Lillian's first "press conference"!

We received these photos today, from Bryan & Meggan. Lillian's comments below.

_________________________
The first is me saying...
"I love you" to you all.

The second is.... "Nana & Papa time is wonderful." ...."I've heard telling, that GrandMama & GrandDad are coming too!"

The third is...
"Thank you.... Feltault's & Gosselin's, this boppy is oh soooo compfy!"

Lillian arrives.... We await our arrival!

T minus 2 days and counting for Sandra.
T minus 6 days and counting for Duane.

This time of waiting is too much to bear! We await, with eager anticipation the opportunity to hold lil' Lillian in our arms.

Please find this PhotoShop creation to hold us over until we meet her ourselves.

GrandDad Jones

More! More! More!

Photos have started to arrive from the west coast....
(we'll, by way of MN)
Courtesy of Bill & Denise Wolff.

This next week, to week and a half, will seem to last forever.
Sandra & I are both counting the days until we too get to hold lil' Lillian.

Here are a couple photos of her.

GrandDad Jones

....and then there were TEN!

I've often mused at the numbers our family has grown to these past three years.

Well, I am excited to announce the arrival of Lillian Ruth Wolff.

Lillian arrived at 7:31 PM on Saturday, September 2nd, 2006
Weight: 6# 14 oz.
Length: 20 inches

Mother, baby and Dad, are all doing well.
We hope to have a photo to share soon! And here it is!
_______________________________________________________
Love,

GrandDad Jones

Babies are having babies?

Last night while looking for some old art files on my hard drive, I came across this photo of Meggan.

It was taken at the head waters of the mighty Mississippi, way back in 19??

It is a classic!

Now our little Meg (...and Bry, of course) are having babies!!!!!

Somebody, pinch me please!

With Love,

Dad Jones

Did I say the water level was low?

Here is a link from a local TV station (KMSP TV).

http://kstp.dayport.com/viewer/viewerpage.php?Art_ID=168662

The lake in the piece is our lake!

Duane

"Where has all the water gone... long time passing?"

We have been suffering from quite a lack of rain in north central Minnesota.

Photos to give proof to the statement. Please pray for rain!

Actually, and more importantly......












"Please pray for Reign!" "HIS Reign!"

This weekend we will spend time with our dear friends, the Kopacek's & Adamson's.
We look forward to this get-a-way!

We hope Jessica will be recovered from her current condition, and be up for fun!


Duane

"GrandDad, smile big....there's a camera!"

Thought you might enjoy this one too!
Its as if Evelyn is hoisting my cheek to make a smile!

We arrived home safely from a delightful trip to Florida.

"Jessica....We're a comin!!!!"

We'll, today marks the end of our visit with the Mosley's.

We have had a great, but too short a stay. On Wednesday we returned from our medical visits in Birmingham for Michael. Both Evelyn & Michael were excellent travelers in their car seats. We logged almost 700 miles.

Last evening we spent with Mike & Julie, Noah & Rachael at the beach for a swim & picnic dinner.

We have many photos to share with Jessica of her nephew & niece.

Here are a few...... "Are those two on all fours... sand crabs?"

GrandDad Jones

Blessed Lord's Day

Today we will go to church at Trinity, Sunday dinner with the Mosley's and afterward sailing with the Metsker's!

The weather here has been warm, but actually lower temps than in MN. Today is expected to reach 103 degrees, in Minneapolis.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of hepling GrandBob ready the boat for today's sailing.
We snorkeled around the perimeter and washed the hull. We had lunch at the yacht club, and took her out for an hour and a half in the bay. It was great!

More photos to follow tomorrow....

Duane

Emerald Coast Update

Here are a couple quick photos to share from our getaway.

Evelyn says....

Ooohh! as she points to the ocean.

Jessica has returned from Castaway Club Camp!

Well as promised , here are some photos to share of some of Jessica's time at camp. Whitney did a great job of keeping track of their activities, and providing a report of all their fun to us.

We only have one of the two rolls processed so far....more to come later in the week.
But for now, here is a start!

The "girls" out on the boat.

Jessica & Whitney.... Up, Up annd Away!!!!

"A little rock wall climbing, anyone?"

"Yes that's me, slightly ahead of Whitney on the wall....

O.K. I did get some help along the way!!!"

Kudos!!!! To a Courageous President!

Yesterday's political landscape was marked with a "flag" as it were by our president.

Not only did President Bush draw a line in the sand by his veto of a bill, that would deeply de-value human life by allowing stem cell research on human embryos... I believe, he also planted his flag firmly in the ground in this fight.

Sandra & I plan to write a note of thanks to President Bush for his courage and insight.

Additionally, we plan to contact our senators and house members to affirm his decision and show our support for his actions, and to appeal to them to not override his veto.

Please join us in this effort to affirm our leader who made the "right call", and to affect positive change in those who need to do likewise!

Life as we know it in these United States, and the whole world really, will be deeply affected by this issue.

Proudly behind President Bush...."for such a time as this!"
============================================

Duane

Tee Time with a Foursome!

We received this photo of the complete foursome.

We look forward to our first round with them in a week.

GrandDad Jones

Wow....Jessica's a tubing professional!

This weekend we did a whirlwind trip to the cabin. Jessica enjoyed the time.

On Saturday afternoon we washed out the speed boat and got it ready for summer fun!

