A FAMILY THANKSGIVING

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You will enjoy this Hallmark Thanksgiving movie, reminding us that real connection is what makes life truly abundant.  

Claudia (Daphne Zuniga) is a high-powered attorney whose idea of “holiday spirit” usually involves closing deals rather than carving turkeys. She’s got the designer heels, the city view, and a phone that never stops buzzing but does not make time to spend with her family. Even if it's a holiday, work is her priority.

Then, a mysterious woman named Gina (Faye Dunaway) gives Claudia a glimpse into the life she could have had, complete with a husband, two adorable kids and a home where laughter and chaos mix.  Suddenly, her carefully ordered world is replaced by school lunches, soccer games, and burnt stuffing, and wouldn’t you know it, her heart starts to thaw like a turkey in the oven.

It’s a whimsical reminder that success is lovely, but it's not what's really important. This adorable movie stirs together humor, warmth, and a pinch of magic into a feel-good recipe perfect for the season that we all love.

So as you settle in with your leftovers and a soft throw blanket, this is the movie to remind you that the best blessings aren’t in our inboxes; they’re sitting right beside us at the table. 

Ecclesiastes 4:6 NIV

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind."

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The Thanksgiving House

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A local historian, Everett (Justin Bruening), has been collecting soil samples in the area hoping to locate the site of the first Thanksgiving.  One of the landowners recently passed and left her home to her niece, Mary (Emily Rose), a single woman and an attorney from the City. 

Mary has many fond memories of the house and the visits with her aunt.  When she discovers a stranger on her property taking soil samples, she immediately asks him to leave the property.   

Everett persists in attempting to connect with the Mary hoping that he can make her understand the historical importance of his work, and the significance of her house if it was the site of the very first Thanksgiving.

As time passes and Mary begins to live in the house, and the idea of keeping her Aunt's home as her own becomes very appealing.  

Everett's mother, Abigail (Lindsay Wagner) decides to try and connect with Mary.  At first, Mary is resistant, but after some conversations, she begins to open up.   Abigail learns that Mary and her dad are estranged.   By relating to her with a story of her own past, Abigail encourages Mary to reconnect with her father.  Mary begins to understand what's really important in life.

Without giving away the ending of this unique story, I'll tell you that as with all of these uplifting movies, it's a good and fulfilling ending.  

How would you feel if the home you owned was the site of the first Thanksgiving?  

 Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how we many spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

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Wonderful, Forgotten Thanksgiving Movies

Below is a list of some Thanksgiving Movies that seem to have been forgotten.  I've not included "The Thanksgiving House" and "Miracle on 34th Street" that I've reviewed yet in this blog.  

                                         Happy Thanksgiving!

The Gathering 

In this TV classic, a man (Ed Asner) who is terminally ill tries to reunite with his estranged family for one last Thanksgiving together. A deeply emotional story about forgiveness, family, and second chances.

A Family Thanksgiving

A career-driven lawyer (Daphne Zuniga) is magically shown what her life could have been if she had chosen family over work. Through this alternate Thanksgiving reality, she learns the true meaning of gratitude and love.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles 

A classic comedy where a tightly-wound man (Steve Martin) just wants to get home for Thanksgiving, but his trip turns into chaos when he’s stuck traveling with an overly talkative shower curtain ring salesman (John Candy). Lots of mishaps, but heartwarming in the end.

Home for the Holidays

Directed by Jodie Foster, this film follows a woman (Holly Hunter) who returns to her parents’ house for Thanksgiving. Between family drama, awkward relatives, and unexpected surprises, it’s funny, touching, and very relatable.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

The beloved animated special where Charlie Brown scrambles to put together a Thanksgiving dinner for his friends with Snoopy’s help. It’s simple, nostalgic, and full of heart.

Pieces of April

Katie Holmes stars as April, a young woman estranged from her family who invites them over for Thanksgiving dinner in her tiny New York apartment. With her oven broken, she struggles to pull it off, but the movie beautifully mixes humor, tension, and heartfelt moments.

Dutch

Ed O’Neill stars as Dutch, a working-class man who offers to bring his girlfriend’s snobby son home from boarding school for Thanksgiving. The road trip turns into a hilarious and heartfelt bonding experience.

Psalm 23:5 (NIV)

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." 

