Happy Monday, friends! I'm back this week with a few fun things, but today I realized I never shared the pictures from when my boyfriend visited California last month. We had the best time going to San Francisco with my parents, Carmel, having my entire family over for a big Sunday dinner, and hanging out with my brother and his girlfriend. The time just flew by and I can't believe I now have to wait until May to see him again! Oh, long distance, how we don't care for you one bit. BUT we do feel confident God has placed this season in our lives for a reason, and we can definitely say we have great communication, know a ton about each other, and are so excited about when the distance will end one day.
Our first outing was San Francisco. I took him to walk across the Golden Gate. It was so fun! The next day we headed back to the city with my parents and took him to see the Giant's stadium {we're a huge baseball family, as my grandpa actually played for the Giants back in the day!} We also took pedicabs down the Embarcadero, had some mint chocolate chip ice cream at Ghirardelli {a must, duh!} and had dinner and drinks at the top of The Marriott building with one of the most stunning views of the city I've ever seen. Exploring your own city through the eyes of someone who's never been here before is really something special.
Sorry for the picture overload in advance!
My cute mom and dad...
My grandpa's name is on this plaque outside of the ballpark! {If you're interested his name is Hobie Landrith and he was a catcher ;) }
My mom captured these sweet pictures of us. So much joy!
We also took him to my favorite beach town, Carmel. Have you been?! It's so quaint and beautiful! We laid in the sand and basked in the sun, while watching Hope literally frolic around on the shore. It was SO cute!
My sweet little girl...
Sunset in San Francisco from The View...
As I mentioned above, I don't get to see my guy again until May. Yikes! If you have any fun things to do while apart, do tell :) We're always looking for new things to do together on Skype or FaceTime. Every weekend we watch a sermon together from one of our favorite pastors, we play a fun quiz game app almost every night before bed, and I just watched a basketball game at the same time as him yesterday {I know…the things you'll do for love ;) He has watched so many Romantic Comedies for me, I figured I should do something he loved!} Anyways, any advice, as always, is appreciated!
Happy Monday!
xoxo
Long Distance is definitely no fun! But it makes seeing each other again all the sweeter! :) My boyfriend and me have been in a long distance relationship for the past 8 months, but we have been lucky enough to see each other quite often - if you can call every six week often! ;) I think talking regularly and actively being a part of the other person's life, even when you're not physically there, is really key - but it seems you guys have that down perfectly! Good luck to you both! :)
ReplyDeleteLove all the pictures, so stunning! My husband and I were long distance until we were married (me in FL and him in IN) and it was NUTS. We didn't have FaceTime back in 2008/2009, but we were creative and would watch movies together over the phone, lol. Sounds cheesy, but it worked for us! Also, just keeping the lines of communication open all the time helped a lot! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteLove all the pictures! We went to San Francisco back in September 2011 and actually stayed in the marriott :). We did almost everything you mentioned... Brings back good memories! Long distance sucks but I do think it will make you have great communication!
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are gorgeous! Glad you guys had such a fun time!
ReplyDeletePaige
http://thehappyflammily.com
I love this! I'm so glad he got to come visit you.. what fun! You look like a very happy girl! :) XO
ReplyDeleteLove all the pictures, looks like such a fun time and I am so happy for you!!!
ReplyDeleteJust so cute!!! I am so happy for you. That picture where you are looking back and he has his arm around you, you just look so happy! I did a long distance relationship for over 2 years! It's definitely challenging but very rewarding in many ways. While that relationship eventually came to an end (not owing to the distance), I do not regret it one bit! You learn a lot about yourself from long distance, and they say it makes the heart grow fonder!! xo
ReplyDeleteKevin and I spent a few months apart here and there, one of our favorites was emailing. That sounds silly but we would just keep a running email back and forth to each other. We used this idea again when he worked over nights. Anything I felt like telling him I'd jot it down in an open email to him. I would leave it open most of the day and sent it at the end of the day. It was fun to just hear the little things we normally wouldn't have been able to remember when we would talk over the phone at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteWe also shared our thoughts on the Bible studies we were doing and prayer requests/prayers.
My husband used to travel a LOT during our dating life/engaged life and I honestly think it made us even stronger. It can be hard but it was never longer than three weeks away, which I was very thankful for. On those nights when we couldn't see each other we would FaceTime and talk about our day and at the end of the night we would always say our prayers together. It really made a huge impact on our relationship and I love that we can now pray together so well.
