Road Trip!

I just want everyone to know that blogging is stressful to me, but I'm going to try.

Here are pics from my recent road trip to AZ, NV, and CA in jumbled order. I didn't have my camera when we hiked Red rock canyon in Las Vegas.

I saw both cousins Michael and Ruth and their families, but didn't take pictures. It was good to see them.






The above four are from Joshua Tree Nat. Park.


If you look at the reflection in Garret's sunglasses you can see me.




A canyon in Southeastern Arizona.


Painted Desert


Hoover Dam!

At the NM/AZ border.


My toe socks.



Hiking in Sedona, AZ.


Petrified Forest.

Happy 31st Birthday Jennie!

Happy Birthday Jennie! I think you are so great. Such a wonderful wife, mother, sister-in-law, and as I just found out tonight, RUNNER! Go Jennie.

BTW: I talked to John tonight and while I was on the phone he ran a marathon. What a runner!

Happy Halloween!

We all got together just before Halloween and had a great time! Here are some pics of all the fun.

First Annual John & Christine Donaldson Family Reunion!

Didn't we have a great reunion?! I loved seeing everyone and I thought Marcus did a wonderful job. It was a perfect balance of planning and spontanaity. I know it was hard at times to get our children to sleep, but I feel it was all worth it. The highlight was being with all of you and catching up on your lives! I loved the cookbook (glad we did it), Deseret News races and playing at the park, hike to the river, hike around the lake, FOOD, kids, Monk series, boating, caravans and fun times spent together! I am excited for more to come!

A Day of Remembrance-Where were you?

I remember September 11, 2001 I was in my color theory art class at BYU when the entire events were unfolded. My class began at 8 AM and as I was riding to school we listened to the radio. At that time only one tower had been hit. While in class we were informed about the second tower being hit. I remember we were dismissed from class early and I went to the Bookstore. I watched on the screen the horrific events. A short while later we, meaning the entire student body of BYU met at the Marriot Center for a special devotional. I don't think anyone who was present at school did not attend. It was a time of sorrow and anxiety for the future. I remember singing "Come, Come Ye Saints" and feeling comfort knowing that God was watching over his children. I felt almost helpless not knowing what I could do to help ease the pain of these people who were suffering from loss of loved ones. The best thing I felt I could do was pray.

Stire Steddie

Donaldson Family History

“The 'Donaldson' family originally were McDonalds. MacDonald as you probably already know, is 'Mac' or 'son', as in 'son of Donald'. In Scotland, they were known as 'Clan Donald' before 'MacDonald'. The original was Donald himself, son of Reginald, Lord of the Isles and grandson of Somerled. It was Somerled who divided his vast lands among his 4 sons. MacDonald stems from this beginning.”

“A trip to Glencoe, Scotland, can take you to where they lived and died. There is a large monument to the MacDonalds in Glencoe. The scenery is breathtaking.”

“[The Donaldson’s] have [their] own Coat of Arms, as do the MacDonalds. And we have our own motto, which should be displayed with the Coat of Arms. It is "Stire Steddie", and was most likely a battle cry. It means: stir steady, which is understandable since the first Donaldsons were seafaring people. This is vaguely similar to the MacDonald motto, which is: "By Sea or By Land".

As for the Coat of Arms, as wordy sketch of the Donaldson version goes as follows: "A Square-ish Shield bearing the picture of a sailing ship with oars, and furled sail atop the mast. Three flags flutter in the wind, one atop the single mast, one at the prow and one at the stern. Over the shield is a helmet of old armour with shoulder plates. The visor is down. Above the helmet is the ship's rudder standing tall and alone, above all. Around the outside are many ribbons hanging down, or turned up and flowing as if in a breeze. At the very bottom is one more ribbon decoratively looped across but below the shield.The clan motto belongs here no doubt.”

From http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/bennyd/clan.html

The Donalson family Coat of Arms



















One of our Tartans









Here are some lyrics about our history from a song called “The Sons of Somerled” written by a Scottish musician named Steve McDonald

Sons of Somerled
Through an age of fighting men
When sword was mightier than pen
There lived a clansman bold and true
The very one our name came through
Born of blood line dating from
The hundred battles warrior Conn
Gaelic viking in his veins
Testify his battle fame
For three hundred and fifty years
The western highlands lived in fear
Fighting to regain the Isles
Down to Islay and Argyle
From the Dalriadan line
Through the centuries there we find
A Scotsman born with Viking name
Born to rule through love and pain
Hail to ye sons of Somerled
Hail to ye sons of Somerled
Ruling from the Isle of Man
lslay was the place they'd ...make their stand
After almost twenty years
He rid the Isles of Norsemen..then and there
Hail to ye sons of Somerled
Hail to ye sons of Somerled
Through the timeless history,
Fighting for their destiny
Images fly through my head,
Images of Somerled... chorusT
he warrior kings lived by the sword
From hill to loch and dark fjord
Battling 'til his life he shed
Leaving the throne
To the sons of Somerled

Reunion Races!

Who is doing what in terms of the 5K, 10K, marathon? Please comment.