Seasonal Affective Disorder.

I'm not a big fan of the fall/winter seasons. I realize they are lovely. I really enjoy certain things about them...

But I kind of dread this time of year. I think it can be incredibly lonely. Aside from Thanksgiving and Christmas, which last a few days, I think the months of November, December & January are just lonely. It is cold outside and gets dark early. There is not as much sunshine - and if you were lonely before - you really notice it during the winter months. Or maybe that's just me. But I have heard reports of how more deaths/suicides happen during the Holiday season, and I think that's awful. I guess all of the fellowship and happiness surrounding people makes them realize that they are more alone than they thought they were.

I always get in some kind of fall/winter slump. I can't run outside, and I don't want to hang out outside because it's cold. It's basically dark when I get off of work so I feel like I am in the office and then in my house. I long for the spring and summer months. Plus, something about the holiday season makes me pensive...it's like I'm longing for something but I don't know what it is. I'm pretty sure it's the frosty air and twinkly lights. I don't even know what I'm missing...but I miss something. My house feels more empty. The days feel longer. I just don't know what to do with all that 'inside' time.

Also, don't even get me STARTED on how I look during the winter. Can we say pale skin, static hair and chunky knit sweaters? No thanks. No thank you. I see pictures of myself and have terrible flashbacks to my horrible twelve year old phase when I wore slick-painted Christmas stocking sweatshirts. Not cute.

Anyways, I don't want to be a Debbie Downer so I have decided to list some things I love about this time of year...

Surely there is something....

Come on Abby...think....think....okay, I'm just kidding. Here it goes:

1. I love homemade hot chocolate.

2. I love boots.

3. I love baking...and this season definitely calls for pies and sugar cookies.

4. I love that my whole family gets together - even if it's only for a few days.

5. I love the smell of a real Christmas tree.

6. I love singing Christmas music at church.

7. I love buying presents for people

8. I like how everything seems to 'sparkle' around December - all the stores and streets just look sparkly.

9. I love reading 'The Chronicles of Narnia' every year during the winter.

10. I love watching cheesy old Christmas movies on TV.

11. I love celebrating the fact that God sent His only son to earth in the form of a little baby...it reminds me that He chooses to do things much differently than we think they should be done.

Okay, okay, I guess it's not so bad...but I'm telling you right now...winter's got nothin' on spring. :)