Reflections on September 11th... // Plus, Uplifting New Movies to Watch this Weekend - See Here:

image via: Cross Cards

Dear friends... On this weekend, as we reflect on the 20th year since September 11th, 2001, let us pray for the family and friends who remain and never forget what happened that day. Psalm 34:18 promises us this: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Do you remember where you were on September 11th? I was watching on TV from home that day as each horrible event unfolded that morning and praying hard it would come to an end; I recall holding family close and calling other family members on the phone - just wanting that connection with loved ones. It was such a dark morning, but through it all came stories of heroism that brought new light out of the darkness.

News networks will, of course, be covering the 9-11 memorials throughout Saturday. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani began the reading of the victim's names at Ground Zero in 2002 and this honorable, heartfelt tradition will continue this year at the 9/11 Memorial in New York — carried out by family members of those killed on September 11, 2001. There will also be memorials at the Pentagon in Washington, DC and the crash site of the United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. Also, be sure to watch on TV Saturday evening for the incredible Tribute in Light. The 9-11 Memorial & Museum describes it as "a commemorative public art installation first presented six months after 9/11 and then every year thereafter, from dusk to dawn, on the night of September 11. It has become an iconic symbol that both honors those killed and celebrates the unbreakable spirit of New York." The Tribute in Light at Ground Zero truly is a beautiful tribute; once again showing that light outshines the darkness.

My prayers go out to all whose lives were immeasurably shattered and changed forever on September 11th.

It is hard to transition on to other subjects after this, but at the end of this difficult day on Saturday, if you are looking for something lighthearted to watch on TV, then you may want to turn to Hallmark's new movie, which includes a storyline of a Lieutenant who has recently left military service and is adapting to life back home. I am beyond grateful for our military, who keeps us safe from terrorists every day. See details for this movie and others below...

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Saturday, September 11, 2001:

It's the first Fall Harvest movie premiere on Hallmark with...

Roadhouse Romance

image: Credit: ©2021 Crown Media United States 

Storyline: Lieutenant Callie Jackson (Lauren Alaina) arrives home from her tour of duty and must come to terms with everything that’s changed while she was away, especially at her family’s iconic BBQ establishment, Tucker’s Roadhouse. She is determined to continue her late grandfather’s legacy at the Roadhouse, which has always been a destination for great food and discovering new country music talent. Callie steps up to help her mother and aunt prepare for the fall festival at Tucker’s Roadhouse, which also means searching for her late grandfather’s special barbecue sauce recipe which was lost while she was away. After a chance run-in with TV director Luke (Tyler Hynes), who is passing through town, he helps Callie determine what is worth hanging on to and when it’s time to let go.

Credit: Copyright 2021 Crown Media United States
LLC/Photographer: Luba Popovic

Look for this MUSIC in the Movie:

Lauren Alaina performs her popular song “Run” and “What Do You Think Of,” which appears on her new album, recently released on September 3rd - Sitting Pretty On Top Of The World. (Sample the album at Amazon - click here!) She also sings a cover of Keith Whitley’s “When You Say Nothing at All,” the first song she performed at Tootsies in Nashville when she was just 12 years old.

Roadhouse Romance premieres

Saturday, September 11, 2001

at 9pm/8c. on the Hallmark Channel

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Sunday, September 12, 2001

Love in Translation

Story-line via UPtv: Linguistics Ph.D. student Julie Walters can speak almost every language and believes that languages are best learned when doing fun activities like taking a painting class, hiking or visiting a Museum. When Dan, the handsome curator at the museum Julie dreams of working at, contacts her about French classes, sparks soon fly – could this be the perfect match?

Love in Translation premieres

Sunday, September 12, 2001

at 7pm/6c. on UPtv

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Sunday, September 12, 2001

Chesapeake Shores

Season 5 - Episode 5

"They Can't Take That Away From Me"

Credit: ©2021 Crown Media United States
LLC/Photographer: Ricardo Hubbs

Storyline via Hallmark: As Chesapeake Shores Day approaches, Evan (Robert Buckley) decides to stick around – much to Abby’s (Meghan Ory) chagrin – and stays at Jess (Laci Mailey) and David’s (Carlo Marks) B&B. Mick (Treat Williams) learns that he is being sued and that Connor’s (Andrew Francis) firm is representing the plaintiff. Sarah (Jessica Sipos) receives some unexpected news and isn’t sure how to tell Kevin (Brendan Penny). Nell (Diane Ladd) has an idea to help Megan (Barbara Niven) get through to famously reclusive artist, Arthur Driscoll (Keith Dinicol). Kevin (Penny) becomes increasingly concerned about firehouse Captain Gahagan’s (Peter Bryant) ability to safely do his job.

