coast to coast.

When I first started blogging last November, I discovered Natalie {from Natalie Merrillyn}--a fellow curly girl with fabulous taste, who had seen her share of long distance. I've been a huge fan of her blog ever since! Today's entry in the {distance makes the heart grow fonder} series chronicles her long distance years with her husband, Matthew. This couple earned plenty of frequent flier miles on trips to one another...read on to see how they made it work!

Name: Natalie

Significant Other's Name: Matthew

When did you start dating? We started dating in March of 2009 and got married September of 2010.

At what point did you begin dating long distance? We never had a point when we weren’t dating long distance. We were introduced through a mutual friend while Matt was working on the west coast and I was in school on the east coast. We started out writing emails and making phone calls, then Matt flew out to meet me (and my family!) and take me out on our first date. I was so nervous on that date that I started fiddling with my bracelets and accidentally flung them across the restaurant. I knew he was a keeper when he went crawling under the tables to get them for me. The rest is history! We flew back and forth, coast to coast, for about two years before I finally moved out to California after I graduated and we got married! 

How did you fill your days while you were apart? We tried to keep very busy with work and school. Matthew and I wrote each other little notes and emails throughout the day and then made time for phone or Skype calls in the evening.

What did you find most difficult about being long distance? Saying goodbye! It never got any easier. I also hated the long stretches where we weren’t able to see each other. We kept each other motivated by counting down the days until our next trip.

How has long distance changed your relationship? It has made us treasure each other more. We always felt so incredibly lucky that we were able to be together after being apart for so long. Even though we live together now, we feel still feel the same way. 

{wedding photo via Adam Barnes}

What do you enjoy most about the time you have together? Everything! Like any relationship, we just enjoy each other’s company. We are best friends.

What sacrifices did you made in order to make things work? We each had to make sure we set aside time to talk in the evenings (which sometimes meant putting off work, school or friends) so we could maintain good communication throughout our relationship. We had many, many long flights across the country--and even the world when I spent six months in Australia. It is so funny to think back on all the miles we traveled back and forth. Love was truly the greatest motivator for us!

How has your life changed now that you're in the same place? It is such a relief that we don’t have to be separate anymore. It is the best feeling to know we survived the hard goodbyes at the airport and that the long times apart are over. We are beyond thankful for the strong foundation we built for our relationship during our long distance years and we just feel so lucky that we can finally live together! 

Sharing these stories of long distance survival remind me of how far {cv} and I came too! I hope those of you who are still fighting the distance fight find some inspiration from their success. Be sure to stop by and give your love to Natalie today :) Enjoy your Wednesday!