Love Beyond Distance: Our 5-Year LDR Story
Hi mga kahive, I’m finally back! It’s been a while since I last shared something here. Life just got a little busy for me these past few weeks, so I couldn’t sit down and write. But today, I really wanted to take the time to share a story something about my past life and also about how my husband and I used to date back when we were still in a boyfriend girlfriend relationship. I think some of you can relate, especially if you’ve gone through long-distance relationships.
So yes, to give you an idea, we were in a long-distance relationship for 5 years. Can you imagine that? Five whole years! LDR isn’t easy at all, and there were so many challenges along the way, but I can only say Glory to God because in the end, we still ended up together. For me, all the sacrifices, all the waiting, and all the patience were really worth it. Sometimes when I look back, I can only laugh and smile at how we survived those years.
Back then, since we were in an LDR, we also followed the trend of celebrating our “monthsaries.” Other couples could easily go out on dates like go to the mall, watch a movie, or eat at a restaurant. And I would often think, “Sana all,” because some couples seemed like they could go out anytime, anywhere. But for us, we had to be creative. We had to find our own way of celebrating even when we couldn’t be physically together.
And that’s where our style was really unique. While many couples would go on food dates, ours was the opposite. We would actually fast (Fasting) together! It sounds funny, but for us, it was special because it wasn’t just about romance it was about building each other spiritually. We knew that if God was at the center of our relationship, then our love would be stronger. That kind of spiritual bonding gave us a different kind of closeness, even if the distance separated us.
Of course, the pandemic made things harder. Traveling wasn’t simple at that time. My husband was stuck in Bogo, Cebu, and I was in Bohol. Because of the restrictions, he couldn’t just visit whenever he wanted. But we made the most out of it. We would do video calls while each of us was inside our own church. It really gave us that feeling that we were sitting side by side even if it was only through the cellphone screen. We would do sharing, encourage each other with the Word of God, and then we’d end the call when it was time to pray or break the fast. Those moments may sound simple to others, but for me, they were enough. I was really grateful that even in an unusual setup, we still found ways to connect with each other deeply.
Later on, when travel finally opened up again, we didn’t waste any chance. Every time we could meet, we really made sure to make the most out of our bonding.
Since our dates were rare, each one became so memorable. But since we were still just boyfriend and girlfriend then, there were also boundaries we had to respect. For example, we couldn’t just go out the two of us alone. Because he was a pastor, we had to be extra careful and avoid issues or gossip.
So whenever we went out, I would usually bring my younger sibling with me as a chaperone.
At first, it felt a little funny, but in the end, it worked well especially because my sibling loved to eat, so he enjoyed the food trips too. Haha.
Speaking of my sibling, he actually had a big role in those days. Back when I still had suitors, people would give me gifts like chocolates, fruits, or other treats. Since I’m not materialistic at all, I didn’t really care for expensive gifts. What I appreciated more were the foods, because at least they could be shared and that’s where my sibling came in.
He would happily finish the things I couldn’t eat alone. Honestly, I’ve always been simple like that. I never really cared much about makeup or fancy things. Even in school, I would often just go without powder or any makeup. Sometimes I would even rush to class without combing my hair because I overslept. Haha! I didn’t even have a crush in school, so I wasn’t pressured to fix myself up too much. For me, cleanliness and being natural was already enough.
Now, let me tell you about one of our dates. We ordered just a little food, but to our surprise, the bill almost reached ₱1,500! Imagine that. We joked that we could’ve just gone on a picnic instead. But since we already ate, there was no turning back. We couldn’t exactly regret it or “return” the food, so we just laughed it off and decided to enjoy it.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed because the cost was so high compared to what we ordered. But that’s the reality in Bohol things can be really expensive there. It wasn’t a total problem though, because at that time we had some extra money from sidelines. I was even able to help pay for part of the food. Of course, my sibling ate the most among the three of us! But my husband, being the sweet guy that he is, insisted on paying for everything in the end. Looking back, I think maybe he was trying to impress me a little. Haha.
That same day, it rained so hard. We were stuck at the restaurant because we couldn’t go out while it was pouring. It was a bit embarrassing because the staff were already preparing to close, but there we were, still sitting and waiting for the rain to stop. At one point, we realized we were the only customers left, and the staff even started turning off some of the lights. We just laughed at the situation, but deep inside we were shy.
Then suddenly, a teacher came in and ordered a lot of milk tea and even some hot food. That made us feel a little less embarrassed because at least we weren’t the only customers anymore. Later on, I learned that the restaurant actually closes late. It was just that there were fewer customers that night because of the heavy rain. It was all just perfect timing.
When the rain finally stopped, we were able to go home. We were a little soaked from the rain, but honestly, it didn’t matter anymore because our stomachs were so full and our hearts even fuller. Those little moments of togetherness are what I treasure the most when I look back on our LDR days.
And so, that’s my story for today’s blog. It might sound ordinary to some, but for me it’s part of our unique journey. Our relationship wasn’t built on grand dates or fancy gifts, but on simple joys, shared food, laughter, faith, and the determination to make it through the distance. If you’re also in an LDR right now, I just want to encourage you don’t give up. As long as you put God in the center and stay faithful to each other, the relationship can really work out.
Thank you so much for giving your time to read my little story. I hope it brought a smile to your face, and maybe even inspired you a bit. Until next time, mga kahive! 🌼