🌟 New Christmas Movies Coming in 2025 - with Access Hollywood host, Mario Lopez and Buffalo Bills Football Player, Damar Hamlin - See Details:

This week both Great American Family and the Hallmark Channel have spilled some news on Christmas movies!

First, Great American Family has been giving us hints for a few days now (in their IG stories) that Mario Lopez is filming a new Christmas movie for the channel. I've been keeping my eye on this, hoping for an official announcement from the network, but we haven't received one, just yet! (the above image is from Mario Lopez's now vanished IG story)

So... here's what we know so far: Mario Lopez is filming a holiday movie titled "A Christmas Spark" from March 24 through April 11 in Buffalo, N.Y. The city has beautiful snow right now, so it's the perfect time to film a Christmas movie.

Please note: The title might be updated, particularly because it was previously used for a Lifetime movie in 2022 (starring Jane Seymour and Joe Lando). So, make sure to check back for any changes there.

Also, Mario shared a video from the set in which he said they were filming a scene at a festival. I screengrabbed the image above from the video, and I couldn't help but notice a banner in the background for the charitable Christian organization Samaritan's Purse. (The organization's president is Franklin Graham, son of Christian evangelist Billy Graham.) It's great to see that this amazing charity will be featured in the film, and I can't wait to learn more about the storyline for this Christmas movie.

Last year, Carlos and Alexa PenaVega's Christmas movie on Great American Family, Get Him Back for Christmas, promoted The Salvation Army.

And today, Buffalo Bills Football Player, Damar Hamlin, released a pre-recorded video on the TODAY show announcing that his team would be the subject of an all-new Hallmark Channel “Countdown to Christmas” movie titled "HolidayTouchdown: A Bills Love Story." The cast and plot details have yet to be released.

Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs were featured prominently in the Hallmark Channel movie "Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story," starring Hunter King and Tyler Hynes. TODAY show host, Jenna Bush Hager, had a brief speaking part near the end of that film.

The Hallmark Channel posted this message today to their social media:

.@HamlinIsland from @BuffaloBills is here to give you an early Christmas present! Hallmark Media and @NFL are teaming up this year with the @BuffaloBills for an all new holiday movie #HolidayTouchdown: A Bills Love Story, part of #CountdownToChristmas 2025! 🎄 🏈 pic.twitter.com/ZazBm4aLEK

— Hallmark Channel (@hallmarkchannel) March 27, 2025

So... there you have it! More details to come as they are released. Please know, I do try my best to hold back on sharing too much information until the networks have had a chance to release their official statements. However, if the actors/channel involved share details on social media, I do feel that that information is free to share.

Also, wanted to say a special thank you to Maria and Georgianne for both commenting/emailing to share info on Mario's movie! It's so great having such nice friends who love sharing Christmas movie news.

I hope everyone here enjoyed this Christmas movie news today. What are your thoughts on these movies? Are you happy to see another football movie for Hallmark? Are you glad to see GAF working with Mario again? Please share in comments below.

Have a Merry Day!

Net

🎄Spreading Christmas Joy in March!🎄 Happy 9 Months 'til Christmas Day!🌟

On this March 25th, we are only nine months away from Christmas Day! The elves may still be on break, but that doesn't mean we can't countdown to that special day!

If you are counting down until the beginning of the Christmas season, then we are now around seven months away, give or take a few days. Of course, as we devoted Christmas movie watchers know, the Christmas movies usually begin airing at the end of October!

If you plan to watch something Christmassy today or this week, please share in comments below.

Here's the schedule of Christmas airing this upcoming Friday night...

Friday, March 28, 2025:

The Jingle Bell Jubilee ... Great American Family ... 6pm
Debbie Macomber's Dashing Through the Snow ... Hallmark Family ... 6pm
Next Stop, Christmas ... Hallmark Channel ... 6pm
A Cinderella Christmas Ball ... Great American Family ... 8pm
Joy for Christmas ... Great American Family ... 10pm
The Jingle Bell Jubilee ... Great American Family ... 12am
A Cinderella Christmas Ball ... Great American Family ... 2am
Joy for Christmas ... Great American Family ... 4am


My two picks for Friday night are definitely Debbie Macomber's Dashing Through the Snow, starring Andrew Walker and Meghan Ory, and Joy for Christmas, starring Cindy Busby and Sam Page!