ReplyDeleteDistance is such a bitter sweet thing but it defintiely looks like yours is leaning for the sweet side! You two are beautiful together!! :)
God Bless!
-Cassie
http://livingoncloud9ine.blogspot.com/
I love the pictures! San Francisco has a soft spot in my heart because I spent part of my honeymoon there. We love Giants Stadium!
ReplyDeleteMy now husband and I were long distance for two full years before we were married. It was loooong before Skype or Facetime, too. We talked on the phone every night. Visits were so appreciated. Email was wonderful. An occasional care package was a fun distraction. It sounds like you two are doing things the right way to make long distance work. After two years, though, I was SO done with the distance. He bought me an engagement ring, and I made a cross-country move. We are thankful we had such a great foundation for our relationship with all the communication we had before. Focus on what you can have in your relationship, rather than what you can't because of distance. Good luck! You two look very happy :)
Glad yall had a good weekend! Long distance is definitely hard, but it can work with the right person! I am going to be long distance too after May and I'm not looking forward to it one bit but hopefully we can make it through it too!
ReplyDeleteLove those photos of you and your sweet boy! Long distance is hard but totally worth it :) God has a good plan for you!
ReplyDeletelovely pictures thanks for sharing. My boyfriend and I were in a long distance relationship for one year and it was extremely difficult for both of us but we both agree that it made us realize how much we care for and love each other. Eventually, I moved to Chicago to be with him and it's been absolutely wonderful!
ReplyDeletexo,
Dana Hartung
http://danakay16.blogspot.com/
So sweet! My husband and I dated distance for 2 years! It TRULY...even 3 years in, makes me cherish being together every.single.day. Such a gift! We would both get the same book (Sacred Marriage was one we did after we got engaged...amazing) and read a chapter together over Skype. Write each other hand written letters. It was never easy...but looking back I wish I would have worked harder to BE IN my daily life rather than be so focused on missing him! Every stage is precious, and if it is the Lord's will, the being together stage will be here before you know it!
ReplyDeleteLooks like the best weekend! You two are adorable! xo
ReplyDeleteI cant wait for the 'Return the Favor' post when you visit the Mighty Mackinaw bridge, Tigers Stadium, eat Hudsonville, Country Fresh, Sherman's, Moomer's (or many other local flavorites!) ice cream, and visit the beaches of Lake Michigan :)
ReplyDeleteThe sweetest photo diary. You just may be the cutest couple, ever! xx
ReplyDeleteAre y'all foodies? My husband and I did distance for our entire dating relationship (Italy, Israel, Spain, NYC, Philly, DC, Austin....) The hardest distance was whenever one of us was living overseas, due to the massive time difference. Since we both love to cook, we would do 'Chopped' dates via facetime. We'd pick a few mystery ingredients that were accessible to us in both places and cook and eat dinner together. Absolutely one of our favorite dates, and we now do the same in person periodically!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a truly wonderful trip! I especially love the photos of Hope on Carmel beach ;)
ReplyDeletesweetsandcelebrations.com
Long distance is definitely something God puts in your relationship. Chris and I did it for some time and I still think about how giddy I would get when I saw him after a long period of time! Seems like y'all are doing all the right things! Dinner over Skype is always fun :) And there were our lazy days where we literally "hung out" together all day, but it was me carting the computer throughout the house.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful pictures! Looks like such an amazing trip.
ReplyDeleteYour dog is adorable!
This is the sweetest thing I've ever seen! So precious. Happiness looks good on you :)
ReplyDeleteHey how far are you from SF or Carmel? I just moved to West San Jose last month with my husband - we only went to San Fran a handful of times, but I'm really interested in seeing Carmel. I did make it down to Capitola Beach which was so gorgeous too - have you been?
ReplyDeleteTotally GORGEOUS! Looks like a great visit. Long distance relationships definitely have their challenges, but the upside is EPIC weekends jam packed with fun stuff! (My hubs and I did it for a year. Funny, but once we lived in the same town, our dates went from hot air ballon rides and picnics by waterfalls to, "Wanna' grab a burger and movie?") Enjoy every minute!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a beautiful couple and you look so happy in all of these pictures!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Stacey
Five Minute Style