Last Day of School

Yesterday was the last day of school. This was a good thing to Morgan. To me this was a bitter sweet day as this was also her last day of Elementary School. I had a tear in my eye when we picked her up today knowing this was the last time we would get her from that particular school. We have really enjoyed Morgan being at Lake Country the last 6 years. Everyone there is so nice, and they put up with me very well. We are not zoned to go to this school, but it was the school that we preferred so that is where she went, although that meant that we had to take her and pick her up every day. No buses when you go out of area, bu this was definitely worth every trip.
Morgan was glad to go, and is looking forward to Middle School. I am still reminiscing about the first day of school for her at Grace Academy in Sebring (where she went for Pre K and a few months of K). She was excited to go to school, but she was worried about how Grandma and Grandpa Lane were going to do with her gone. Grandma and Grandpa Lane kept her when she was little and they to were a little upset about her going to school, as they had become a bit attached to her. They all did fine, and Morgan was very close to her Great Grandparents because of this time she spent with them. It wasn't long before we went from 3 days a week to a full 5 days a week, and the grandparents still did fine.
I am sure that we will be posting shortly about all the excitement of middle school, so please say a prayer for patience for Don and I. :)

More Beautiful You

I have been listening to this song on the radio a lot recently and just received a CD with this song on it. I love it. As the mother of a daughter I can see both of these scenarios happening. I think that if more girls heard this message from their parents we would have less of the problems in society that we have today. I tried to upload a video, but I guess I am not smart enough.

More Beautiful You

Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn’t straight her body isn’t fake
And she’s always felt overweight

Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don’t buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty-one the things that you’ve already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you’ve got a man but he’s got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead

Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there’s a man whose love is true
And he’ll treat you like the jewel you are

So turn around you’re not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It’s not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who’s strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you’ll see through the eyes of a little girl

FCAT Scores

We were hoping that the school would announce the FCAT scores at the banquet this year, but since they received the scores on Thursday afternoon I was not holding my breath. This is something that we have been waiting for since the day after the test was completed. Morgan is always a little anxious about how she did and I am very anxious about how she does. This year the test was very important to what happens next year in middle school, as the scores will determine if she is able to stay in the HEART program that she is currently in. HEART is a class of its own in the schools for the children who excel and are ahead of the others.

Well the results are in. The test is scored 1-5 with 5 being the best you can get.

Morgan scored a 4 in Reading and in Science, and a 5 in Math. We are so proud of her. In the last 2 years she has scored 5 in Reading, as this is her area of excellence and she has in the past struggled some with the Math portion of things. So the reversal of this is a surprise to all of us.

5th Grade Banquet

On Thursday we attended the 5th grade banquet at Lake Country Elementary. Morgan is now leaving the Elementary school and will be in the Middle School next year. This is a bitter sweet moment for us. We are rejoicing in the young adult she is becoming and we are reminiscing about the child she has been. We have seen her grow up to be quite a beautiful girl. She reminds me regularly that she is not a little kid now and she is a "tween". I am just glad there is another whole year until she is a "teen".

In all Morgan received 7 awards at the Banquet. We are all quite proud of her. We know that she will do well at the middle school. I am thankful that cousins Mary Kathryn and Donald are both teachers there and will help her along with the move, and hopefully keep her out of trouble.