Did you know, you can also currently watch Joy for Christmas in full for free on Great American Family's YouTube page? In fact, Great American Family offers many excellent Christmas movies on their YouTube page, including A Christmas... Present, Bringing Christmas Home, A Lot Like Christmas, and many more! (click here to see what's currently available)

I've embedded the Joy for Christmas video below, but you can also watch it directly on YouTube by clicking here.




Also, don't forget...

Get your votes in for Great American Family's Jingle Bell Bracket! (*click here to play*)

On April 12th, the final four Christmas movies will encore on Great American Family from #4 to viewer voted #1!

And a quick reminder... you can also catch Cindy Busby in the upcoming season of When Hope Calls - Sunday, April 6th on Great American Family (or April 3rd on Great American Pure Flix)

Cindy will be promoting the show with a special IG Live on March 27th and a Facebook Lve on March 31st!

May your day be 

Merry & Bright!

Happy 25th!

Net🎄

Main Photo via: © All Canadian Entertainment

“When Calls the Heart” Season 12 Finale Review: “Where You Go, I Go"

Following the Season 12 finale of “When Calls the Heart” last night, I'm still reflecting on everything that unfolded in the beloved town of Hope Valley, so I decided to put together a recap of the finale episode along with my thoughts on it below.

Please note, this post contains MANY SPOILERS, so please, please do NOT read if you don't want to know any details regarding the finale episode before you watch.


*SPOILER ALERT*


My “When Calls the Heart” Season 12 Finale Recap/Review:

Elizabeth and Nathan (first scene together)...

The finale episode opens with a montage featuring Elizabeth as she writes, followed by scenes of her at school with the children and their various projects. Next, we see Elizabeth and Nathan strolling together, with the schoolhouse/church in the background. As they walk, they reminise about the past year and look forward to the summer together, with Elizabeth excitedly expressing her desire to enjoy some fun after all the challenges they've faced.

When Elizabeth eventually says she must go back to the schoolhouse to prepare for the presentations of the children's school projects, Nathan insists that he come with her, saying a phrase taken directly from scripture in the book of Ruth: "Where you go, I go." (This was a foreshadowing scene for the future.)

Emily and Timmy...

There wasn't any dialogue in the show with Emily and Timmy; however, in case you missed it, there was a quick span of the school room and Elizabeth's voice narrated this scene as she shared that Timmy had finally expressed his feelings for Emily. Of course, the feelings were mutual for Emily. It's been obvious all season that she likes him. Did Timmy ever really have another girlfriend in another town? We'll never know I guess. Oh, how I wish we could've seen this sweet moment when he shared his feelings, and since the two have been on the show for years (Emily since the pilot movie) and were graduating, I think it would've been extra sweet to have seen a quick flashback of them younger, sitting at their school desk. Hopefully, the two will have more memorable moments in Season 13!

And since Hallmark didn't include a flashback, I couldn't resist sharing those images above.

Lucas and Edie...

Whether they are playing cards, searching for gold, dancing, or working together, the flirtations between these two are elevated to a new level in the finale.

In a moment when Edie lets down her guard, she mentions, "the thought of living off the gold with the land sounds..." and when Edie doesn't finish her thought, Lucas boldly, yet softly says, "Romantic"!


Henry...

Unfortunately, I don't recall seeing Henry in the finale episode, and it's such a shame. I always enjoy Henry's thoughtful wisdom and fatherly advice.

Speaking of fathers...

Allie and Oliver...

Could the cuteness level of these two get any higher? First, we have Allie and Oliver practically singing each other's praises over their school project to Nathan and Lucas. I loved the glances here between Nathan and Lucas as the men realized there was more here than just friendship.

