saimi: Fellow horsewoman, I will give you a full report upon return about camel riding!

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  20. I know you will have so many wonderful stories to tell. Enjoy your visit; make lots of memories with your daughter.

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  21. How exciting! I can't wait to read about your trip! There are many places I'd love to visit, but one of my oldest friends has lived in Denmark for 8 years, and the fact that I haven't flown to see her is a travesty.

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    1. Amy: Denmark is lovely, I hear, and you could sure have some great fun there with your friend. I hope you do get to visit her!

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  22. I wish you a happy time and a safe trip. We will miss your blogs, but I am sure you when you come back we will get to learn about places you are going to visit. Have Fun !

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  23. Ooh, Israel! Have an inspiring and thrilling time. What a wonderful learning trip for your daughter as well. I just watched a TV special on Israel hosted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. I was especially taken by the Christian and Jewish quarters of Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and also the story behind the mountain of Masada. Seeing the Western Wall is a profound experience for visitors as well, I'm sure.

    My husband and I talk about going to Israel one day. Maybe when the kids are older. :-) We'd also like to go to Greece, Italy (with a tour of Vatican City), Scotland, Australia, and Ireland. A lot of trips to plan when the kids are older (and we have money again, hopefully!)

    Be well. We'll miss you but look forward to hearing about your trip when you return. As for the poem, can you email it to me in Spanish when have a moment?

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    1. Janette Dolores: I am so looking forward to seeing those very places you are talking about! We are going to spend a good chunk of time at Masada, too.

      I've been to Greece and Italy and Vatican City, and I hope one day to visit Scotland, Australia, and Ireland.

      And yes, if I get the poem back from my sil in time before we leave, I will email it to you. She was going to translate it accurately for me.

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  24. Oh, I will be praying for you while you are gone Shelly!! I'm so excited for you! I can't wait to see pictures (hopefully on Facebook???) and you have my address, we'd love a postcard, do you need me to re-send my address?

    I've been all the places I'd like to be...but anywhere by the ocean, the warm ocean!!!

    I'll miss you when you are gone..have a wonderful trip!!! God bless you!!

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    1. Jamie Jo: Oh, yes, the big, beautiful, warm ocean!!! Love ours here! And yes, I still have your addy, so will be happy to sen you one!

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  25. Oh, I want to see photos of you all over Israel. Have a wonderful time!

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    1. Romance Book Haven: I hope to take many, many pictures! Thank you~

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  26. Hi Shelly, that's so exciting. You both have adventurous hearts! I have always wanted to visit Italy. And Paris. And Dublin...well, my list runneth over! Have fun.

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    1. The Chicken's Consigliere: Thank you! And I hope you make it to all those places and more~

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  27. I'm late getting around to visiting with you. Just hope you're not to busy preparing for the trip and not be able to read that I wish you and your daughter a most happy, enjoyable trip to Israel!! As for a place I've never been and would love to see would be just about anywhere in Europe...Ireland, Austria, the Alps, Black Forest....but really have no desire to see big cities...just the local, small community ambiance of the 'old world'.

    Enjoy!!!!

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    1. ...and SAFE trip most of all!!!

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    2. HOOTIN ANNI: I would love to travel back in time and visit some of those Old World places. That would be wonderful!

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  28. Have a blessed and safe trip. Will miss you...especially your comments when you come say Hi to ME!
    I have always wanted to see Italy...Rome...etc...

    I will add another BE SAFE...scary by Syria.

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    1. Christine: Oh, I hope you get to go there someday! And yes, we will be VERY careful in the Golan Heights- thanks!

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  29. Hi Shelly, your trip sounds exciting. I hope you have a wonderful time and a safe trip. I haven't traveled outside of the United States, I have always thought China would be a great place to go, I would love to see the Great Wall.

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    1. Dawn: That would be wonderful! I hope you get there someday, and thank you!

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  30. I'm excited about a postcard! :)
    I had always wanted to go to Sweden because that's where our family line is from--my brother, sister, and I were the last of the 100% Swedes.

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    1. Rita: I didn't know you were Swedish! Now that would be a great trip. And I will look for a postcard that Miss Karma will like, too!

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  31. Safe travels and blessings to you both as you head to the land of love and faith.
    Big hugs~

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  32. Oh How exciting! Safe travels and enjoy yoy=ur trip. I really look forward to reading all about it :-) xx

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  33. I am so sorry I am a week late. I hope you have a beautiful trip! I would love to learn about your journey. Many prayers are being said for your safety and happiness. I know you will be opened in new ways through the experience of travel. Those you meet will be inspired by your love.

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  34. Hello Shelly! - Wow! I have been seriously hitting and missing blogging during the last couple of months; more missing, actually. Anyway, I finallly get here and you're travelling the world with your daughter! I hope you're having a great time and experience. I will be excited to read your future posts detailing some of your activity.

    And if you're still there and able to send me a postcard, I'd love to have one! I'll send you an email.

    Happy and safe travels for the both of you. xoxo

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    1. I forgot to say that I'd like to take an Alaskan cruise and to see some of the state.

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    2. Anita: A postcard is on the way! Thank you!

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    3. Hi Shelly, I received my post card a couple days ago. My girls probably couldn't understand why it made me smile; but as you know, it's such fun to receive a note in the snail mail. My post card collection and I thank you!

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    4. Anita: I'm so glad it made it to you!!!

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