It's here! Happy Thanksgiving weekend!
Even though we've been celebrating Christmas together for over a month now, this weekend is truly the official kick-off to the Christmas season! After this, it always seems to go by so fast, so let's hold on tight to each precious moment.
I will be busy in the kitchen with my momma and sister, cooking and baking our family Thanksgiving meal and reflecting on our many blessings. As a farm family, we must feel a little like the Pilgrims did so many years ago as we bow our heads and give thanks to the Lord for another bountiful harvest. What a joyous time to think about everything we are grateful for, especially our dear family and friends.
We remember today, with enormous gratitude, the course the Pilgrims took over 400 years ago to make it to America, fleeing persecution from the Church of England. What must it have been like to cross the ocean for two long months and then survive through many trials and obstacles? Were they joyful or fearful when they landed that day on Plymouth Rock? We cannot even imagine the hardships they faced as they set off on their mission to leave their homeland behind, determined to live in America, where they would be free from religious persecution. We thank the Lord for guiding them here, and we pray for that same bravery and courage today.
I am so thankful for each and every one of you who visit here. We have bonded over our shared interest in movies and Biblical values, and I pray you all truly enjoy this Thanksgiving holiday. I think of you all as dear friends and my family in The Lord, too, since we share the same Heavenly Father!
God's Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!
See all of the 17 *NEW* Christmas movies and more being served during this Thanksgiving weekend below...
Thursday, November 24, 2022:
Thanksgiving-themed Programming
Thought I would share some Thanksgiving classics + an encore of the new Walton's movie. (Please note: Even though this is an encore airing of A Waltons Thanksgiving, I haven't had the opportunity to watch it yet. If you've seen it, I would love to hear your thoughts.)
Thursday, November 24, 2022:
🌟Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade - Hallmark Movies & Mysteries - 6am/5c.
🌟A Waltons Thanksgiving Reunion - Great American Family - 6am/5c.
🌟The Waltons Thanksgiving Story - INSP - 7am/6c.
🌟A Waltons Thanksgiving (2022 encore airing) - The CW - 8pm/7c.
🌟Reminder: You can stream A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving free through Apple TV+ from November 23 through November 27, 2022.
Thursday, November 24, 2022:
Thanksgiving Day Parades
🌟The 96th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade from New York airs on NBC Thanksgiving morning, starting at 9am/8c. I love to see the traditional floats and Santa Claus most of all.
🌟Also, you can see Jen Lilley and Jesse Hutch (who will be starring together in Great American Family's "B&B Merry") hosting the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade on Thanksgiving Day, starting at 9am/8c. The parade will air on the CW, channel 26, in Illinois. Additionally, the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade can be viewed via streaming: watch live on YouTube - click here or for more options - click here.
Thursday, November 24, 2022:
Storyline: “Under the guise of a journalist, Campbell has a chance to get to know her biological father for the first time — without him ever knowing who she really is. As she spends time with him and his family, as well as with the town’s record keeper, she realizes that families are messy, wonderful things. In the end, Campbell must decide if she’s going to keep her identity a secret or reveal the truth to her father — a decision that will change their family Christmas forever.”
Premieres Thursday, November 24, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel
Thursday, November 24, 2022:
Storyline: Julia Wilson (Cory Lee), an accomplished pastry chef from Chicago, heads to a small town bakery famous for their gingerbread to complete her Christmas cookbook. There she finds herself at odds with Kris Thompson (Yannick Bisson), the bakery's charming but private owner, who is ambivalent about sharing his secret recipe.
Premieres Thursday, November 24, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime
Friday, November 25, 2022:
Storyline: “When Jen gets the chance to enter a brand’s design contest, she poses a family influencer, enlisting the help of her best friend, Max, and her baby nephew. When her video is selected as a finalist, Jen is torn on whether to go on with her perfect ‘family’ or reveal the truth.”
Premieres Friday, November 25, 2022
at 6pm/5c. on the Hallmark Channel
Friday, November 25, 2022:
Storyline: “Reluctant Crown Prince Edmond returns home just before Christmas in anticipation of being named successor to the throne. To ingratiate himself to his mother the Queen, he gifts her with ‘Mistletoe,’ a rambunctious Corgi in need of some serious training. After several doggy disasters, Edmond turns to Cecily, a canine behavior expert from America for help — but to his great surprise, Cecily demands that he take an active part in the daily dog training sessions. Sparks fly between them as the pair work together to get Mistletoe ready to present at the annual Christmas Ball. Just as the precious pup captures their hearts, they discover that love can grow in the most unexpected places, leading them to question what they really want.”