Later on, a worried Oliver is crushed when he learns he has been assigned by the Mounties somewhere else; he even attempts to fail his tests to prevent leaving. Nathan later tells Elizabeth that he's "mooning over Allie." I loved hearing that phrase, as it seems appropriate for that 1920s era. Nathan is also under the impression that Oliver's crush is unrequited.

At the dance, Allie takes Ollie, as she calls him, by the hand and says, "Come on, let's dance." As Elizabeth and Nathan watch them happily dance, I loved seeing the realization light up their eyes, as Elizabeth says, "You know how we said it wasn't mutual." Nathan quietly says, Yeah," and Elizabeth responds with, "I'm not so sure." That moment and their expressions are truly timeless!

The Graduation...

Seeing the pride shining on everyone's faces as Timmy, Angela, and Emily graduated was heartwarming. I can hardly picture the school room without the three of them there, particularly Emily beside Opal and Angela next to Allie. During the ceremony, I noticed Opal sitting next to Allie, so I can only imagine that their friendship will grow even stronger at school now.

However, before everyone starts dancing, Allie pulls Angela outside, gives her a special gift, a poem made with braille lettering, and tells her how much she will miss her. The two vow to write to each other every day. Likely, this promise won't be kept, although their intentions are sincere and genuine. As Allie and Angela's eyes filled with tears, mine did the same.

Molly and Jed...

Molly and Jed can be spotted in the group dance, so it seems the two are getting closer. Very sweet!

The dance...

Ned changes up the music at the graduation celebration, and suddenly everyone is dancing in a long (almost) line-dancing sort of style to the Charleston. Honestly, this happy, joyful scene was probably my favorite of the night.

As Nathan takes Elizabeth hand leading her to the dance floor, the lively music and chatter make it nearly easy to miss Elizabeth say with a broad smile on her face, "Where you go, I go."

It was so sweet to see all of the couples happily dancing together: Ned and Florence, Joseph and Minnie, Molly and Jed, Lee and Rosemary, Elizabeth and Nathan, Lucas and Edie, Mike and Mei, etc... My heart was truly overwhelmed with an immense wave of joy as I watched them all dancing with pure delight!

The gift...

One of the most beautiful moments of the finale show was a special surprise gift for Minnie and Angela. I loved that Mei, Mike, and others surprised Minnie with a special meaningful gift for Angela, a layered quilt, with all of her favorite things since she will be leaving Hope Valley to attend a special school for the blind. This scene was so beautiful and touching; my eyes welled up with tears. If only we could've seen Angela receive the lovely quilt, made with such love for her.

Gold search...

Throughout the finale episode, Lucas and Edie are searching for the gold while Bill, Nathan, and Rosemary are conducting their own separate search. I found it enjoyable to see each group unravel the clues leading to the hidden treasure. Although the digging and discoveries felt a bit rushed, it was still a pleasure to watch.

The investigating trio of Bill, Nathan, and Rosemary has been such a fun one to watch throughout the season, especially when they gave Nathan the new undercover persona of Danny DiMarco.

Elizabeth and little Jack...

From nearly the start of the episode, we can feel Elizabeth's tension. Has she made the right decisions when it comes to Little Jack's health? A letter from her former mother-n-law (Jack's mother) is stirring her feelings to the brim. Mrs. Thornton has invited them to Cape Fullerton, where little Jack can receive better care for his diabetes. Elizabeth continues to struggle with the dilemma; should she stay or should she go? Rosemary, desperately not wanting to lose her friend, gently suggests she speak to his doctor, Faith. Elizabeth confides that she has and since all seems to be going well, she decides to let that thought go, at least for the time being.

Later on, it was gut-wrenching when Elizabeth found little Jack lying on the sofa unresponsive. I think everyone's heart sunk at that moment as Elizabeth yelled out desperately for help. I know mine did.

In the next scene we see Elizabeth speaking with Faith, with devoted Rosemary standing by her side. The decision is then made from there; she and little Jack must go to Cape Fullerton to seek medical help.

