This season is an exciting one but it can also be lonely. It doesn’t have to be this way. Admittedly, for single people, this can be a time when the reality of being single hits a bit harder, but this time of year can also be a great time to make connections that matter. So, how can you make the most of this season? What kind of connections might you want to consider?

From fun ideas for original first dates to encouraging stories from couples who met on Christian Connection, the CC blog contains a wealth of inspiration and practical advice for single Christians. Drawing together dating and relationship experts and wisdom from real life stories, these are the posts that have resonated with you this year.

Have you heard of ‘What 3 words’? It’s a system that can identify any location on Earth with a resolution of about three metres and encode it into three permanently fixed dictionary words. For example, the ‘3 words’ for 10 Downing street, London are ‘slurs.this.shark’, and the ‘3 words’ for the Eiffel tower are ‘prices.slippery.traps’. As we enter Advent, it made me think about the past year of my life and what ‘3 words’ I would use to describe it.

“No-one can know the ending without turning each page,” wrote Matthew, when he got in touch to share the story of meeting Marissa on Christian Connection. For every couple who first connects through CC there’s a journey of discovery – from first spotting a well-crafted profile, to saying hello to someone new through a wave or message, to starting that first conversation. When two people realise they’ve found something they want to explore in person and that something might lead to lasting love, we’re thrilled we could help! Each #MetOnCC story is a testimony to their willingness to step out in faith.

Whether the weather is making you wish for a date that doesn’t go outside or you’re looking for something that doesn’t involve a lot of travel, you might be wondering whether to choose an indoor location for your next date – and one that isn’t just your local coffee shop. While we’ve got plenty of date ideas for those who like to escape into the great outdoors, here are some suggestions for those who like their dates to be more hygge than a hike!

Dating can be enjoyable and exciting but there are also potential pitfalls, like the risk of rejection, trying to decide whom to date, or how to discern between red flags and green ones. We can make it easier on ourselves by building an inner and outer dating support system, so that we are strong emotionally and we have people around us to cheer us on and offer sound advice.

Most people have specifications for the type of person they would like to date or marry, but I think it is even more important to make sure that you’re the kind of person someone would like to date or marry! To do this, you need to work on yourself. The truth is, we sometimes spend so much time noticing the shortcomings in potential partners’ characters and behaviours that we fail to notice that we also have shortcomings that could do with some work. Start to prepare for dating and marriage now to go into the future feeling confident and ready.

When Amy and Ian first met on Christian Connection they were living hundreds of miles apart. Using the distance to have deep conversations before they met in person, they built a relationship that has since involved a relocation, a beautiful surprise proposal, a game-filled wedding in a historic church and a new addition to their family. “One of the best things is that this always feels like it’s meant to be,” says Ian. “It feels like we have always known each other.”