Three Arrows

A Family Affair in Photos

2011-07-04T00:42:00.000-05:00

Each year I endeavor to get at least one good family photo on our camera. This year I tried on Easter and Mother's Day, but as usual something always goes awry with my noblest efforts. Although, it is never funny at the time, the outcome is pretty hilarious; enjoy the slideshow as Akaya narrates the story.

Fun @ the ZOO!

2011-07-02T12:24:00.000-05:00

Click PLAY; Enjoy the Show!

The Cousins Unite!

2010-04-07T21:29:00.000-05:00

The boys at Gomma's for a week with their Cousins from out west!

Happy Belated Birthday Surprise!

2010-04-07T17:42:00.000-05:00

Gomma is Amazing! For a belated birthday surprise, Aunt J. was "snuck"/flown across country to be with her sister and precious new niece. First, Gomma came over and offered to take the boys for the week; then she drove to St. Louis to pick up the birthday surprise...along with two other wonderful surprises for Ziyan and Asa...their cousins(!); and of course, she enlisted the help of Dad to deliver the said surprise to the door...which happily presented itself and a wonderful birthday card..."I would kiss a crocodile! Anything to make you smile! Anything to bring a little grin...take a bath in cold icecream, join a monkey baseball team...love, hugs, and kisses...Mom/Gomma. Enjoy the slide show.

Happy Easter: A Resurrection Sunday to Remember!

2010-04-05T00:01:00.001-05:00

Today was an Easter Morning to remember! Asa woke us up bright and early (630a), but we needed the time to dress and prepare for church. We intended to get ready, snap a few pictures, and be on our way to Sunday school by 9am. But that never happened; we got to church just after ten! Neither of the boys wanted to change out of their pajamas: they ran, cried, and hid...it took us all of an hour and a half to get dressed...and then...we took pictures. Oh, how our quest for the perfect family photo was befuddled: lack of a sychronized cheese, squirmy children, a sleeping princess, bribery and backfire with M&Ms, chocolate on collars, emergency dives under the mini van for escaped bouncy balls, full memory cards, a little blue Frog, and the joy of it all! Next year, I think we'll just go to JCPenny's. Enjoy the slide show.

The Product of Patience

2010-03-25T00:08:00.007-05:00

Akaya Patience-Renae Williams
Born: 03/24/10 @ 235pm - 9lbs, 6oz - 20.5 in
"Thank You!" to everyone for your prayers and support.
Our new baby girl and mother are doing great!

Happy Birthday Ziyan!

2010-02-15T20:37:00.009-06:00

That's right everyone! The First Arrow is now 3 years old! What a wonderful three years it has been. Ziyan is everything a parent's heart could desire and more. We are truly blessed that God gave us this son!

Look at that adorable smile!

Hippo...Schmippo!

2009-08-22T21:26:00.006-05:00

Our Family Trip to the ZOO!

Blessed with fun, fun, fun!

Plate Lick'n Good!

2009-08-19T16:34:00.008-05:00

Hooray for Applesauce!

I luv Applesauce!

Yummy, Applesauce (slurp)!

Again, "I really like Applesauce!"

Note: Tablemanners and dining protocal are disregarded while eating Applesauce.

Mother and Son

2009-08-16T16:21:00.003-05:00

Asa and Mommy...a very lovely pair. The two laugh together, play together, eat together, and get up in the wee-hours of the morning together (of course Daddy and Brother are always sleeping soundly). The two certainly have special bond and love for one another.

Happy 1st Birthday Asa-Seth!

2009-08-15T19:41:00.014-05:00

So, for Asa's first birthday we threw a party! Huge balloons, two cakes, great ice cream, lots of presents, and a load of company...certainly a recipe for fun!

Asa's favorite part was by far the BALLOONS!

Big Brother also had lots of fun...as if it were his party even!

Look its a Cozy Coup! The present that Daddy and Brother...uh, I mean ASA...liked best!

Five Months Later (Again)...

2009-08-15T19:24:00.005-05:00

Hello Everyone & Everybody!