Great Grocery Savings

This is the shopping trip to Publix last week. We had a very small trip to Walgreens as well. The combo of the trips is pictured above with some things not shown. We spent $62.97 and saved $168.02 at Publix and spent $15.17 and saved $10.33 at Walgreens. This is a totals savings of 57% for the week. Want to know what we bought.
From Publix
Not Pictured: 1 gallon of milk, 1 bag of chicken breasts, 1 pkg of 6 chicken quarters, 1 pkg of cream cheese, 2 boxes of Stouffers French Bread pizzas.
Pictured: 2 pkg of 2 roll Brawny paper towels, Dixie napkins, Glade Sense and Spray, 1 loaf of bread, 2 pkg of Mug Root Beer, 1 pkg of disposable bowls, 1 pkg of Angel Soft toilet paper, 6 pkg of Kellogg's Pop Tarts, 2 boxes Frosted Flakes, 1 box Fruit Loops, 2 boxes of Apple Jacks, 2 boxes of Rice Krispies, 2 pkg of Pedigree DentaSticks, 6 bottles of A-1 sauce, 4 bottles of Kraft BBQ sauce, 2 bottles Webber Grill Seasoning, 6 boxes of Mueller's Pasta, 2 boxes Betty Crocker Brownie mixes, 4 bottles Kraft Mayonnaise, 2 bottles Aunt Jemima syrup, 6 bottles Kraft salad dressing, 2 pkg Dixie paper plates, 6 bottles Ragu pasta sauce, 3 bottles Dry Idea deodorant, 4 cans Bush's Baked Beans.
From Walgreens
10 plastic bowls, 1 pkg AngelSoft toilet paper, 3 pkg Kraft Mac and Cheese Deluxe, 2 Kraft Mac and Cheese bowls. Not pictured 28 pk Zephyrhills water.

Good luck with the savings.

Saying Goodbye

2 weeks ago we said goodbye to Rick and Betty Nations. They were the interim pastoral couple at the church we attend (First Baptist Lake Placid). We will really miss them. We are a family who does not really like change, and this is change. I think it will be good change. Morgan on the other hand has decided that she will now be going to MaxKidz and won't even give Brett a chance (that's a heads up for you Robyn). I look forward to getting to know Brett and Mandy and their 2 kids and hope that they plan to stick around a good long time.
Here are the cards that we gave to Rick and Betty at the luncheon after church. I hope they like them.

This is the card for Rick. I used the Light of the World stamp by Our Daily Bread. The papers and inks are all from Stampin Up. Rick we have really enjoyed having you here and we will really miss you. You have inspired us and you have been able to reach Morgan when many others have not. For this we are really grateful. We pray that you will have a great break and that you will inspire many others at the next church you are at.This is the card for Betty. I used the Baroque Motifs stamp from Stampin Up. All the papers and inks are from Stampin Up. The rhinestones were from the dollar spot at Michael's. We were not able to get to know Betty much, but we thank her for all the support that she gave the church.

Money Saving Tips

I was shopping today and the cashier asked me where I went on the internet to get the good coupons that I had, so I told her about the website that I go to and my friend Robyn was behind me and I shared the site with her as well. Robyn said I should put the link on here, So here you go Robyn. Southernsavers is the site. At the top you will find that they have information for various stores. I use the buttons for Publix and Walgreens regularly. Occasionally I will check the CVS site, but I really don't like the CVS here, so I don't shop there much. Also be warned that if you live in Florida you need to know a few things about this site that does not apply to us. If you see on the Publix area that they have a BOGO (buy one get one free) item, in some states (where the lady who owns this site lives) you only have to buy one and you get it for half price, this is not the case here, you need to buy 2 items. Also if the item is BOGO, Publix will allow you to use 2 coupons for the items, as you are "buying" two of the items. If you click on the printable button beside one of the deals, the sites will allow you to print 2 of the coupons only. As I mostly shop at Publix I have become pretty good at getting the deals, so if you have any questions, just ask and I will try to help you. Also on the site they will sometimes put that with the sale and a coupon an item will be free and you will not be able to figure out how that can be, remember that in the area where this lady is from they do double coupons, also not done here (I have been told that no place in Florida is double coupon due to a Florida law, not sure if that is true).

Last week Don and I went shopping and we spent 160.93 and we saved 90.57, so this can help with the family budget. I will tell you that I am a bit obsessive about this. Ask Morgan and she will tell you just how cheap her mom is. Today the grand total was 27.08 spent and 28.21 saved.

There are items that I will not buy unless they are on sale AND I have a coupon for them. Cereal is one of these items. We always have cereal in our house and it may not be everyones favorite, but they are all decent ones. Last week Fruit Loops and Apple Jacks were buy one get one free and I had good coupons, used 2 of them and got both boxes of cereal for .29 cents. Good deal for 3.29 boxes of cereal. This is one area that I think the price is just to high to buy without a deal.

Above is a picture of the box that I use to keep my coupons. Now you know that this is a bit obsessive.

Happy Saving