Sandra & Jessica went tubing. Jessica loved it! This is the first time that she has gone with anyone other than Meggan or Dad, and she did extremely well!

In fact, near the end of a good ride, Sandra fell off the tube - and Jessica remained on!

We had great fun!
Please find the two photos as proof!

Sunday morning Jessica is off to a big week at Young Life camp. She is a busy 20 year old.

Happy Birthday Jessica!!!!

Today is Jessica's twentieth birthday. She will celebrate with Mom & Dad, and likely do some fun water sports on Saturday!

Jessica is kind of thinking tubing or maybe riding the board behind the boat.

Sunday, Jess will leave for Castaway Club (a Young Life camp), where she will have all sorts of fun! ....More water sports!!!

Whitney & Jessica will likely ride a banana boat as well as parasail behind a boat, and maybe they'll even try the "Zip-Line"!!!!!!!
*** Addendum -
Meggan says "the Zip-Line is much too dangerous for little JJ".
So nix the Zip-Line idea. - Dad J ***

I hope to have photos to show upon her return.

Blessings to all,

Duane

Announcing.....Michael Eleos Enoch Mosley

This past Saturday (7/08/06), our family grew in size with the addition of our newest grandbaby! Little Michael arrived at 10:00 PM to the care of Sarah & Nathanael.

Our hearts are full of joy at his arrival!

Michael arrived 1 month early, and only 3 days short of 1 year from his sister Evelyn's birth date....today!

Happy Birthday Evelyn!!!!!

GrandMum & GrandDad Jones can't wait to be with them all.

As all good grandparents go, we hope to have many photos to share.... this first one comes from Great GrandBob. We are delighted to have GrandBob's photos sent to us. It makes the distance from MN to FL seem much shorter!

Last evening, wee E was visiting the hospital and her new baby brother. Michael began to fuss and Evelyn said...."aah Oh"!

Evelyn will be a great, and caring big sister to little Michael!

Blessings to the Nathanael & Sarah Mosley family!

GrandDad Jones

The Big Oooh....Aaah!!

On this July 4th, I am posting this image from our Nation's Capital. This shot of one of the ceilings and chandelier, reminds me of an exploded firework, with the trailing ashes.

Thank God today for our freedom in these United States. Pray that we as believers, would live lives guided by His restraint, direction and will, that we would indeed be salt and light.

Dad Jones

"Soggy Archives anyone?"

Today I was off on my own, doing the town while Sandra was in the conference.
My plan was to take the Metro Subway to the Federal Triangle area and to tour the National Archives.



I ended up walking the distance from the National Zoo area where we have been staying to the Mall area. Upon my arrival I realized that the heavy rains the area received on the weekend (7 inches in 30 hours) had caused flooding and most of the buildings were closed!!!
Check out the photos.

Duane

This is the water being pumped out of the Internal Revenue Building.

God Bless America.... "America, Bless God!"

Here is a photo from inside our capital's rotunda, depicting the Pilgram's arrival and cause to seek a new home in the "New World". Photo 2 is a close-up (& rotated) of the book that is held in photo 1.

This is the view to the ceiling of the rotunda.

Sandra & I have enjoyed the past two days in our nation's capital. On Friday we toured the Capital Building, with an escort from MN Senator Norm Coleman's office.

Today, we drive to our most favorite location, Mount Vernon.

More info and photos to follow.

Duane

P.S. Here we are outside the Russell Senate Office building.

Duane & Sandra + Jessica

"The Graduate III"

This is getting like a Sylvester Stallone movie series.

Well today, was the actual ceremony. Below are a couple pics from JJ's big day.








JJ & her teacher, Lisa.


The hand-off of the diploma!!!!

The Graduate!

Well the actual graduation ceremony is Monday, but the party today was a success!

Here are a couple photos of a cool but delightful day.

L to R:
JJ, Jodie, Sandra & Laurie



And of course, the remaining Jones trio!

Tomorrow is church in the A.M. followed by a graduation party at the neighbors and a backyard party at the Wolff's while Bryan & Meg are in town.

Duane

Jessica's "Graduation Party" approaches!

I compiled a number of photos from Jessica's school years and made a composite.


We are looking forward to Meg & Bry's arrival and the time we'll get to spend with them.

J.J.'s party is set for Saturday, and we look forward to celebrating her graduation with family & friends!

Dad J

Three Team Members...Reach Summit!

Photos from our most recent assent!

Not pictured in this collection: David, Peter, Evan, Seth, Jodie, Brenna & Sandra
(Highly regarded team members...without whom we never would have made it!)


Team Lead, Owen (Ret.) & Dale at Mid-Base Camp.


Jason, still packing a gun in case we met up with wild animals!

And finally Duane, at the summit saying.....

"Didn't we bring a flag with us, to pitch at the summit???"

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Anyway....the cabin it water-tite! And for that we are very thankful.

We do still need to do some additional items, to truly call it complete...

but as for rain, we are good.

I almost want to say...."Bring it on", but that might be going too far!

Duane

B9, B9, B9....No I'm not a Bingo caller!!!

Today we received word, that on all accounts the biopsy results concluded that they were all benign.
Perhaps I should have titled the post.... PTL, PTL, PTL!!!!!

We are very thankful for the results as conveyed by Sandra's Doctor. We have been blessed by the many friends who have prayed along with us.

Thanks be to GOD, for HIS indescribable gift.

Duane