evan, lindsay, nina, elena and esther

Nina and I hopped on a plane to head out to Tacoma to be with my family for the weekend of my Grandmother funeral. Nina was a real trooper on the drive from Rexburg to Boise (about 4–5 hours) and the hour and 15 minute flight.

Here is a little video of Nina doing a little expert-traveler-beek-a-boo action.

Peek-a-boo on a Jet Plane from Evan and Lindsay MacDonald on Vimeo.

On the ride home from the airport, she fell asleep while sucking on her bottle (it was a long day). I snapped this photo on my handy little cellular device.


We really miss Lindsay! Nina is doing okay tho since there is enough activity to keep her sidetracked. More to come from this trip, I'm sure!

Cheers!

Labels: Evan, Nina, plane ride, video

Tomorrow Evan and Nina are leaving me until Sunday! He's going so he can be there for his sweet Grandma Doris's funeral.

I have this picture that I just found while archiving pictures to keep me company until he gets back!



Grandma Doris was such a great lady. How do I know this about her? For starts, take her youngest son, Gordy, my father in law (who happens to be Evan's twin. in many many ways). What an amazing guy! Her daughter Amy (evan and I's aunt) said this about her mother in a lovely email she sent out to the family this week. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing this part of her email -- "First, I want to express the great spirit of my mother. I have long thought that she knows far more about the true nature of things, than she has ever voiced. Her abiding spirit is a testament to that. She is humility, simplicity, charity, acceptance, love and faith. I am so grateful that she nurtured and raised me."

Evan and I came across this quote the other day -- "We have reason to have the greatest hope and consolation for our dead; for we have seen them walk worthily in our midst, and seen them sink asleep in the arms of Jesus..." - Joseph Smith Isn't that such beautiful imagery? How inspired. And inspiring.

Kyle who's on his mission and can't make it to the funeral said in his email that one of the first thoughts he had when he found out she had passed away was "she is probably dancing".

I would just say that it must take an incredible person to live from the age of 17 and on with rheumatoid arthritis and NOT have that be your defining characteristic. She is a kind bright and positive person.

As if there aren't already enough amazing people in my life to look up to! You know when you meet a person or group of people and they just INSPIRE you to be better or make you want to do something good? Two weeks ago I had that experience, deeply. So now I am now a proud member of: WOW - The Worldwide Organization for Women.

WOW is one of the many non-profits in Utah (utah seems to have a disproportionately large amount of international non-profits for how non-metropolis it is comparatively) They have a broad mission to advocate women globally - economically, socially, politically. Which is extremely important in our world of decaying morals and rapidly changing cultures, often leaving women the most disadvantaged of any ( for example, of the world's poor 70% are women, for many reasons). This means that women are the least empowered to raise their families and pave a new future for society through their children. WOW has representation at the UN in NY (ahem, Suvi), and at the UN headquarters in Geneva, and they collaborate with a variety of different NGOs who work in one way or another to empower marginalized women. Sounds pretty vague, but believe me, it's not vague to the hundreds of women whose lives are touched by these organizations.

Suvi invited me to meet up with her at their annual conference at the Weber State campus two weekends ago. It was the weekend after General Conference so I just felt all around inspired and edified. The theme of this year's WOW conference was Women's influence for peace worldwide. I was BLOWN AWAY by the variety of speakers and the simple power of their messages. I wish that everyone I know could hear what those ladies had to say.

Please go here and listen a little bit to one of my heroes from the conference who is doing brilliantly courageous things in Somalia. I can't tell you how much hearing Asha Haji Elmi speak in person, touched my heart. This BBC report is a bit outdated but is still relevant :