I need the title of this film - please help!

[ZingEasteryName]

I want to buy it if available on DVD but I can't remember the title and it's driving me up the wall!

Without spoilers, the story is about a woman who looses her husband and marries a widower who has a daughter, purely for practical reasons, she gets a roof over her head, he gets the mother figure (so he hopes) his daughter needs.
he figures it out that she is pg with her late husbands child and he is really nice to her. he always goes to pray on this bench - breathtaking scenery.

there's a snow storm scene that is quite important

she teaches herself how to kill a chicken and surprises him with a cooked meal.

there's a misplaced letter that is very important towards the end.

It's not set in modern days, kind of costume-y

I don't want to ruin the ending but it is a beautiful film and I really hope someone will recognise it.

come on film buffs, help me!

I think they all go to a barn dance or something for which the woman makes a dress for the girl.

What era and country is it set in?

Do you know the names of any of the actors or characters in it?

Is it an adult or children's film?

Roughly what year did it come out?

it is in America, no idea what era, but there are people travelling on horse & carriage

i can see the actors faces in front of me but can not think of the names.

no idea what year.

It's ok for kids to watch.

I don't know if it was ever in cinemas or just TV

I thought the man was Dennis Quaid, but looked up and nothing.
the girl's name is unusual (not Dakota Fanning but something like that IYSWIM)

it's bugging me so much

I saw it on TV and no idea what year it was made it but the girl in it is only a young woman now, so if she was 10 when filmed maybe she is 25 now so around 2000 (give or take 5 years ) but that is a total guesstimate

Hang on, I think it's the same girl who plays Mel Gibson's youngest daughter in The Patriot. the one who doesn't talk then says "Daddy" as he's about to leave

Off to Google

emotionsecho

I found it! thank you for prompting me to think more about the actors!

the film is "Love Comes Softly"

the girl who plays in it died when she was 21 I didn't know that. her name is Skye Mccole Bartusiak

it's a beautiful film, do watch it one day

that's my to do list done for today!

I think that actress died of a drug overdose at a very young age. 21 or 22 or something similar :(

x-posted

Love Comes Softly

Whoops! Too late.

thank you Twinkle spot on!

Oh thank goodness you worked it out Zing, I meant to come back and help but got side tracked by housework!

I'll look out for it, it sounds interesting. Sad about the actress.