Okay, so yeah...its been five months again! Life has certainly been busy and quite wonderful. The expression on Asa's face says it all...the boys are thriving, work is unending, and the JOY of the LORD yet abounds in our home! We are exceedingly blessed and happy to report that all is well: Ziyan at 2.5 is full of energy, speaking volumes, and very S-M-A-R-T. Asa just turned the BIG ONE and is walking all over; he's still working on the speech and teeth, however. Ti has started a new adventurous job and I will begin a second year of studies online, while continuing to teach @ HCA; there are certainly more surprises to come (I'm sure), so hold on...and we'll keep you posted...in another 5 months :)

Five Months Later...

2009-03-07T18:28:00.006-06:00

Hello All!

So its been several months since the last post, but we're still here! Life is just a tad-bit busier with 2 adorable arrows, online classes, and 1.5 jobs; but life is grand and the boys are great! Ziyan just turned two at the beginning of last month and Asa is half a year old. These boys are full of life, energy, and love! They certainly keep us on our toes and busy...to say the least, but hopefully not to busy to post pictures and type a word or two (every five months...LOL)!

My Favorite!

2008-10-28T19:49:00.003-05:00

Ziyan has lots of favorites right now; he loves strawberries, of course. His favorite toy is a small blue tractor. His favorite book is one about tractors. His favorite animals are puppies, affectionally called "pups." His favorite drink...chocolate milk. His favorite nursey rhyme: EIEIO. His favorite worship song is "Say So" by Israel Houghton. And his all time favorite activitiy is going to church. What a blessing!

Brotherly Love...

2008-10-28T19:32:00.004-05:00

The archers have adjusted and so have the arrows...we think? Ziyan loves his new little brother, ever showering him with hugs and kisses, as well as head-butts. Asa appears to love Ziyan as well, but can't seem to figure out why small tractors, bouncy balls, and other toys are randomly thrown at his head! Of course, Ziyan has learned a new word in the process of expressing his love for Asa: "sorry."

A Repeat Performance: Dutch Shoes

2008-09-06T09:03:00.006-05:00

When I was a little boy, my sister and I would ususally fight when visiting our grandmother. Our conflict was over a certain pair of "shoes"; they really weren't shoes at all, but plant holders that resembled little Dutch slippers. We couldn't wait to put our tiny feet in those slippers and run around her house. Well, my grandmother recently gave me that very same pair of plant holders and now Ziyan enjoys them as I once did!

A Wonderful Brune Visit!

2008-08-27T16:05:00.004-05:00

Grandma and Grandpa Brune, along with Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma Brune came to visit! We read books, grilled out, and laughed about falling out of bed! We had lots of fun; Asa especially enjoyed napping with Great-Grandpa!

The Second Arrow...

2008-08-12T20:45:00.005-05:00

Asa-Seth Jeremiah...miraculously born on 08/07/08 @ 12:42am!

"Mar-Mosh"

2008-07-04T22:15:00.004-05:00

At 17 months, Ziyan has fallen in love with a most delectable fruit..."Mar-mosh!" You and I know them as strawberries, but Ziyan calls them "Mar-mosh!" Since being introduced to the fruit some time ago, he's made it his favorite, but has never called them strawberries. We don't know why! We call them strawberries...but he calls them "Mar-mosh!" One day I even asked him to syllabicate the word with me, "straw...ber...ries"; he responded likewise in syllable form, "Mar...mosh!" This clip is him in action, enjoying a "Mar-mosh," uh...I mean a strawberry. Listen closely, I believe he eeks out the proper word slightly at the end.

All is Well!

2008-06-30T21:31:00.004-05:00

Well the month of June has zoomed by it seems, but all is well. Ziyan made his first trip to Chicago to visit Bebe Jennie and his aunts; there he made his very first trip to the zoo too! While near Springfield, Ziyan also saw Grandpa Dave and Grandma Cheryl again after nearly a year. And of course on the way home, he stopped by Gomma Dana's and enjoyed playing in her backyard. This month Ziyan has parroted more and more words; he's also becoming quite independent and assertive, certainly preparing to be a "big brother" (just it time, cause baby will be here in about a month). All in all, we have been blessed this month and Ziyan is ready to rest. Check out the slide show to see what he did!

Quick...grab the Cool Whip!

2008-05-28T20:59:00.003-05:00

Ziyan loves to eat strawberry short cake, so much so that he can hardly wait for the added whipped cream!

A Surprise Bedtime Visit!

