❄️🎄 Beat the Heat with Christmas Movies + Blue Ridge Returns!

Hello, friends... Happy Weekend!☀️❤️

I hope you are all hanging in there and keeping as cool as possible during this heatwave sweeping across the country! Whew... it sure has been a hot one, hasn't it? And with the smoke to the north and flooding to the south, please be safe out there, everyone.

I keep thinking about all of those working outside in this heat - including my own family here on our farm - and I truly hope everyone is taking extra precautions and staying safe.

And then I think about all of the Christmas movies currently filming right now... I cannot imagine the cast and extras bundled up in winter coats in this intense heat! That has to be quite a challenge. Then, come Christmas, we'll watch those movies and imagine everyone is freezing cold... oh, the magic of movies! 🎄🎬

Honestly, this is the perfect weekend to stay inside, keep cool, and enjoy some classic Christmas movies! And let me tell you... there are so many good ones airing that I've been hitting record, record, record over and over again! I have a feeling you may be doing the same, so I've included the schedule below!

Plus, we have another new Christmas movie this weekend! We're now right in the middle of the new Christmas in July movies, and this new Hallmark movie is hopefully going to bring us all a slightly cooler feeling... Snowbound for the Holidays!❄️

And on Sunday night, the long-awaited return of Blue Ridge: The Series arrives with the first episode of Season 2 - and a special guest star you may recognize from Hallmark!

See who it is, along with more details about Sunday's episode and all of the Christmas movie fun below!


✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨


Friday, July 17, 2026:

Royal Christmas Movie Marathon

on the Hallmark Channel

Royal Movie Schedule
Friday, July 17, 2026:

A Suite Holiday Romance ... Hallmark Channel ... 2pm
A Not so Royal Christmas ... Hallmark Channel ... 4pm
One Royal Holiday ... Hallmark Channel ... 6pm
A Royal Montana Christmas ... Hallmark Channel ... 8pm
A Royal Queens Christmas ... Hallmark Channel ... 10pm


✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨


Saturday, July 18th - Sunday, July 19, 2026:

Christmas Movie Classics

Saturday, July 18, 2026:

My Christmas Hero ... Great American Family ... 12am
A Christmas Miracle for Daisy ... Great American Family ... 2am
Shoelaces for Christmas ... BYUtv ... 2:15am
A Shoe Addict's Christmas ... Hallmark Channel ... 6am
B&B Merry ... Great American Family ... 6am
Christmas in Midnight Clear ... Great American Family ... 8am
A Season for Miracles ... Hallmark Channel ... 8am
Timeless Tidings of Joy ... Great American Family ... 10am
The Christmas Note ... Hallmark Channel ... 10am
Joy for Christmas ... Great American Family ... 12pm
Debbie Macomber's Dashing Through the Snow ... Hallmark Channel ... 12pm
There's No Place Like Christmas ... Great American Family ... 2pm
My Grown-Up Christmas List ... Hallmark Channel ... 2pm
The Christmas Spark ... Great American Family ... 4pm
Tidings for the Season ... Hallmark Channel ... 4pm
Christmas Cupcakes ... BYUtv ... 6pm
We Met in December ... Hallmark Channel ... 6pm
Destined at Christmas ... Great American Family ... 6pm
A Cape-Cod Christmas ... BYUtv ... 7:29pm
Snowbound for the Holidays ... Hallmark Channel ... 8pm *NEW
Jingle Bell Princess ... Great American Family ... 8pm
Christmas Jars ... BYUtv ... 9pm
Christmas Under Construction ... Hallmark Channel ... 10pm
Christmas at the Drive-In ... Great American Family ... 10pm
The Bishop's Wife ... BYUtv ... 10:35pm

Sunday, July 19, 2026:

Angel Falls Christmas ... Great American Family ... 12am
A Cape-Cod Christmas ... BYUtv ... 12:29am
A Christmas Castle Proposal ... Great American Family ... 2am
The Bishop's Wife ... BYUtv ... 2am
Christmas Jars ... BYUtv ... 3:55am
A Christmas for the Ages ... Great American Family ... 4am
Destined 2: Christmas Once More ... Great American Family ... 6am
A Very Curious Christmas ... Great American Family ... 8am
One Christmas Eve ... Hallmark Channel ... 8am
A Brush with Christmas ... Great American Family ... 10am
'Twas the Date Before Christmas ... Hallmark Channel ... 10am
Christmas Under the Northern Lights ... Great American Family ... 12pm
Three Wiser Men & a Boy ... Hallmark Channel ... 12pm
All I Need for Christmas ... Hallmark Channel ... 2pm
Christmas Getaway ... Hallmark Channel ... 4pm
Let it Snow ... Great American Family ... 4pm
Snowbound for the Holidays ... Hallmark Channel ... 6pm
Journey to Christmas ... Great American Family ... 6pm
A Very Merry Mix-Up ... Hallmark Channel ... 8pm
Christmas at the Inn ... Great American Family ... 8pm
Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater ... Hallmark Channel ... 10pm
The Trouble with Christmas Mistletoe ... Great American Family ... 10pm



✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨


Saturday, July 18, 2026:

Snowbound for the Holidays

*Along with Vanessa Lengies and Marcus Rosner, also look for Kate Drummond (Crossroad Springs), plus Kathryn Greenwood and Ron Lea (Unlocking Christmas, Wind at my Back) in this film.

Storyline: Hotel manager Cassidy Evergreen evaluates a cozy ski lodge, but Christmas magic and its charming owner, Trey Sanderson, turn a simple assignment into a heartfelt choice between duty and love.

Snowbound for the Holidays

Premieres Saturday, July 18, 2026

at 8pm/7c on the Hallmark Channel

✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨


Sunday, July 19, 2026:

Blue Ridge: The Series

Season 2, Episode 1

*This episode will guest star Sarah Drew (Mistle Murders, Guiding Emily).

Episode 1: “Hope, Deferred”

Sheriff Justin Wise has his hands full when Bounty Hunter Hope Henry comes into town in pursuit of a fugitive who is accused of murdering her mentor.

Blue Ridge: The Series

Season 2, Episode 1

Premieres Sunday, July 19, 2026

at 10pm/9c on INSP

✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨


Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. If the Summer heat is intense where you are, I hope you're able to stay cool and enjoy some great Christmas movie classics!

And I hope many of you will also enjoy the season 2 opener to Blue Ridge. By the way, this series includes violence - so it's not one to watch with young viewers.

If you'd like to share a review of the new Christmas movie or Blue Ridge, please share in comments!

Have a Blessed, Merry Weekend!

Net🎄

SHINING HIS LIGHT:

“From the rising of the sun

to the place where it sets,

The Lord’s name is to be praised.”

~Psalm 113:3

🐑❤️ Movie Review 'The Sheep Detectives' - A Heartfelt, Humorous Mystery with Spiritual Themes

I wanted to share a movie review with you all for The Sheep Detectives, which arrived in theaters in May and on Amazon Prime Video on June 24, 2026.

I streamed this movie for free last week through my Prime account, and days after seeing it, various themes from the story are still on my heart, and I wanted to share those thoughts with you all...

Movie Review - The Sheep Detectives:

First of all, this movie is labeled as a PG-rated family-friendly mystery – although I want to caution that this is a murder mystery. It’s not graphic by any means (think your standard Hallmark or Great American Family mystery), but younger children may become emotionally attached to the character who is killed and could be troubled by the loss.

To be completely honest, even though it happens fairly early in the story, I was already attached to this character, too!

In the beginning of the movie, we are introduced to George Hardy (Hugh Jackman), a devoted shepherd who takes good care of his sheep each day and even names each one. At the end of the day, the sheep gather around George as he reads murder mysteries aloud to them... and, to his surprise, they seem genuinely interested in the stories.

At first, George thinks it might be silly, but his sheep are essentially his family, and he enjoys caring for them and making them happy. There are constant themes in the movie taken from Christianity, as the Good Shepherd (God) also cares intimately for his sheep.

I also want to note that the sheep in this movie do talk to each other (which is very cute!), but they don't speak to humans. Of course, that element is something that will appeal to children, but I want to caution that due to some of the violence and sadness, this is not a movie, in my opinion, for really young viewers.

Spiritual Themes:

While The Sheep Detectives is not a faith-based movie, there are Christian themes woven throughout the story in some very interesting ways. God is compared to the Great Shepherd and a lamb, which I thought was beautiful.

However, I want you to be aware that there are a few religious misinterpretations in this film, as well. At one point, the sheep misunderstand the meaning of communion and remark, “Poor God,” thinking that he turns into bread and is actually eaten. The sheep are also confused about the afterlife, believing that when they die, they turn into clouds. While the idea is presented in a somewhat innocent and sweet way, it is certainly a misconception. Thankfully, the truth is clarified later in the movie.