Premieres Friday, November 25, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel
Friday, November 25, 2022:
Storyline: A property lawyer works to prove that her town’s Drive In Theater, a local institution is not closed down at the holidays, finding romance with the very person who is trying to sell the property.
Premieres Friday, November 25, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family
Friday, November 25, 2022:
Storyline: Former Broadway star Billy Holiday (Mario Lopez) returns to his hometown for Christmas after being abruptly fired as the host-producer-judge of the hit TV series “Celebrity Dance Off.” While there, he encounters Rae (Jana Kramer), the charismatic owner of the local dance studio, where Billy’s 12-year-old nephew is her standout student. This Christmas, Rae is planning a dance recital fundraiser with the goal of taking her students to see a Broadway show in New York City. Billy volunteers to help Rae with the recital by reviving the town’s traditional Christmas Eve show, which was once a showcase for local talent. With Billy’s knack for producing and Rae’s knowledge of all things local, their collaboration clicks and romantic sparks start flying!
Premieres Friday, November 25, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime
Saturday, November 26, 2022:
Storyline: “Thanks to some Christmas magic, Emma gets to experience two different Christmases – one where she stays in the city and celebrates with a new crush and his friends, and one where she returns home for all the traditions with her family…and Drew, a longtime friend who may have feelings for her. Emma’s double holiday ultimately helps her discover what will truly make her happy in life as well as in love.”
Premieres Saturday, November 26, 2022
at 6pm/5c. on the Hallmark Channel
Saturday, November 26, 2022:
Storyline: “Emily arrives home, hoping to visit her parents, only to discover that they are leaving on a trip of their own. As she stays at their house for the holidays, their HOA is determined to get Emily to participate in the neighborhood’s many Christmas festivities.”
Premieres Saturday, November 26, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel
Saturday, November 26, 2022:
Storyline: An aspiring Broadway singer is convinced to participate in a small-scale production for her local Christmas celebration. Along the way, she finds hope and unexpected mentorship towards her dream career. But will her professional success come at the cost of her chance at love?
Premieres Saturday, November 26, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family
Saturday, November 26, 2022:
Storyline: “Four days before Christmas, Elizabeth Athens receives a voicemail from a number she doesn’t recognize. On the message, a man she doesn’t know makes one final plea to the love of his life for a second chance. The fifth installment of the popular movie franchise, based on Blake Shelton’s song ‘Time for Me to Come Home.'”
Premieres Saturday, November 26, 2022
at 10pm/9c. on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Saturday, November 26, 2022:
Storyline: Brian Conway is a successful businessman whose relationships with those around him have really suffered. While this Christmas season has been the most successful for his business, he’s divorced, his relationship with his daughter Michelle is strained and he doesn’t have a meaningful connection with his only granddaughter. After Brian gets into a car accident on Christmas Eve, Santa gives him twelve chances to re-do the day and repair the relationships in his life to find the true meaning of Christmas. For Brian, these twelve days are a journey of self-realization about life, love and happiness as he attempts to right the wrongs of his life in pursuit of the Christmas spirit.
Premieres Saturday, November 26, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime
Saturday, November 26, 2022:
Storyline: This sequel to the popular Bounce Original movie “Faith Heist” finds Pastor Benjamin (Jonathan Langdon, “No Tomorrow”) and his motley crew of congregants locked in the local mall on Christmas Eve. A fearsome team of armed thieves break-in to rob the mall and all the money raised by the church for a Christmas charity. Unable to flee or signal for help, the pastor and his friends realize it’s up to them to battle the crooks and save the mall – all before Christmas morning.
Premieres Saturday, November 26, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on Bounce
Sunday, November 27, 2022:
Storyline: “Annie Cooper has big shoes to fill when she takes over as CEO of her late grandmother’s small-town cookie company and is doing her best to help their struggling business get back on track. That task gets more daunting when her grandmother’s secret recipe is stolen during the Christmas party. As Annie tries to crack the case and uncover the culprit she works with Sam, the owner of a local bakery, to recreate the recipe in the hope of saving the company and her job. As Annie and Sam bake batch after batch in pursuit of the perfect one, they begin to learn that their lives go together like milk and cookies.”
