Tuesday, September 19, 2006
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!
Monday, September 11, 2006
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.
Friday, June 30, 2006
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
“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
Friday, June 23, 2006
Monday, June 19, 2006
Fun Father's Day
We all went over to Mom and Dad's (John and Christine's) for some fun father's day interaction. We also told Mom and Johanna some of what we like about them. Ended the night with some poetry by Robbie Burns (To a Louse, To a Mouse, For A' that, My luve is like a red, red, rose, etc.).
David and Heather are back from the Caribbean and are happy to be reunited with little Hannah. Hannah is happy to have mom and dad back safe.
Pete, Dad, and Seth went on the father and son activity to Granite Flats above Tibble Fork. Seth gave them a little scare when he decided to do a little exploring. Something adventurous in those Donaldson genes. (Or is his Smith genes?) Jinjer is a great blogger and Jane just loves to play with her cousins and friends.
Johanna had a great birthday party with 15 of her closest friends at the cabins in Little Cottonwood. She went to the Strawberry Days rodeo the next day.
Walter is playing soccer and working for grandpa. He could hardly kick a ball on a walk last week with us.
Julie had a fun week at BYU for a writer's conference. I had David and Adah the whole weekend before last. We went swimming, saw Cars, went out to eat, and visited grandma and grandpa. I got to write a motion and a memo in support of a motion that was actually filed in court.
Charles is really excited about heading out to New York and he just found out that he got a full scholarship at UVSC.
Mike Taylor is enjoying some down time in an anatomy rotation. Emm and Tommy have had fun swimming and hanging out.
Rich really liked his pulmonology. He even got to do a main line. They posted some sweet pictures of cute Lila and John on their blog.
Louise is work, work, work, then play, play, play all the day.
Marcus called mom from Pakistan and reassured her he is safe. (After he had already climbed across a glacier).
We can't wait to see all of the out-of-towners this summer.
David and Heather are back from the Caribbean and are happy to be reunited with little Hannah. Hannah is happy to have mom and dad back safe.
Pete, Dad, and Seth went on the father and son activity to Granite Flats above Tibble Fork. Seth gave them a little scare when he decided to do a little exploring. Something adventurous in those Donaldson genes. (Or is his Smith genes?) Jinjer is a great blogger and Jane just loves to play with her cousins and friends.
Johanna had a great birthday party with 15 of her closest friends at the cabins in Little Cottonwood. She went to the Strawberry Days rodeo the next day.
Walter is playing soccer and working for grandpa. He could hardly kick a ball on a walk last week with us.
Julie had a fun week at BYU for a writer's conference. I had David and Adah the whole weekend before last. We went swimming, saw Cars, went out to eat, and visited grandma and grandpa. I got to write a motion and a memo in support of a motion that was actually filed in court.
Charles is really excited about heading out to New York and he just found out that he got a full scholarship at UVSC.
Mike Taylor is enjoying some down time in an anatomy rotation. Emm and Tommy have had fun swimming and hanging out.
Rich really liked his pulmonology. He even got to do a main line. They posted some sweet pictures of cute Lila and John on their blog.
Louise is work, work, work, then play, play, play all the day.
Marcus called mom from Pakistan and reassured her he is safe. (After he had already climbed across a glacier).
We can't wait to see all of the out-of-towners this summer.
Deseret News 24th of July Marathon Info
I have been looking at some information on the race, from what I see there is no Race Day registration. The deadline to register over the internet is July 16th. You can also fill out a form and mail it in. Here is a map of the different courses. There is a 5K, 10K, and Marathon. They all start at different places and at different times. What are people thinking?
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Happy Birthday Mom!
Happy Birthday To You!! Thanks for all you do for all of us. You are a wonderful mother who cares so much about her children and grandchildren. We hope you have a great day!! XOXOXO
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Family Reunion
The JKDonaldson family reunion will be held July 28th through the 30th at the Ashton & Lloyd cabins. Everyone is in charge of planning and bringing all ingredients for a meal. Also, each family should plan and bring supplies for an activity that the children can do.
It has been suggested that we also do the Deseret News 24th of July marathon as a part of our reunion. Bring your jogging shoes if you would like to participate.
It has been suggested that we also do the Deseret News 24th of July marathon as a part of our reunion. Bring your jogging shoes if you would like to participate.
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