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"Christmas By Starlight"

Annie Park (Kimberly Sustad) is an attorney and the daughter of the owners of the Starlight Cafe.  She discovers that the Cafe is being closed as a result of a development firm.  Annie is enraged as most of the businesses on their street have already closed and now her parents' long-occupied Cafe?!

Annie decides she is not going to let this happen without a fight.  She decides to address this with Mr. William Holt (Paul Campbell) the son of the owner of the development firm.  

Will, as he is called, does not have much interest in his father's business, so when Annie arrives to speak to him about the building, Will is initially resistant to listening to her, until he finds out she is an attorney.  He decides to tell his father that he has hired an attorney to assist him just to stop his father from "breathing down his neck".  

Annie (who really is a family law attorney) is asked by Will to play along and in return he promises that the Cafe will not be destroyed.  

As Annie and Will slowly get to know each other, Annie continues to act as his attorney, but begins to give Will some very valuable heartfelt life-lessons.  

The humor of Kimberly Sustad and Paul Campbell together has proven time after time to be good comedy, both in their acting and writing; however, each individually has that natural ability to keep their viewers laughing.  

Proverbs 21:3 (NIV)

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

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"Miracle on 34th Street" ....faith from an old 1947 classic.

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Children imagine Christmas as a magical time, and everyone seems to be just that little bit happier and kinder. The Christmas Cards, the traditional foods, the lights and decorations   make everything cozier. Holiday movies were enjoyed long before there was the Hallmark Channel; I still watch them. One in particular had a life lesson that sometimes we all need to be reminded of:

“Faith Is Believing When Common Sense Tells You Not To”

This was said to little Suzie Walker, a girl who was losing faith, by her Mother, Doris in “Miracle on 34th Street” – 1947 with Maureen O’Hara, John Payne and Natalie Wood.

We can’t always explain how things happen out of the blue, when we least expect it and after we resigned ourselves to giving up, but sometimes they do. Faith is believing when there is no tangible evidence; it’s what keeps you hoping. Logic doesn’t always have its way.

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

"Now faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

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"Holiday Inn" ....a classic from 1942

An old Holiday Classic set in the coziest farmhouse covered in snow. In the distance you can hear sounds of jingle bells from the horse-drawn sleigh.

Jim, (Bing Crosby) a down-to-earth entertainer, turns an old farmhouse into an Inn that’s opened Holidays only.

Linda, (Margorie Reynolds), is a struggling entertainer just looking for a chance. She runs into a notable Agent at the florist shop she works in. She shrewdly convinces the Agent that it’s too late on Christmas Eve for his delivery, but she would be happy to make the delivery for a personal favor. The manager, to appease her, gives her Jim’s card telling her it’s a friend of his who is opening an Inn in Connecticut. The Agent also gives her a ticket to the show he’s having that evening.

That night when Linda arrives at the show she is seated at the band’s table where she meets Jim,. Jim was there to watch his friends’ performances before he leaves for Connecticut. There Linda and Jim both pretend to be more successful than they really are.

The following day, Linda who is thrilled at any chance of performing takes the train out to Connecticut on a snowy Christmas day When she arrives at “Holiday Inn, she runs into the owner, Jim. They both realize they were overstating their achievements when they met the night before at Ted’s, (Fred Astaire) and Lila’s, (Virginia Dale) show. They laugh together and Linda agrees that she doesn’t care if Jim pays her off in eggs, just give her a chance.

The Inn becomes a success, and Jim and Linda are very content and also are becoming very close. Until one New Year’s Eve when Ted gets a “Dear John” letter from Lila. Ted suddenly has no dancing partner, is feeling low and decides to go visit his old pal, Jim, in Connecticut. The competition then begins for the affections of Linda by Jim and Ted.

This is a movie of great dancing performances as it takes you through the year’s holidays as they are celebrated at the Holiday Inn. The best of course are the Christmas Holidays. The performances with Fred Astaire by both Virginia Dale and Marjorie Reynolds are outstanding! I especially love the Valentine’s Day performance.

Give this old flick another look. The farmhouse alone is enough to want to make you curl up with a nice warm cocoa, while watching twinkling lights and listening to Carrols.

Did you know that the Holiday Inn Hotel Chain is named from this 1942 classic?

1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NIV)

"But Godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that"

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