On a positive spiritual note, there are also beautiful parallels to the lost sheep. At one point, George discovers a sheep being mistreated and pays to rescue it and bring it home, which symbolizes Jesus' payment for our debts. George is also shown carrying that sheep in the very same way Jesus is often depicted carrying a sheep on his shoulders. 

(SPOILER) 

Later, this same sheep gives his life to save others, which was such a touching and truly unexpected, heartbreaking scene that brought tears to my eyes; it was another powerful parallel to the Lamb of God who gave his life on the cross to save the lost. 

(End of SPOILER)

Other Movie Themes:

Along with the intrigue of the mystery, which is interesting to try to solve, there’s also a lot of heart and humor in this movie. I really enjoyed Lily, the main female sheep character, who is smart, gentle, soft-spoken, tender-hearted, and wonderfully clever at solving mysteries. She quickly became one of my favorites!

The police officer is also a lot of fun to watch. He is a novice when it comes to crime-solving, but with a little help from the sheep, he slowly begins piecing together the clues and unraveling the mystery.

Of course, watching talking sheep assist with a murder investigation makes for some very unique, and often quite funny, detective work!

Language:

When three of the lead sheep - Sebastian, Lily, & Mopple - are walking into town for the first time, they pass the church – where Sebastian says God lives. This is also when Sebastian discusses God as a shepherd and a lamb, and he mentions that God d*mns things, but Lily and Mopple mistake that word for Beavers damming things. I don’t recall any other language in the movie besides this.

Final Thoughts:

It is definitely a movie I would encourage parents to preview before watching with children, especially because of the murder and the emotional weight of the story. But for older children and families who enjoy a unique mystery with plenty of heart, this is one that may give you quite a bit to talk about afterward. You may want to discuss the various faith elements in the film and how we are all lost sheep in need of our Savior, the Good Shepherd.

Overall, this movie is heartwarming, funny, and sweet. In the end, it has positive messages about loving those around you, even those who don’t exactly fit in. The baby winter lamb truly stole my heart, and I’m certain he’ll steal yours, too!

Where to watch:

I streamed this movie free with Amazon Prime. If you have a Prime account, *click here* to see if you can stream free, as well.

Or, *click here* for streaming price options for non-Prime members.

The Sheep Detectives is also available to order on DVD and Blu-ray.

Have you had the opportunity to see The Sheep Detectives? If you have, I would love to hear your take on it in the comments below.

Happy Movie Watching,

Net

"My sheep hear my voice,  and I know them, and they follow me"  ~John 10:27

🌟 90s Sitcom Stars Coming to Reality TV - Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, Melissa Joan Hart, Joey & Matthew Lawrence and More...

Two new shows are coming in August and September that star many celebrities we have known from 90s TV sitcoms and Hallmark & Great American Family movies.

The shows are called Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, which involves physical and mental challenges, and Totally '90s House, which focuses on home renovations.

I also wanted to share this fun fact... starring in Special Forces with Candace Cameron Bure is Oliver Hudson, who you may recall also starred along with Candace in the Hallmark time-travel movie, Journey Back to Christmas.

Check out the details for both of these new reality shows below...

Special Forces: World's Toughest Test - Season 5

According to FOX’s press release the celebrity recruits will be deployed in Malaysia to take on intense challenges in “the most hostile environment a soldier could operate in... the jungle.”

EW is reporting that "recruits will “adapt to uncomfortable conditions, unpredictable terrain and harsh jungle warfare tasks” as they endure challenges such as a claustrophobic, high-pressure search of an underground bunker to find crucial military weapons, a supply load retrieval while suspended 300 feet above the jungle floor, and a chemical gassing while finding coordinates of an enemy vessel. In this experiment, the celebrities try to survive demanding training exercises led by the Directing Staff (DS) Rudy Reyes, Billy Billingham, Jason “Foxy” Fox, and Jovon “Q” Quarles, an elite team of ex-special forces operatives. They will guide the recruits while testing them to see who has the guts and glory to make it to the end."

Competitors:

Matt Barnes (NBA champion)
Alycia Baumgardner (world champion boxer)
Candace Cameron Bure ("Full House," "Another Sweet Christmas")
David Charvet ("Baywatch," "Melrose Place")
Brandi Glanville ("The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills")
Collin Gosselin ("Jon & Kate Plus 8")
Oliver Hudson ("The Cleaning Lady," "Rules of Engagement")
LeSean McCoy (NFL Super Bowl champion)
Maxim Naumov (Olympic figure skater)
Ruby Rose ("Batwoman," "Orange Is the New Black")
George Santos (politician)
Hannah Stocking (comedian)
Breana Tiesi ("Selling Sunset")
Alexia Umansky ("Buying Beverly Hills")
Mauricio Umansky ("Buying Beverly Hills")

Premiere Date: Thursday, September 24, at 9/8c. on Fox

Totally '90s House

Hosted by Jaleel White (aka Urkel from Family Matters), this six-episode series is bringing the '90s back but with a serious home makeover twist! Two teams of beloved '90s stars go head-to-head to turn outdated houses into modern masterpieces, all while keeping a little of that retro charm in the mix.

