Things I do to my kids and don't feel sorry about

 

  

Heres a few things I do to our kids that I dont feel sorry about

• When they get hurt I would kiss the hurt better knowing that the kiss got nothing to do with the hurt disappearing.
• I take the batteries out of the annoying toys and say its broken, then when I do put the batteries back in, I act like I'm the toy fixing guru.  LOVE ME, FOR I HAVE FIXED YOUR TOY.
• When we are drinking Coke and the babies ask for Cokie(thats what they call it),            I would tell them it's juice for big people (Alcoholic beverage)
• I like to stare at them while they are sleeping, they just look too adorable.
• If they ask for ice cream just before bedtime I tell them that ice cream before bedtime gives your nightmares. As soon as they asleep I will dish me a double portion of ice cream and I would sleep like a rock. 

I love my kids too much, like way too much. The kind of love that is like an open wound. Sometimes I act just a little more angry then I need to, just to throw them off from the truth.

The truth is that they win even when they dont know they are winning.  And the truth is that I'm strangely OK with it.

God Bless
Just Granty

Psalm 55:17  Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.

 

Dancing with the babies

                         

   

Jill and I dancing with Madison and Levi

Our babies just love dancing. Ever since Madison watched the TV show strictly come dancing, she started copying all the moves, jumps, slides and turns. Levi on the other hand is more of a break dancer. He's already trying to spin on his head.  That gene they definitely got from me even if I must say it myself. 

According to Madison I'm am the best dancer my she knows. In fact, as far as she is concerned, I am the greatest dancer in the whole world. I know all the dances.(I wish)

I dance with them as much as I can. Kids love dancing with their parents, that's what we realized recently. And so I started dancing with them whenever possible.

I don't care if I look like a hippo trying to relocate his shoulder like Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon, they laugh and then tries to do it too. The way we communicate while dancing is, in some ways, better than talking. It's more intimate ( if I can call it that).

Never in a million years did I think I'd teach my babies to dance. 

Here is a video clip of Madison and I ( "thumbs crossed" really hope no one watch it)

   
God Bless
Just Granty

Matthew 19:14  but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

Fairy Tales reflect some truth

                                         

  

All of us have heard the story about Humpty Dumpty, right!

It goes like this “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, all the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty back together.”

It wasn't that he fell so hard and shattered to many pieces that he couldn't be put together, it’s very simple they were calling on the wrong king, because I know a King (Jesus Christ) that can put your life back together no matter how great the fall.

If you know anyone who had a fall, tell them that He (Jesus) is mending broken pieces. Or if you feel like Humpty Dumpty and you been broken from afar, remember that He’s just and ever so faithful.  Remember that He is love and he’ll be there to fix it all.

A few more fairy tales that can be interpreted 

•       Mary had a Lamb………Jesus is that Lamb
•       Tell Jack and Jill to come off that hill  cause we found the living water ( Yes we have)
•       Tell little boy blue give Him (Jesus) your troubles and he’ll take your blues away
•       Tell Mother Hubbard, if you trust in Jesus He’ll put food in your cupboard

Jesus will always be there to take of all our needs if we only trust and believe.

John 1:29  The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

*Words were taken from the song Humpty Dumpty by BeBe Winans

Easy Roti recipe

I love cooking or shall I say experimenting with recipes. Today I will be sharing a Roti recipe that was shared with me by my Mother in law.

Ingredients:
4 cups of flour (I use cake flour)
1/4 cup oil
1/2 teaspoon of salt
hot water

Method:
Add flour and salt in mixing bowl
Add hot water  and kneed threw,
Add 1/4 cup oil and kneed into dough until mixing bowl is clean.
Cover with a clean cloth and let it rest for 15 minutes.
Make small balls and roll

                           

Add flour, salt, mix in water and oil and kneed until mixing bowl is clean (Thanks to my Kenwood mixer the kneeing is done for me all I need to do is watch ) 

                                 

Flour the rolling surface, take the small balls of dough and roll it as thin as possible. If you don't get a perfect circle NO need to worry!!! IMPROVISE (make a plan, use what you have) I used a microwave lid and a pizza cutter to get my perfect round shape.

Put the roti leaf in a heated pan and fry for 10 seconds or until you see small bubbles appear then flip it over. When it start to puff, flip over again and remove from the pan and place it on a plate. Rub a little butter on the roti and fill with a filling of your choice.    TIP: Fold in the bottom of the roti while rolling it to prevent the filling from falling out.

God Bless
Just Granty

Mark 12:30-31  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than  these.

How old is Daddy?

                                                                           

Madison blowing Daddy a kissy

All glory to God for blessing us with yet another beautiful day.