Chesapeake Shores airs

Sunday, September 12, 2001

at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel

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Sunday, September 12, 2001

Redemption in Cherry Springs

Credit: ©2021 Crown Media United States

Storyline: After fallout from a story, reporter Melanie goes home to Cherry Springs for a break. When a friend disappears, she uses her skills to get to the truth, to the local detective's dismay.

Redemption in Cherry Springs premieres

Sunday, September 12, 2001

at 9pm/8c. on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

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May you all have a peaceful weekend. We may live all across the United States, and even across the world, but I'm holding all of my dear friends here a little bit closer today.

God Bless America!

Love and Blessings to You All, Net

SHINING HIS LIGHT:

Let us remember with this purpose in mind...

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”

(Romans 12:21)

🔎 September 2021 Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Premieres! 🔎💗 Get the Scoop Here:

HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES will have All New Mysteries and Movie Dramas in September.

See all the details below...

NOTE: All NEW Premieres in September begin at 9pm/8c.

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Redemption in Cherry Springs

Starring: Rochelle Aytes and Keith Robinson

Premieres: September 12, 2021

Storyline: After fallout from a story, reporter Melanie goes home to Cherry Springs for a break. When a friend disappears, she uses her skills to get to the truth, to the local detective's dismay.


Review:

🔎 "This was a good, family friendly sort of mystery for around age 12 and up. Nothing gory or creepy was shown. Melanie (Rochelle Aytes) has returned home to take care of her mother’s home and belongings after her passing (I believe it was a year ago)– and she’s also escaping some troubling issues she’s encountered as a journalist. A good friend of Melanie‘s winds up missing and she sets out to find him with the help of the local detective, Jake (Keith Robinson), who is a single father (his wife is deceased) and he's also a good friend to Melanie's uncle. The chemistry between the two leads is good; it’s obvious they are setting up this story to continue on to further movies, as one minor mystery at the end is yet to be solved. I also want to mention some brief dialogue that caught my attention at the beginning of the movie. Melanie is talking to her friend about a karaoke party from the past and she says (almost under her breath) she still has PTSD from it and they both laugh. I felt that was not an appropriate reference to use with this supposed joke. PTSD is a very serious condition and should not be used in a lighthearted way. Ever. Beyond that, the mystery portion wasn’t too difficult to solve, but it is interesting. And much like the recent Mystery 101 movies, as I alluded to above, this movie also leaves another mystery undone." ~Net

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Finding Love in Mountain View

Starring: Danielle C. Ryan, Myko Olivier

Note: The poster below is a previous one released for this movie. Hallmark may release their own poster image and press photos. Stay tuned for updates.

Premieres: September 19, 2021

Storyline: After learning she's been entrusted to take care of her deceased cousin's children, an architect is torn between focusing on her career and honoring her cousin's wish.


Review:

💗 "Finding Love in Mountain View was a beautiful, family friendly movie that made me cry a time or two. The two leads had amazing chemistry and the kids were great too. I personally could have done without the selfish, workaholic boyfriend. It's been done so many times, and the movie had plenty of conflict without it. Other than that, it was touching and warm-hearted despite the sadness and loss. Just have tissues handy!" ~melnewlife

💗 "Finding Love in Mountain View - This is such a heartwarming story. Margaret is usually self-absorbed and career driven, but once she is tasked with the responsibility of caring for her cousin’s children after her passing, she realizes she’s been traveling down the wrong path. It is a beautiful movie about coming home, forgiveness, love, and sacrifice. Please note: A bit of caution for young viewers since this story does revolve around the death of the children’s parents. Otherwise, this movie is family friendly." ~Net