2008-05-24T22:00:00.010-05:00

Look who came to visit right at bedtime...its Auntie 'Lisha.

Auntie 'Lisha gives Ziyan his nite time milk.

Not only does she provide a good reason for staying up past bedtime, but she also has a cool toy to play with as well. Ziyan definantly wants her to come visit more often!

The Keychain that MOOS!

Walking in Daddy's Shoes (Part II)

2008-05-24T21:44:00.004-05:00

Mastering one clodhopper at a time!

Walking in Daddy's Shoes (Part I)

2008-05-24T16:49:00.017-05:00

Ziyan has recently began saying the word "shoes" and with that begins the adventure of wearing Daddy's...which can be quite challenging (and comical), especially when already wearing house slippers or endeavoring to slip them on backwards, and of course (the all time favorite) when wearing them on the wrong foot!

Puppies Galore!

2008-05-24T16:25:00.010-05:00

It was a day of doggie bliss for Ziyan...just down the road from our house is a puppie farm and the kind breeder of these Newfoundlands invited him out for all the licking and sniffing he could stand...and believe me, he could stand a lot from these gentle giants!

Tri-Gomma!

2008-05-10T08:35:00.002-05:00

Look what Gomma has...a tricycle! Ziyan thoroughly enjoyed his first tricycle ride while staying at Gomma's!

A Grand-Visit!

2008-05-10T08:07:00.006-05:00

Look who came to visit: Grandma Dana (affectionally called Gomma) and Grandpa Bobby (affectionally called The Old Man).

On The Green...

2008-05-09T21:58:00.008-05:00

Spring has sprung...and so has Ziyan...out the front door and across the street into a wide open field! The world is his, including all the neighborhood "pups", abandoned bouncy balls, and yummy dandelions--yes, I said they're yummy--Ziyan had his first mouth full of the white fluffy seeds yesterday!

Admire the effort ;-)

2008-05-09T12:45:00.002-05:00

Okay so I didn't get a picture of this, not that I would post it if I did, but I wanted to share his efforts today. We were getting ready for his nap and had gone to the potty, unsuccessfully. We started reading our story, then I went to place a very tired little man in his crib. He sat up, looked at me, pointed toward the bathroom door and said "poop". I asked him if he needed to go potty and he went very willingly into the bathroom, sat on the potty, and promptly started leaning over falling asleep. He jerked up and began to lean toward the back. It was so cute! I was proud of him for his efforts.. he had tooted so I think he maybe really did need to go, but he just couldn't stay awake any longer. He's trying!

The Littler Sweeper or Aspiring Acrobat!

2008-04-27T16:14:00.003-05:00

After littering the floor with boxes, balls, Legos, a plastic floor runner and other miscellaneous "play things" from around the house (like a nearly full cup of milk), Ziyan decided to clean up...or practice his acrobatic skills (you decide)! Enjoy the clip!

Mmmh! Cookie! (Part III): Satisfaction Guaranteed!

2008-04-27T16:06:00.003-05:00

The Face of Satisfaction!

(Need I say more).

Mmmh! Cookie! (Part II): The Snack Continues...

2008-04-27T15:55:00.004-05:00

"More, please! More, please!" Every snacking toddler this polite (and fervent) deserves another cookie...so here you go Ziyan, enjoy!

Mmmh! Cookie! (Part I) -- "More, Please!"

2008-04-24T15:48:00.004-05:00

Ziyan loves to eat...just look at his little belly. One of his favorites is Mom's fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, a wonderful treat at snack time. There's just one problem...they disappear too fast, so of course--we ask for more...

Ziyan's New Hat!

2008-04-21T16:59:00.004-05:00

Here's a funny clip: Ziyan has selected for himself a new hat--not a ball cap, or a wool hat, but...a plastic one! Its a cereal bowl! We've decided to stop buying all the marketed toys and simply stick to household items, like tupperware, brooms, vaccums, and toothbrushes--he seems to be happier playing with things like these!

First Go on a Merry-Go-Round!

2008-04-18T11:26:00.005-05:00

He's so excited: "Let me in! Let me in! There's lights, noise, & music!"

Smack-dab-in-the-middle of the mall we found a merry-go-round! Ziyan was thrilled! After trying to break down the gate, he saddled a horse and thoroughly enjoyed the ride!