At bath time last night (Sunday) I mentioned to my wife that Madison is too old for her age on which Madison replies "NO Daddy, I'm not two years old, I'm three years old, Levi is two years old"

So I asked her, "how old is Daddy?" She replied "Uhmmmm...(thinking face) 85"! but in the same breath she uttered "Daddy you are handsome" My wife and I just burst out in laughter. 85 year old Daddy that's still handsome? I don't think there's a lot of us out there (I'm getting a big head again).     

I don't want my little munchkins to grow up so fast. I want them to stay my babies for as long as possible to capture all the beautiful moments with all the sweet things they say from their innocent, pure little hearts. I love them to the moon and back.

God Bless 

Just Granty

Deuteronomy 7:9  Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep his commandments.

Just CARE

Happy Friday everyone, its weekend.  No long posts today. Just one picture that I would like to share that  I think that can make this world a better place.

Have a FANTASTIC weekend

God Bless
Just Granty

1 John 4:4  I am of God and have overcome him(Satan).  For greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world 

Don't..............

                       

 

Don’t worry about the future!  Or know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.

Don’t be reckless to other people’s hearts.

Don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Don’t waste your time on jealousy.

Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind.  The race is long and in the end, is only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive and forget the insults.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life.  The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives.  Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.

Enjoy your body, use it in every way you can to glorify God.  Don’t be afraid of it or what people think of it.  It’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.  Be nice to your siblings, they’re the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Don’t mess too much with your hair or by the time you’re 40 it will look 85.

Read directions even if you don’t follow them.

God Bless

Just Granty

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me.

Will we ever have complete freedom of Speech / Expression - Choose your weapon!

Choose your weapon

On 7 Jan 2015 four satirical cartoonists was killed at the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine building in Paris, France. They were only exercising their right to freedom of speech and expression.

It has been said that the pen is mightier than the sword.

It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words.

The power of art is profound. It can inspire anything from charity to outrage.

Freedom of speech is a weapon in and on itself and clearly provides a threat to those who oppose it. So many systems and religions and ideologies do not want people to be truly free to choose and form their own opinions and they fought so hard to defend that right.

There are so many good cartoons being drawn in honor of those who died at Charlie Hebdo

Here are just a few poignant (painful, affecting) cartoons.

God Bless

Just Granty

James 4:7  Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you

Baking muffins with the Madison and Levi

Yesterday when fetching the babies from daycare they were kept on telling me how good they have been at school.  They played nice with their friends and they didn't fight with each other and they must love each other, little did I know they rubbing JAM on my lips.  So we got home and immediately they starting begging for cupcakes, so I said only if they will help me make it then I will make them cupcakes, and we had a deal.

Let me share my easy cupcake/muffin recipe with you all.

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups self-raising flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs (beaten)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup Oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 5ml vanilla essence

Preheat the oven to 180 degree Celsius

The ingredients

Add all dry ingredients (flour, sugar, salt) in a mixing bowl

                               

Beat eggs, milk, oil and vanilla essence together in separate bowl

                                        

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients

                                

Beat well together with Mixer

                               

Madison and Levi lining the muffin tray with paper cups (they promised to help) I hope this doesn't count as child labour

                              

Fill cups 3/4 full with muffin batter

                                

A little reward for helping

• Bake for 15 min or until skewer comes out dry when inserted.
• Place on a wire rack to cool down

      * For chocolate flavor just add two tablespoons of cocoa powder to the mixture

      * Turn it into Cupcakes by decorating it with icing sugar.

Try it out and share your creations with me.

God Bless

Just Granty

Isaiah 58:11  The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

First DIY for the YEAR 2015

Why do we take out content insurance?
I thought it was to repair broken or defective appliances, or replace it if stolen. Because for the premium we are paying, they should replace any appliance just because its older then 1 year, broken or not. To my surprise they don't cover wear and tear.  
So I just told the insurance company exactly what I think of them and got a new insurer.

That brings me to my first DIY task for the year of 2015.
PROBLEM: Drain pump of the washing machine packed up. The insurance don't wanna cover and the cost for them to get someone to fix it would cost us round about R1100.

So I did some calling around for the defective part and got it for ONLY R435. (Wow!!!  they would have charged me R665 for labor.). Thanks to my Dad for teaching me all the skills that I know now. (R.I.P Daddy.  I miss you so much). I know I can do it myself.

SOLUTION: Bought the part and did it myself.

This is how I did it.

With the help of my wife we moved it outside. TIP: Placing any heavy object/appliance on a old blanket makes moving it a breeze. And it prevent scratches on floors. especially if you have wooden floors.

                 

                   

Flip it forward and remove the silver cover at the back covering the drain pump

        

                 

     

Remove the defective part

                             

Defective part removed

Now that was the easy part. Removing parts is always the easiest of any project or task. The problem starts with putting it back together. There always seems to be more screws or nuts and bolts when the assembling is done.

