"Love's Abiding Joy" is the fourth in a series of movies based on novels by Janette Oke. The Canadian author writes about pioneers in the settling of the West. But her characters have strong Christian faith. The TV movies for the series were produced by Hallmark. In the third movie, "Love's Long Journey," Missie and Willie LaHaye have settled down to build a ranch. They meet neighbors and take on hired hands. They also confront some outlaws. And, they make friends with other early pioneers who are settling their area. This movie has less action and diversity, but starts several years later when they have two children. The drama centers around two events. The first is the loss of their baby daughter who dies in her sleep. The second is a romantic friendship of their adopted son, Jeff, and Colette Doros, the daughter of the town's mayor. I won't give further details. But the drama in this series is about the couple struggling with their loss, drifting apart, and then coming back together with healing. Willie accepts the job as sheriff to provide some income until they can sell cattle the next year. Some surprise twists results in Willie being an unsung hero for friends and neighbors. A good story and nice addition to the series. It's more serious and traumatic with the baby's' death, so it may take some explaining to younger children.

:Spoilers:I was very disappointed in Love's Abiding Joy. I had been waiting a really long time to see it and I finally got the chance when it re-aired Thursday night on Hallmark. I love the first three "Love" movies but this one was nothing like I thought it was going to be. The whole movie was sad and depressing, there were way to many goofs, and the editing was very poor - to many scenes out of context. I also think the death of baby Kathy happened way to soon and Clarks appearance in the movie just didn't seem to fit. It seemed like none of the actors really wanted to be there - they were all lacking emotion. There seemed to be no interaction between Missie and Willie at all.I think the script writers should have went more by the book. It seems like every movie that's been made so far just slips further and further away from Janette Oke's writings. I mean in the movie they never mentioned a thing about the mine and the two boys or Clark getting hurt because of it. And I think Missie and Willies reactions to Kathy's death could have been shown and heard rather than just heard.Out of the four movies that have been made so far I'd have to say that Love's Abiding Joy is my least favorite. I hope with the next four movies that more of the book is followed and if Clarks character is in them I hope he's got a bigger part and I hope his part isn't so bland. I also hope there is more of Scottie and Cookie and maybe even Marty but who knows what the script writers will have in store next.

I loved the movie. It is a movie for the whole family to watch. As far as for religion, it was great and did not push one religion. All of these movies were wonderful. So don't listen to any negative comments. My family liked from the very first and looking for the writier to produce more for us to purchase. I would like to see more of the family in the movie get together, or for the parents to see their grandchildren. To also see the parents sons grow up and find their wives to marry and continue to make the family grow. The way the father Clark spoke to them and the way his gentle ways with the family was great. All I know I wanted to watch more.

I love all of the movies by Michael Landon Jr. And Michael Landon Jr's casting of Dale Midkiff as "Clark Davis"could not of been any better. Dale Midkiff has the ways to pull off this character.This movie kept me spellbound from start to finish.The death of Missie & Willies baby girl with the timing of Clarks visit was only Gods timing. How they dealt with the death and how Clark helped them do so was that of a fathers love.Although there are 3 movies before this one [ Love Comes Softly , Loves Enduring Promise & Loves Long Journey], I feel you can see this movie and understand it easily. Yet leave and want to see the previous 3 movies due to the history all the characters have behind them.Michael Landon Jr. is an excellent directorI look forward to many more movies from him in the future.