A Mixed Trio (Literally)

2008-04-14T20:46:00.013-05:00

Hey, look who came to visit: Ziyan's cousins, Dominic Matteo and Bella Rose! The three played together, laughed together, ate together, napped together, and even cried together; but they all stopped crying when given animal crackers, of course! Isn't that just like a bunch of toddlers! Gotta love the family!

Such An Industrious Lad!

2008-04-12T14:38:00.000-05:00

We pray that he'll be this

excited about house work in

his teenage years!

Do You Ever Get This Sleepy?

2008-04-12T14:33:00.000-05:00

This apparently happens quite often at lunch time.

Gotta Luv the Hair (& Chocolate Chip Cookies!)

2008-04-12T14:12:00.001-05:00

Ziyan was born with a full head of dark, curly hair. He lost it all, unfortunately, by the time he was three months old. It grew back of course, but this time his hair was brown and straight at times, like his mother's. We wanted to wait until after his first birthday pictures to do the hair cut deal and we did, but we didn't take the photos as soon as we planned and the hair got a bit too long! Not a problem, however, one of our good friends (a hairstylist) was in town and could help--so off to the barber we went. Ziyan was not at all enthused, he whined and screamed and wouldn't sit still...until...she pulled out the fresh baked chocolate chip cookies; that, of course, changed the entire situation. He sat as peacefully as a teddy bear in a rocker (and downed about 2 cookies in the process)! Hopefully, for (us and) Ziyan, this cookie-haircut will become a forgotten precedent?

Potty Training Fun (Read at your own risk)

2008-04-11T21:42:00.001-05:00

So, we've decided to start potty training. Actually we started about 2.5 weeks ago. Ziyan is only 14 months old and lots of people don't suggest starting until 24 months, but he's a bright boy and we're up for any challenge! (Note: Ziyan's baby brother is due in August and we hope to only change one stinky bottom at a time). He's doing pretty good; today he tinkled 3 times and did a chocolate wonder right in the middle of dinner. We're all sitting at the dinner table and suddenly Ziyan dropped his chicken chunks, slumpped down to one side of the high chair and turned red as a beet. His mother and I know the physical warning signals for a chocolate wonder, so we sound the alert. "Code brown! Code brown!" We dropped our forks and quickly evacuated him from the high chair to fly across the dining room and into the kitchen. (No we're not going to "go" in the sink! That's where we keep the training potty during the day.) We quickly de-dressed the stressed toddler and positioned on the pot. He laughed and spit out a half chewed french fry; at least someone is having fun! My wife and I sat on the floor in suspense...will he do it, will this trip to the pot be as successful as the last, will young Ziyan earn yet another "Potty Pickle" (you know, the sweet kind that every kid thinks is candy). We hold our breath in suspense...and then the smell says it all. Ziyan has indeed earned another "Potty Pickle", but our stomachs have turned and dinner (whether we were finished or not) is over! (Pictured: Ziyan doing his triumphant victory mount).

Quite the Communicator.

2008-04-11T21:20:00.000-05:00

Ziyan talks a lot; but we don't quite catch everything he's saying. He's mastered quite a few words, however, like stop, go, pup, baby, mommy, daddy, no, and of course, poop!

Is he sleepy or what?

2008-04-11T21:08:00.000-05:00

Here's a fun clip of Ziyan one night before going to bed. He's really sleepy...can you tell?

What's with the verse?

2008-04-11T19:41:00.000-05:00

Psalm 127 provides a marvelous analogy of parenthood. Parents are depicted as warrior-archers; their children, the arrows. Archers are purposed to hit their target, particularly when in battle because it can mean life or death, victory or defeat, a sure future or an end to all they know. The arrow, then, is the weapon or tool with which the archer makes the desired impact. So it is with child rearing: parents must aim to raise godly children--ones who can be sent out into the world and impact all with the Glory of God. "Our First Arrow" is a sharing of such a life. Ziyan Othiniel is our first born son; we know for a surety that his life is going to impact the world, but seeing as he's only 14 months old right now, his greatest impact is on his mother and I. So with great joy we'll open up some of the experiences in our home for family and friends to enjoy: laughs & smiles, fun first words, potty training episodes, and the like.