Premieres Sunday, November 27, 2022
at 6pm/5c. on the Hallmark Channel
Sunday, November 27, 2022:
Storyline: “In 1958, Maggie is an heiress from Philadelphia who puts her high-society wedding plans on hold in order to sneak up to New York City and make her secret dream come true: dancing live on stage in the 'Christmas Spectacular' at Radio City Music Hall.”
Premieres Sunday, November 27, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel
Sunday, November 27, 2022:
Storyline: Maggie and Eric are busy parents of teenagers who embark on a trip to the home of Maggie’s widowed brother to celebrate Christmas. Everyone has different expectations of the perfect holiday. Through a series of transformative events, Maggie learns to embrace the season.
Premieres Sunday, November 27, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family
In case you haven't seen it, here's a trailer for "A Christmas... Present," featuring the heartwarming Matthew West song, Come Home for Christmas...
Sunday, November 27, 2022:
Storyline: Recently widowed Molly (Jane Seymour) has lost her zest for life and given up on ever finding love again. But when she decides to visit her daughter for Christmas, she has no idea what holiday magic is in store for her. A former drama teacher, Molly reluctantly takes on the job of directing the town's Christmas pageant and soon finds herself falling for her leading man, Hank (Joe Lando), the town's most eligible bachelor. As Molly and the irrepressible Hank fall in love, she rediscovers her inner free spirit and finds a new lease on life. And when the star of the pageant loses her voice moments before the show, it will be up to Molly to step into the spotlight and shine brightly for the first time in her life.
Premieres Sunday, November 27, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime
Sunday, November 27, 2022:
Storyline: "When an egotistical social media influencer's dog is kidnapped overnight, her long-suffering assistant Emily (Ball) teams up with charming local vet Jonathan (Fearnley) to find the puppy before Christmas. As the two investigate suspects, including a rival influencer and a crazed fan, they form a romantic bond along the way – until she suspects her charming vet isn't all he seems to be."
Premieres Sunday, November 27, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on ION
My Take on the New Christmas Movies:
As for the 17 NEW Christmas movies (yikes, that's a lot!) airing this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I'm personally looking forward most of all to the NEW Great American Family Christmas movies: Christmas at the Drive-In, I’m Glad It’s Christmas, and A Christmas… Present!
Christmas at the Drive-In looks so cool and fun, with a bit of a retro feel to it. Plus, this will be Danica McKellar and Neal Bledsoe's third movie together, and they have such wonderful chemistry together on screen.
I'm also looking forward to all of the beautiful music in I’m Glad It’s Christmas, with Jessica Lowndes, Paul Greene, and the legendary singer, Gladys Knight!
And I'm most excited to see the faith-filled Christmas movie, A Christmas… Present, starring Candace Cameron Bure and Marc Blucas, on Sunday night. I can't wait to "Come Home for Christmas" with Great American Family!
Please share what you are looking forward to seeing this Thanksgiving weekend in comments below.
Movie Reviews:
If you'd like to check out the 2022 Christmas Movie Reviews shared by It's a Wonderful Movie family members and myself, please visit *here*.
Christmas Schedule:
To see more Christmas movies coming up, be sure to visit the Christmas Movie Schedule.
Disclaimer: Please know when I share a movie, this is NOT an endorsement of any of the actors involved, personally or professionally, with their other TV/film projects.
Please note: I haven't pre-screened the new Christmas movies airing this weekend. If you'd like to post a review on whether a film is family-friendly, please share in comments. Thank you so much to everyone who participates in this.
My Thanksgiving Thoughts:
When we think of this holiday, I'm sure we're all filled with all sorts of memories; some may be recent or way back when.
This week we have the opportunity to make new, lasting memories with family and friends.
In between the visits and having a nice meal, there are plenty of new Christmas movies to enjoy on TV, as well.
If you watch ALL the *NEW* Christmas movies, you are sure to be stuffed. Surely one, two, or three will be good, I trust.
So... enjoy this special holiday of giving thanks to The Lord by joining hands and praying.
Much love and blessings to you all... Happy Thanksgiving!
Net
SHINING HIS LIGHT:
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations."
~Psalm 100:4-5
