🎄✨ 'Christmas By the Spoonful' - Starring Laura Vandervoort and Olivier Renaud - Coming to Great American Family

  ( image via: Great American Media ) 

Great American Family is cooking up another all-new Christmas movie for the holiday season - Christmas By the Spoonful!

Starring in this all-new original movie are Laura Vandervoort (Miracle in Bethlehem, PA, Coffee Shop), Olivier Renaud (A Very Curious Christmas, Head Over Heels).

See the press release below for more details...


Great American Media Press Release:

Great American Media

Serves Up

Christmas By the Spoonful,

Starring Laura Vandervoort

and Olivier Renaud for 

Great American Christmas 2026

Ilan O’Driscoll and Holly Bridges Also Star in New Original Holiday Film About Family, Forgiveness, and the Traditions Shared Around the Christmas Table

NEW YORK, NY – July 20, 2026 – Great American Media today announced Christmas By the Spoonful, an all-new Original Movie starring Laura Vandervoort, Olivier Renaud, Ilan O’Driscoll, and Holly Bridges, premieres this holiday season as part of the sixth annual Great American Christmas, the network’s signature celebration of Christmas as it is meant to be. Christmas By the Spoonful will have its World Premiere streaming on Great American Pure Flix and will air on Great American Family and GFAM+ when the beloved annual event returns to air in October.

In Christmas By the Spoonful, food critic Lorraine Boulanger (Vandervoort) may know exceptional cuisine, but she has no culinary abilities of her own. When Lorraine is tasked with preparing her family’s first Christmas dinner since the passing of their beloved matriarch, she must turn to local French food-truck owner, Pierre DuBois (Renaud) for help. The problem: Lorraine’s harsh review years earlier nearly put Pierre out of business. As the unlikely pair work together to create a meaningful holiday meal in honor of Lorraine’s mom, old resentments begin to soften, and the spirit of Christmas offers them an unexpected opportunity for forgiveness, connection, and love.

“Christmas By the Spoonful is a beautiful reminder that the holidays have a way of bringing people back to what matters most—family, forgiveness, and the traditions that connect us across generations,” said Allison Kendrick, Vice President, Development, Great American Media. “Every Great American Christmas Original is thoughtfully crafted to celebrate the warmth, hope, and joy that define the season. It’s that unwavering commitment to heartfelt storytelling—and creating Christmas as it is meant to be—that has made Great American Christmas the most beloved holiday event on television,” Kendrick concluded.

Great American Christmas returns this holiday season with a new slate of Original movies celebrating faith, family, love, hope, and the timeless traditions that make Christmas the most cherished season of the year.

ABOUT GREAT AMERICAN MEDIA

Great American Media is theleader in faith and family entertainment,and one of the fastest-growing entertainment networks on television. Great American Media is home to a portfolio of entertainment brands that celebrate faith, family, and country, including Great American Family, the flagship linear network featuring original Christmas movies, rom-coms, and beloved series; Great American Pure Flix, the leading faith and family streaming service; Great American Faith & Living, the unscripted companion network; and GFam+, an app that lets viewers watch anytime, anywhere. Great America Media, established in June 2021 by Bill Abbott and a group of US-based family offices, is available via cable, streaming on Pure Flix and YouTube TV, and on the GFam+ app.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Pam Slay
Head of Network Program Publicity & Talent Relations
pamslay@gacmedia.com
818.415.3784
media@crosswindpr.com

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

I personally think this is wonderful news for Great American Family! Laura Vandervoort is such a familiar and beloved face in the Christmas movie world, so I'm already feeling really great about her newest film making its way to GAF!

I can't wait to see this and all the Christmas movies Great American Family has in store for us - beginning in October! (*see the October schedule here*)

Stay tuned for more Christmas movie news!🎄🎬

Have a Blessed, Merry Day!

Net

Laura Vandervoort & Olivier Renaud Movies:
(click posters below for details)


Miracle in Bethlehem, PA
DVD / Stream Prime Video

Head Over Heels
DVD / Stream Prime Video

🎄✨ Great American Christmas Movies Coming October 2026

Exciting news, friends!!!🎄

Great American Family is spreading more Christmas cheer during their Christmas in July event with a brand-new commercial announcing four of the network's upcoming Christmas movies! And here's the really exciting part... these new holiday premieres are arriving early in October!

And movie #2 below is a new Christmas movie announcement!

Here's a look at all four films with their premiere dates on Great American Family. Plus see the promo below!

(Note: Each of these movies will also air 2 days earlier on Great American Pure Flix.)

#1: A Very Evergreen Christmas

Starring: Katie Leclerc and Jeremy Guilbaut

Premiere Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026

#2: Christmas by the Spoonful

Starring: Laura Vandervoort and Olivier Renaud

Premiere Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026

#3: A Christmas Prayer 2

Starring: Shae Robins and Christopher Russell

Premiere Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026

#4: Christmas Wrapped in Love

Starring: Cindy Busby and Marcus Rosner

Premiere Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026



Great American Christmas Promo:

Click the arrow button below to play.

Four Great American Family Christmas Movies coming in October!!!✨🎄❤️🎬 pic.twitter.com/9JRPLNHQNc

— It's A Wonderful Movie 🍿📺 (@awonderfulmovie) July 18, 2026

Hope you enjoyed this movie news!

Have a Merry Weekend,

Net

New Premiere Date for 'Crossroad Springs' Season 2 - SEE HERE:

Just wanted to share a quick update with you all - Great American Family has a new promo (see below) with a new premiere date for Crossroad Springs Season 2!

This faith-based family show, set on a rural ranch, will return Labor Day weekend - Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 8pm/7c.

Crossroad Springs Season 2 promo:

(Click the arrow button to play)

“Crossroad Springs” Season 2 coming to Great American Family on Labor Day Weekend!✨🐴 pic.twitter.com/WVXnBM1Uca

— It's A Wonderful Movie 🍿📺 (@awonderfulmovie) July 18, 2026

All the stars we loved in season 2 will be returning... Jonathan Stoddard, Emily Alatalo, Brittany Underwood, Kate Drummond, Shaun Johnston, Jesse Hutch, Jon McLaren, Erin Agostino, and Jillian Cardarelli.

*I also wanted to take a moment to ask all of you prayer warriors to please keep Jillian Cardarelli in your prayers. Jillian will be returning for Crossroad Springs Season 2; however, she shared that she was diagnosed with breast cancer back in May. I know she is leaning on the Lord and trusting Him to carry her through this difficult season, and I know your love and prayers would mean so much to her right now. Jillian has been staying positive, upbeat, and faithfully trusting in God's plan. Please keep her and her loved ones close in your prayers as she walks through this journey. People shared a beautiful article about Jillian's story back in June, and she also continues to keep her friends and followers updated on Instagram.

Stay tuned for more season 2 news and episode details for Crossroad Springs.

Blessings to you all,

Net

❄️🎄 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!


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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


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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



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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

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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

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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