I've Moved and...

I'm having a GIVEAWAY for this sweet teapot over at my new URL -

http://annepayne.blogspot.com/2015/07/giveaway-teapot-w-kitten-lid.html

Come on over, sign up to follow me through GFC and Bloglovin at the new URL and enter to win! 

See you sweet blog friends at the new Stuff & Nonsense!

From Here to There

Many of my friends suggested that I switch my URL from 'duhpaynes' over to my name, so I did. Nothing will change as far as content on the blog.  Everything is the same only the URL has changed. But that means that I lost all of you faithful followers in my GFC Follower widget. If you would like to keep up with the book posts, giveaways, interviews and rural living posts, please feel free to sign back up to follow thru GFC in the right hand sidebar @ http://annepayne.blogspot.com/ or you can sign up to follow through email or bloglovin. You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram but those aren't blog posts, just random fun stuff. :)

Thanks so much and I hope to see you there!

Have a blessed day,

{Sunday} Morning Worship & Praise

Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.  

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.  

Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

And Can It Be, That I Should Gain?

Charles Wesley, 1738 

~Joy in the Sabbath~

A Bit of Summer Reading

With so many wonderful books to choose from this summer, here are three in my 

TBR (To Be Read) stack.

Howard Books, May 2015

Melanie Dobson has quickly become one of my favorite writers. Her works are poignant, mysterious and faith-driven.


In Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor...
When Heather Toulson returns to her parents cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a sixty-year-old murder....

Bethany House Publishers, June 2015

Jen Turano's writing style knocks my socks off! She is witty to the point of eliciting spontaneous out loud laughter. Her books are stand alone titles yet interrelated, so don't cheat yourself out of a full experience...read them in order.

  
In Good Company...
After growing up as an orphan, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her playfulness and enthusiasm aren't always well received and she finds herself dismissed from yet another position.

Everett Mulberry has quite unexpectedly become guardian to three children that scare off every nanny he hires. About to depart for Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer, he’s desperate for competent childcare...

Thomas Nelson, July 2015

Susan May Warren's talent is undeniable and her stories irresistible.

Be swept away in book five, The Wonder of You...
Mortified after her semester abroad is cut short, Amelia Christiansen returns to Deep Haven, certain she isn’t brave enough for the adventures she’s dreamed of. The last thing she expects is for the man who broke her heart to cross the Atlantic and beg forgiveness...

I love both historical and contemporary stories. Melanie Dobson's book is a contemporary/historical hybrid, so I get the best of both!

All links take you to Goodreads where you can read more about the books and their authors. It's a great place to connect with other bibliophiles, too.

What's in your TBR?

~Happy Reading~

Notice the Dandelion

~Have a blessed day~

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Happy Independence Day!

The Land of The Free
Happy 4th of July!
Posted by Story of This Life on Friday, July 3, 2015

Vintage graphics courtesy of Abby @ Little Birdie Blessings

Review ~ Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Beth Vogt, with an Official Release Giveaway

 About the Book

Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father’s military career. She’s overcome what her mother called “the biggest mistake of her life” and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?

As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?

A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.

Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after?

:::

My Review

Once in a while I find myself so infinitely entrenched in the pages of a book, I lose track of time and maybe a little sleep. Such was the case with Vogt’s latest release, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Plus, I was so caught up in the storyline between Vanessa and Logan, I found myself in tears on more than one occasion.  

This line jumped out at me and I knew I had to put it on this photo of the beach. It's where I always feel God's vast and all-encompassing power the most–standing at the ocean's edge–and I know He is capable of rescue in any situation.

On the surface it appears to be a story about two people who are being reunited after divorce almost a decade earlier but it goes much deeper than that. Much. Deeper. I was completely blown away by the author’s writing. Seriously, Vogt just gets better and better. The plot is well-developed with characters who have real struggles and doubts and fears. I like how the whole story plays out on the page in a balanced manor; plenty of compelling dialogue to go with some pretty intense introspection from both characters. It flows along effortlessly and then picks up some serious emotional speed toward the end. 

The wedding scene…oh. my. goodness. Talk about romantic. Logan Hollister has got to be Christian fiction’s ultimate bridegroom ever!

Anyone who enjoys Contemporary fiction with a strong faith theme will fall in love with Crazy Little Thing Called Love. I know it has everything this reader wanted and more. 

My deepest gratitude to the author and Howard Books for providing a copy for review purposes. This is my honest opinion of the book. No monetary compensation has been received.

Deeper Shopping offers the best price if you want to purchase a copy. 
I make a small, very small, commission if you choose to do so.

Christian Book Store

OR 

Click the link below to enter the giveaway sponsored
by Beth Vogt and maybe you will be a winner.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Official Release GIVEAWAY!!


You cannot enter the giveaway on this blog!
You MUST follow the link above.
This blog and its owner is in no way affiliated with the giveaway.


~Happy Reading~

'Vintage' Baby Girl Mini Album

It's been a while since I posted any craft projects. This is a mini album I made for my first granddaughter,
who is getting ready to turn 3!

Yes, I know. 

But I really did make the album almost two years ago so I'm only behind in posting the photos. :)

And speaking of photos, my daughter took these as I didn't have a very good camera at the time. I totally forgot about them and found them on a shared drive the other day. That's what really prompted me to post them. Otherwise, I would have happily gone through life thinking I didn't have any pictures of it to share. *snort*

I purchased a canvas mini album from the craft store. I don't remember which one as it has been so long but if I find another one I am buying it too. I really enjoyed working with the canvas!

The pearls are Prima, and most of the flower embellishments are probably Prima, but I handmade a few flowers from the scrapbook paper, too.

I'm famous for finding odd craft supplies for a discount and then trying to piece them all together.
 Another great place to buy supplies is Mighty Dollar.

Seriously.

They are cheap but name brands!

I made plenty of little pockets to slip things into, along with tags.

I love tags!

Okay, this picture looks a little green. I don't remember using green ink. 
My go-to ink is Soft Suede by Stampin'Up!

Embroidery floss is magic. Really. It makes such a pretty addition to any page!

There's that nasty green tint again. Hmmm...could have been my editing but I'm not claiming it. :)

There's a homemade flower up there^^^. Those are fun to make. Just cut out a circle (doesn't have to be perfect), dampen it with water and wad it up, let dry, unfold and layer with another one, adding a pearl or button. Voilà, you are done!

More handmade flowers!

Of course it's vintage themed because that's what I like best!

Lots of tags for journaling! Prima pearls and stamping, oh yeah!

See, it really is Soft Suede around the edges. Looks way better than green. :)

I love the side view!!!

Mini albums are my favorite craft to make. I now have several more that need putting together, so I think part of my summer will be busy. 

Oh, not for my daughter! Only one more for her baby who just turned one. 

But I have a new grand nephew, and two new grand nieces!

Have you been creating anything fun lately? Do share!

~Happy Crafting~

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