                                       

New drain pump perfectly in position. all wires and pipes connected

                             

Putting back the back covers. No leftover screws. YEAH!! 

                                                 

Complete: Like brand new

I DID IT! I DID IT! YEAH!!!!!.  Washing machine in perfect working condition. Less then an hours work and a saving of R665

Looking forward to my next DIY project. Grantys Handyman services will be up running very soon. 

God Bless 

Just Granty

Acts 11: 23-24 When he arrived and saw what the grace of  God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

         

                                         

   

Start you Friday with a Laugh

 On a Septic Tank Truck:  Yesterday's Meals on Wheels

On a Plumber’s truck: We repair what your husband fixed.

On another Plumber's truck:  Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber.

On a Church Bill board: 7 days without God makes one weak.

On an Electrician's truck: Let us remove your shorts.

In a Non-smoking Area: If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action.

On a Maternity Room door: Push. Push. Push.

At an Optometrist's Office: If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place.

In a Restaurant window: Don't stand there and be hungry; come on in and get fed up.

Sign on the back of yet another  Septic Tank Truck: Caution - This Truck is full of Political Promises

Have a fantastic weekend

God Bless

Just Granty

Ecclesiastes 5:19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to except his lot and rejoice in his toil – this is the gift of God

18 month old baby and dad pepper sprayed by fidelity guard in Green Acres

This is a happened at Green Acres shopping center in Port Elizabeth

Fidelity Security Guard-Pulls gun on father after spraying him and 18 month old baby with PEPPER SPRAY

Event as it happened told by the father “A Security guard from Fidelity Security in Port Elizabeth almost ran over my daughter and me while crossing the Green Acres parking lot on the 14^th of January 2015.  When I shouted at him, he stopped the patrol vehicle and shouted back at me. I approached the passenger window of the vehicle and bend down to look through the window, still holding my 18 month old daughter in my arms. I wanted to reprimand him about almost driving over us; he sprayed me and my daughter in our faces with PEPPER SPRAY and drove off. He later claimed that he thought I was going to attack him. (With an 18month old baby in my arms!! From the passenger side???)!! What followed the event was a 15 minute car chase, trying to get him to pull over so I could capture his face and registration number to report him.

People like this are not fit to a firearm license when you point it a distressed UNARMED father.  I was unarmed when he sprayed PEPPER SPRAY at mu 18month old daughter and me. I was UNARMED when I got out the car and recorded his face on video when he pulled a gun on me…..who knows what could have happened if I didn’t record him!!”

EXCUSE THE LANGUAGE IN THE VIDEO 
watch video on youtube    http://youtu.be/Chhdjp1zzCU

Please share and comment.

I love you Daddy

Second best to my wife’s kiss in the morning is when the babies wake up and they come to say good morning.

After saying Good morning, Madison will always say “I love you Daddy”.

She’s just all about love. It’s “I Love you Daddy, I love you Mummy, I love Jesus, I love my my baby (she calls Levi her baby), I love my boeta (Algrano), I love Tessy (Short for Viteshnia) and I love my aunty Phia” (her teacher) at school. She’s just all about love.

No matter how down, tired or moody I might feel that’s enough to brighten my whole day.

It’s amazing how little ones can love unconditionally and give compliments.

Like Madison will say out the blue: “You are handsome Daddy”….I think this one she might have heard from her Mummy. “Daddy you are so strong you can munch the mosquito neh” by that time the compliments is starting to go to my head already. 

She’s a little scared of heights so when I lift her to high she will always ask “Daddy is not going to let me fall” then I always reassure her that I will always catch her. No matter how old she might be, I will always be there for her whenever she might stumble or fall.

I love my kids to the moon and back.

God Bless

Just Granty

Psalm 20:1 Trust in the name of the Lord our God. To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.  May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

Say sorry to me

Levi in his reverse psychology corner

Kids are master manipulators. Last week Jill and I went to shop and upon our arrival at home we wanted to enjoy some ice cream cause it was extremely hot. We both had a magnum in the freezer but to our surprise, magnums did disappear. The Nanny told us that little mister Levi opened the freezer himself and took magnum out. When she realized whats going on it was to late to save anything because Levi had already opened the wrapping with his little sharp teeth and started eating so long.

Here follows the conversation :

Me:   "Levi where is the ice cream?"

Levi: "I did eat it all up!"

Me:   "But why did you take the ice cream. It was Mummy's"

Levi: "I'm not gonna play with you any more"

And then he went to stand in the corner and I followed him and the conversation continued.

Me:   "Why don't you wanna play with me anymore?" 