While waiting for their taxi to come, Minnie brought some food for their trip and encouragement. Elizabeth asks Minnie, "It's never really over, is it?" To which Minnie responds, "The miracle isn't that someday it all goes away. The miracle is that you learn you can handle it." These are such beautiful uplifting words from another mother that has already gone through so much.

When it was time to leave, Elizabeth looked back one last time at her home, turned off the light and shut the door. I couldn't help from wondering how long they will be gone from their little row house next to Rosemary and Lee.

Unfortuntely, Nathan was out on his Mountie rounds and could not be located, leaving Elizabeth and young Jack to travel alone. It was crushing to watch Rosemary, who is usually so vibrant and talkative, standing there so solemn and all alone saying goodbye to her dearest friend. My heart broke for her.

Elizabeth and Nathan (finale scene)...

As Elizabeth and little Jack leave in a taxi car and are headed out of Hope Valley, they are suddenly stopped by a car honking behind them.

Nathan and Allie rush up to the side of the car and quickly join them inside, with Nathan once again saying in an assuring tone to Elizabeth, "Where you go, I go..." The grateful look on Elizabeth's face says it all. Now she knows she won't have to face it all alone. The two can be seen embracing, then kissing in the little window at the back of the car... as they drive away from Hope Valley.

-----------------------


And that's where the “When Calls the Heart” Season 12 finale leaves us. Unfortunately, there's no engagement, yet, for Elizabeth and Nathan, as many had hoped, but Elizabeth, Nathan, Allie, and Jack are still a devoted family in the sense of loving and caring for one another.

The message of "Where you go, I go..." carries profound spiritual significance. In Ruth 1:16 in the Bible, Ruth humbly pleads with her mother-n-law, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.“ Boaz later recognizes Ruth’s devotion and agrees to marry her.

There is a new level of trust, love, and devotion seen here with Nathan and Allie joining Elizabeth and little Jack... going wherever life takes them.

I believe, as this finale ended with Elizabeth and Nathan riding away, that we will see an engagement and marriage down the road for these two. Perhaps, Season 13 will be that season!

"To everything there is a season, a time and purpose for all things under heaven..." ~Ecclesiastes 3:1

Season 12 held every emotion, showcasing a beautiful blend of heartache, inspiration, and fun, with plenty of highs and lows. I was thrilled to hear the announcement last night that Hallmark has renewed the series for a 13th season, and I’m eagerly looking forward to the new adventures awaiting everyone in Hope Valley.


If you've seen the Season 12 finale of “When Calls the Heart,” I would love to know your thoughts on it, as well. Please share in comments below.

From My Heart to Yours,

Net

❤️

It's Official, Hearties, Hallmark Announces Season 13 of "When Calls the Heart"!

Let's dance for joy and applaud this excellent news for all Hearties!

Season 13 of "When Calls the Heart" is set to premiere in 2026!

Here's the message the Hallmark Channel released on their socials:




I’m absolutely delighted to share this exciting news with everyone! For all 12 seasons, "When Calls the Heart" has been a beloved part of our household, and I eagerly look forward to having this wonderful family show back with us next year for Season 13, and hopefully for many more seasons to come!

Have a Blessed Sunday evening, 

everyone!

Net

🌼 Spring is Here! Open Your Heart To New Beginnings and a Heartwarming Finale...

Happy First Weekend of Spring, Everyone!

As the temperatures rise, I can sense everyone's excitement to get outside and enjoy a variety of fun outdoor activities! The arrival of Spring is always a special time for fresh adventures and new beginnings! And I'm sooo ready for ALL of it!

Speaking of new, we have the first Spring movie premiere this weekend on the Hallmark Channel! I'm loving the name and look of the new Spring into Love movie collection, which are separate love stories but collectively titled: "Hearts Around the Table"! I'm hoping this will be a lovely series that includes four films with stars well known on Hallmark. (more details below!)



