Need Ideas

[hermanj]

My girlfriend has gone home from school for the summer, and I am still here, approximately 800 miles away, and it doesn't look like she will be coming back to school in the fall. (She graduated and was thinking about coming back for her "Master's degree" , but her parents don't think it would be a good idea.) I'm trying to come up with some ideas for things that I can do to surprise her and make her feel special. I've already done a couple things (such as sending her flowers the day that she arrived back home) and I have a couple more in mind (like a surprise trip out to visit her in August.....and I sure hope she doesn't read this before then! ), but especially if she does stay home next school year, my ideas might run out really soon.

Sooo.....anyone want to submit any ideas for things I can do?

[John81]

I used to surprise my wife with lots of letters and with cards for the tiniest occassion and no occasion at all. There was a long stretch where hardly a day went by when she didn't get something in the mail from me.

Sending along special pictures when possible always seemed to be a big hit too.

[Trish]

If you know for sure she's the one for you, why not just get married.

[Samer]

This is actually Rachel..I'm posting on Samer's account because I'm too lazy to log out and log back in under my name. Samer and I (as you know) had a long distance relationship for 1 1/2 years. We made every day a holiday for a while and celebrated it over the phone or by sending each other cards. Check out www.holidaysforeveryday.com . He would send me cards and little notes a lot which were really the very best things ever because I know he took a lot of time to do it. He would sing to me over the phone...Jim you could write a song for her because I know you're excellent at that! I sent Samer music that I liked. I sent a hymnal and also a cd that I knew he'd like. One of the best things we did was reading the Bible every day over the phone together. The very best thing you could do is visit her as often as you can. Make an extra effort...it means a lot!

So, that's some of the stuff Samer and I did....and look how we ended up! Married! :)

[Guest Guest]

Lots and lots of letters. When I traveled on tour, I sent letters at every stop possible. I would even get people I met at each stop to write a little something to her about how much I missed her. I did goofy stuff, like buy a root beer maker kit or a magazine subscription. This past Saturday was our 6th anniversary and we sat down and went through all the letters we had written each other. It makes for awesome, sentimental memories.

Just my thoughts.

[hermanj]

Thanks for the ideas! I will welcome more if anyone else has them!

Also, in response to the question of why not just get married, there are two major reasons. 1) I feel that we both need more time to mature before we can be the proper husband/wife and 2) I am not currently in a financial situation to be able to both support a wife and pay a school bill.

[SweetCharity]

My husband and I had a long distance relationship for a couple years. I applaud you for not rushing into marriage before you are financially ready. I think too often young people get so caught up in love and emotions that they forget about the financial side of marriage and the responsible it entails to pay for yourself and not rely on parents :thumb Here are some things my husband and I did that I enjoyed:

I agree with the random notes and cards, they are always so sweet and such a nice surprise. You can make it in themes for each time. Like if she likes chocolate, send a chocolate bar a day for a week. Or you can send a list of like 10 things you appreciate about her a day for a week.

I always liked our phone dates. We would spend the night in our rooms talking to each other on the phone most of the night. Some of my best memories are our late night conversations.

One thing I did for him was keep a "diary" of sorts where I just wrote things that reminded me of him and things I was thinking about him and so on each day. Then after visiting him one time I left it for him to read over. He said it was one of his favorite gifts ever.

He sent me a CD of his favorite songs and wrote a little bit about each one and why he put it on there. Like this song was playing when I first saw you, this song just reminds me of you, etc.

If you know how many days it will be between visits you can do the candy countdown jar. Like if it'll be 2 months before you see her again, when you leave give her a jar of 60 skittles (or whatever her favorite candy is) and tell her to eat one a day until you get there.

If you go to walmart or most other stores with a photo department you can make your own jigsaw puzzles. Make a puzzle with your favorite picture of the two of you (and maybe add a fun or romantic saying on the picture in photoshop) and send her a piece a day. (loved this!!! :thumb )

[Anon]

Thanks for the ideas! I will welcome more if anyone else has them!

Also, in response to the question of why not just get married, there are two major reasons. 1) I feel that we both need more time to mature before we can be the proper husband/wife and 2) I am not currently in a financial situation to be able to both support a wife and pay a school bill.

I agree about the finances, but I don't think anybody is "mature" when they get married. Its a growing process. But that's just MHO. How long do you plan to wait?

If you are sure she is God's will, I'd suggest a surprise engagement....engagement helps the long months go by without the doubts that maybe the relationship won't last a long distance. We were engaged for a year and a half and I think it helped me, every time I looked down at the ring, I knew it would be someday.

Maybe make a video of yourself talking to her or something and send that....that's different.

[Bro. Rick]

I beleive one of the best ways you can show you care and really love her is not just to focus on her, but also her family. If she sees that you are really and truly interested in and care for her family it should mean alot to her. Also it is a good idea to talk over your future plans with your parents and hers. Your relationship, if you should be married, will be blessed if you have the blessings of both your families. Hope its a help

[joyfulpraise93]

I beleive one of the best ways you can show you care and really love her is not just to focus on her' date=' but also her family. If she sees that you are really and truly interested in and care for her family it should mean alot to her. Also it is a good idea to talk over your future plans with your parents and hers. Your relationship, if you should be married, will be blessed if you have the blessings of both your families. Hope its a help[/quote']

That's very true...it meant a lot to me that Samer showed such an interest in my family as well. He would sit around and chat with my dad, and just loved my Grandma to pieces. It shows you REALLY care.

Good point Brother Rick! :)