Levi  " Cause you don't wanna say sorry to me!"

Me:   "Why must I say sorry to you Levi?"

Levi: "You muss" (that how he pronounce must)

Me:   "But I didn't do anything wrong Levi"

Levi: "Don't love you anymore"

Me:   "But I love you to the moon and back Levi"

Levi: "Say sorry to me Daddy!"

So I said sorry and were back to being friends. 

The whole argument between Levi and I was copied by him from his bigger sister Madison.

By saying sorry to Levi even though he was wrong is a very important lesson I want him to learn. If you having an argument with someone be the first one to say sorry even if you know that you are not wrong.

God Bless

Just Granty

Isaiah 25:1  Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago

The Birds and the Bees

                                                         

Talking about the "Birds and the Bees" should be done on a much earlier age then what I thought it should be done as I experienced this holiday.

My 14 year old son Algrano admitted to having a girlfriend, and to make it worse she asked him to be her boyfriend, or so he say. OH my word! My heart dropped to my stomach. He can be glad he wasn't admitted to hospital. As a Daddy I knew that I had to prepare for talking about the 'birds and the bees" and about girlfriends and boyfriends but not at 14 years of age. Or am I being old fashion comparing our growing up  years with the growing up of he kids of today with all the gadgets and technology. When I was 14 I didn't even like girls, it was much more fun playing with friends, climbing mountain, flying kites, stealing fresh peas from the farmers crops (when being naughty). No smart phones or tablets and all this gadgets.

So there I was sitting unprepared to talk about the bird and the bees but luckily I had my wife by my side. She is the more outspoken one. And together we managed to get the message across to Algrano about how to treat a girl ( I want him to treat a girl like I treat my wife), the consequences about experimenting with sex, sexual transmitted diseases and how important it is to focus and his education. There will be more then enough time for girlfriends once he has completed his education.

Answering kids' question about sex is one of the responsibilities many parents dread most. Otherwise confident parents often feel tongue-tied and awkward when it comes to talking about puberty  and where babies come from. But the subject should not be avoided.  

 Link to questions and answers about sex  www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/questions_sex.html

God Bless

Just Granty

Matthew 19:14-15 but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." And he laid his hands on them and went away.

  

What a Funtastic Weekend

It's Monday morning once again and it feels like it was never weekend. But the FUN the babies had at Phoebe's 2nd birthday party makes all the tiredness worthwhile. Madison and Levi only went to bed (FORCED) at 22:45, high sugar levels is to blame for that.

The party was at Kids Inc. in Despatch and we had the whole venue to ourselves.
Some pictures of all the activities.

                                                 

The little ones enjoying the cupcakes or shall I say the icing and party packs

The Little Tikes (Red and Yellow  cars) was one of the favorite attractions

                             

Madison and Levi couldn't get enough of the jungle gym and slide

Crawling thew the worm and sitting on top of the worm

                             

Cousin Riley and Madison having a wall climbing competition.
Riley went up that wall like Spiderman

                             

Just chilling and refueling for the next session

May you all have a wonderful and blessed week.

God Bless

Just Granty

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

         

Worker fly threw air when trolley jack flip forward.

                                         

Mans best friend or in this case NOT mans best. 

Q-Time Creations Date Box

Today I'm featuring a Date Box by Q-Time Creations.

                                           

Q-Time Date Box
                    

Hi there, Jill and I have started a business called Q-Time Creations.

For now there are 2 areas that make up this business:

 
1. Q-Time Cupcakes, delicious cupcakes with any theme, filling and topping of your choice designed to make any and all occasions a memorable and special one.

2. Q-Time Date Box, this Date Box is designed to add spice and quality to any relationship. Every month we have a different surprise theme. In the box you will get everything you need to have that perfect date. We also include a game, conversation starters and date instructions. 

The box is delivered to your doorstep on a monthly basis and no subscription is required. 

The idea for the Date Boxes came about when we realized that we never have time for each other and all our focus was on the kids. Going out is a costly exercise and we always felt bad leaving the kids at home and spending the money on ourselves. We started chatting to other couples and found that they had the same difficulties. That's when we decided to create a Date Box, something you could do at home and that is affordable.

The Date Box eliminates all the stress associated with planning a date as it provides you with a complete date in a box. The cost for a Date Box is R350 a month. Delivery is free of charge if you live in the Uitenhage, Despatch and Port Elizabeth areas. We supply the  best quality products in our Date Boxes and have a different box each month.

If you are interested in purchasing a Q-Time Creations Date Box please contact us: 

Jill Groenewald 0823146751

Grant Groenewald 0789940065

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com?Qtime-creations

God Bless

Just Granty

Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast tom
 his wife, and they shall become one flesh.