In addition to the new movie this Saturday, we also have lots of wonderful classic Christmas movies on TV Friday night, including "Operation Nutcracker" and "Small Town Christmas" airing on the Hallmark Channel and "A Hot Cocoa Christmas," "Christmas Under the Northern Lights," and "Royally Wrapped for Christmas" airing on Great American Family! You can always check out the Christmas Movie Schedule to see which holiday movies are being aired all throughout the year.

Out of curiousity, have any of you filled out your Great American Family Jingle Bell Bracket? I did mine last weekend. Some match-ups were easy to choose between, while others took me a minute or two to decide. I was rather surprised that not all of the 2024 Christmas movies were on there, but I guess they wanted to cover more movies over various years. It should be interesting to see which Christmas movie ultimately wins.

Speaking of brackets, I'm sure many of you will also enjoy the March Madness basketball games this weekend. Did you fill out a bracket? I did, but I'm not super knowledgeable about all the teams, so mine is already off a little, but I'm still hanging in there on some picks. We'll see. It's just fun to choose a team and play along with the bracket challenge. My family and I will probably watch a few games here and there over the weekend.

However, the TV is mine when it comes time for "When Calls the Heart" on Sunday night! (Just kidding!) The finale for season 12 is an absolute must-see in our home. Everyone loves it! Will there be a cliffhanger or an engagement? Will any of the characters discuss the possibility of leaving Hope Valley? And the biggest question of all... will there be a season 13? There's an after-show online for "When Calls the Heart" after the finale episode that will hopefully reveal the answer Hearties most want to hear! (more details on when & where to watch below!)

The newest episode of "County Rescue" on Great American Family promises to be an exciting one, packed with genuine emotion once again. (Only 2 episodes left for this season!)

See details for these shows and more below...


**************************


Saturday, March 22, 2025:

Hearts Around The Table: Jenna's First Love

Storyline: Jenna plans a charity event for Billionaire Tom Redlands. But working with Tom's right hand Andrew is proving difficult, especially since Jenna and Andrew have a romantic history.

Hearts Around The Table: Jenna's First Love

Premieres Saturday, March 22, 2025

at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel

**************************


Sunday, March 23, 2025:

County Rescue

Episode 5 - Hot Water:

Andy and Ashley plan their vow renewal, while Dani exposes Duke for drinking again; tensions build between everyone at the station, but they come together to rally around Andy in his time of need.

County Rescue

Airs Sunday, March 23, 2025

at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family

**************************


Sunday, March 23, 2025:

When Calls the Heart

Season 12, Episode 12

Season Finale

As graduation approaches, Elizabeth and Nathan plan for a happy summer together; Lucas and Edie race Rosemary and Bill to find the gold; the town plans a sweet surprise for Minnie.

When Calls the Heart

Airs Sunday, March 23, 2025

at 9pm/8c. on the Hallmark Channel

image via: Edify's IG post

REMINDER:
When the When Calls the Heart Season Finale show is over for the Pacific time showing, be sure to join Producers Michael Landon, Jr. and Brian Bird for a special after-show on YouTube with Edify Films, where they will be making a very special announcement!

Join the after-show here: YouTube.com/@theedifyshow at 10pm Pacific Time, 12am Central Time, or 1am Eastern Time!!!! Yes, it's going to be a late-night/early morning announcement!!!


**************************


Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! Hopefully, your Spring weather will be pleasant, and you can get outside and enjoy some fresh air!

If you're weather is too cool or rainy, you might also enjoy one of the weekend TV marathons... Hallmark Mystery has a marathon of the "Garage Sale Mysteries" films both Saturday and Sunday, and Hallmark Family has a marathon of classic episodes of "When Calls the Heart" on Saturday!

Please Note: I haven't pre-screened the new movie premiering this weekend on the Hallmark Channel. If you wish to provide a review, please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Happy Spring!

Blessings to you all!

Net

********************************

☀️ SHINING HIS LIGHT: ☀️

“See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”

~Song of Songs 2:11-13

“For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”

~Isaiah 55:12