💗 "Loved "Finding Love in Mountain View". Agree with other reviews." ~~Jane

💗 "Finding Love In Mountain View Such an unusual movie for Hallmark which is perhaps why they sat on it for such a long time before airing it. This is more like an afternoon Lifetime or Larry Levinson family drama movie! I would say it was done on quite a low budget for there were several obvious loopholes in the plot. Margaret is on a career driven path but suddenly finds herself guardian to her "best friend's" two children. There were a couple of flashbacks to their relationship but none of this made sense. Her supposed best friend and although they lived within driving distance of each other (at the end she talked about commuting to her office a couple of days a week) they hadn't spoken for five years! Moreover she was named guardian to her two children although she hadn't been asked or knew anything about it apart from saying in passing in their youth "You know I'd do anything for you". It was a bit offputting that in the traumatic circumstances it seemed as if within just a matter of days everyone was smiling and laughing as if they hadn't been affected. Most of the focus was on Margaret's relationship with the children and the romance was pretty low key except towards the end when Andrew (who had been her boyfriend in their youth and they had met up again on her return to Mountain View) had asked her out and her boyfriend whom she hadn't mentioned turned up causing Andrew to exhibit signs of jealousy. I didn't think the boyfriend was that bad, he could have been more sympathetic but Mountain View just wasn't his sort of work-driven life. To be honest I thought Andrew was like a big overgrown schoolboy but he and Margaret made a warm and comfortable couple like they'd had never been apart. At this satge you can just see what is coming up!! Margaret decides that her life is back in Mountain View adopting the two children but not replacing their mother and able to continue her career working from there. I'd have liked to see a little more depth to the ending between Margaret and Andrew apart from the one kiss and a few hastily spoken words. The aunt and the children all played their parts well adding to the overall satisfaction. What you have to do is suspend belief,go with the flow and sit back and enjoy what is a heartwarming, sentimental and thought-provoking "family" drama (musn't forget to mention family-friendly!) about a woman realising what the direction her life really should go in. I can only say that as a whole I really enjoyed it." ~ Florence's rating - 8

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Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone

Starring: Tom Everett Scott, Mia Maestro, Ella Ballentine

Premieres: September 26, 2021

Story: Benedict Stone’s (Scott) life is turned upside-down when his teenage niece (Ballentine) arrives on his doorstep; except she might be the change that Benedict desperately needs.

Review:

💗 "Rise & Shine, Benedict Stone I love this movie is such a gem. I love precious gemstone family with meanings - I’d like to wear like bracelets. They hang gems under the willow tree near Benedict’s house. Benedict follows his Father’s footsteps to become a jeweler who family owns jewelry store. Benedict separates from his Wife; Emilia after 10 years of unsuccessfully trying to have a baby but he wants to regain his Wife’s love, despite her need for space. His Niece, Gemma arrives her Uncle Benedict’s house in the middle of the night. Emilia & Benedict’s 10 years Anniversary - Benedict makes necklace with gemstones of meanings. They got married at the end of the movie. Gemma said they make for each other" ~Anonymous

💗 "Rise & Shine: Benedict Stone - On the night when I sat down to watch this movie on my DVR, I thought I would just watch 30 minutes or so, but I was so captivated, I couldn’t stop watching. The characters felt so real and authentic, full of emotion, heartache and promise. I loved that there was a bit of mystery in this story, as well. When Benedict’s niece shows up late one night in the rain, cold and needing a place to stay, Benedict is full of questions, however answers are slow to come. He allows her to stay, and gradually begins to reopen his heart to the past and future. Benedict’s job is the family business of creating jewelry pieces from various colorful stones; Gemma inspires her Uncle B (as she affectionately calls him) to find the artist inside himself to create unique pieces and reach out more affectively to his estranged wife. Rise & Shine: Benedict Stone is a beautiful movie about love, forgiveness and redemption. Plus, it’s family friendly and it includes an adorable cat! Tom Everett Scott is fantastic as the somewhat stiff, but reliable Uncle, while Ella Ballentine shines as the warm and energetic, Gemma. I also enjoyed seeing Viv Leacock (“When Calls the Heart”) as one of Benedict’s friends, and it was interesting to see that Peter Benson (“Aurora Teagarden”) was the director. This is one of those rare movies that is a gem, or in this case, a gem-stone!" ~Net

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