And there's a $25,000 prize waiting at the end of the renovation road for the winning team's charity of choice.

The stars are split into two teams:

Team 1:
Brian Austin Green (Beverly Hills, 90210)
Beverley Mitchell (7th Heaven)
Jodie Sweetin (Full House)

Team 2:
Melissa Joan Hart (Clarissa Explains It All / Sabrina the Teenage Witch)
Keshia Knight Pulliam (The Cosby Show)
Matthew Lawrence (Boy Meets World)
Joey Lawrence (Blossom)

*They will be assisted by HGTV design experts Carter Oosterhouse and Sabrina Soto.

Premiere Date: Wednesday, August 26 at 9|8c on HGTV
Stream the next day on HBO Max

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

If you had the choice to be on either one of these series, which one would you choose?

I think both would be fun to watch, but if I had to participate, I would definitely choose the home makeover show! I would never last in a Survivor-type competition. Nope, not me. I mean, I like exercise and I'm fit and all, but I'm just not sure I could endure the jungle. How about you? Please share in the comments below.

Happy watching,

Net

⚾️🎇 Spectacular 'Sandlot' Movie Reenactment at the 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game - See Here:

In case you missed it...

The Major League All-Star Baseball Game absolutely hit this one out of the park! ⚾️🌟

I just had to share this special moment for all of you baseball fans - and especially anyone who has a soft spot for the nostalgic classic film - The Sandlot! This was truly a grand slam! This was one of those “You're killing me, Smalls!” kind of moments... only in the very best way!

The crowd went wild as a spectacular reenactment of the beloved movie unfolded right in the stadium last night at the Major League All-Star Baseball Game! Young boys who looked remarkably like the boys from The Sandlot rode into the stadium on bicycles while Ray Charles' beautiful rendition of America the Beautiful played in the background. Then, to top it all off, fireworks lit up the sky! 🎇

Talk about a picture-perfect baseball moment! If you missed this incredible tribute, here's your chance to catch the replay...

I know, I know... there's "no crying in baseball"... but maybe, just maybe, we can make an exception for this one time!

If you'd like to rewatch the beloved classic The Sandlot movie - check out streaming or DVD options at Amazon - *click here*

Hope you enjoyed this little Sandlot magic! ⚾️✨

Net

🎄❤️ Cindy Busby & Marcus Rosner Are Bringing a Little "Christmas Wrapped in Love" to Great American Family!

 ( image via: Great American Media ) 

More wonderful Christmas news from the set of Cindy Busby's upcoming Great American Family movie, Christmas Wrapped in Love! Her co-star has officially been revealed today via Parade!

Marcus Rosner (Christmas in Maple Hills, Christmas Detour) is joining the movie as Ryan Bartlett, an overworked surgeon who finds himself with one very big holiday assignment: finding meaningful Christmas gifts for his entire family! And when the Christmas shopping list starts looking a little overwhelming, he hires Natasha (Cindy Busby) to help him out.

I have a feeling this Christmas shopping adventure may come with a little romance mixed in, too!

This will be Cindy Busby and Marcus Rosner's first Christmas movie together, and I am already curious to see what this new Christmas movie pairing brings to the screen!

Great American Family fans may also recognize Marcus from two of his other Christmas movies that are already airing on Great American Family - Coupled Up for Christmas and Christmas in Maple Hills. Both movies were acquired for the network.

Plus, Marcus has starred in many movies for the Hallmark Channel over the years, including Christmas Detour, Christmas in Evergreen, Flipping for Christmas, Falling Like Snowflakes, this weekend's premiere, Snowbound for the Holidays, and more. He's also starred in movies on UPtv and Lifetime! I shared some of my favorites at the end of this post.

Christmas Wrapped in Love is currently in production for Great American Christmas 2026!

Stay tuned for more Christmas news!

Net🎄

Marcus Rosner movie recommendations:



A Vineyard Romance

Sweet Mountain Christmas



Poinsettias for Christmas

Love Stories in Sunflower Valley
This movie is currently free to stream - if you have Amazon Prime. Click here for details.