Keeping the Romance Alive with Love Notes

While the bulk of my job is the 8 to 5 shift at a desk, when summer rolls around I’m working in the field and my hours get crazy.  I eye the calendar wearily praying that we find plenty of time – for everything.  My husband works some crazy hours too as some of his days can be 16 hours.  That doesn’t leave much time for marriage maintenance, or much else really.

I have to give him credit though, despite his insanely long hours and hard work, my husband rocks it in the dad department.  He gets up early to build train tracks, or picks up our little guy and lets him tag a long on the boat for the afternoon.  There are few things better than watching the two of them together.

He also still manages to rock the husband department.  Date nights seem almost nonexistent at times and I can’t tell you the last time we went to the movies together or spent a night away together, but we make up for it with the little everyday things.  I feel pretty lucky that after nearly a decade together that we are still super affectionate with each other – even when there’s a little boy squeezing himself between us saying, “My mommy!”  We promise each other to be those embarrassing parents – you know, the ones who still kiss and stuff.

But when we’re so busy we can’t remember the last time we sat down on our couch, how do we keep the sparks flying?  Letters.  Good, ole’ fashioned love letters and sweet notes.  I can’t account for our time writing, it just happens.  But when we are merely ships passing in the night we always seem to leave a little note at the least.  Reminders that despite these busy days we still a forever kind of love.

When work sends us out of town, it becomes a challenge to see who can hide a note in the best place or make time to write the most cards.  Did I mention we’re both insanely competitive?  Yeah – so having this kind of game going keeps us on our toes until the other returns home.  Now, not every day is filled with sweet love notes and flowers, but there is most always a sweet note somewhere.  And when we’re crunched for time, we will send an email or text.  I love getting a text of the sunrise over the ocean as he heads out to sea with a “Good morning, I love you!”

Here are some tips for you to get some love letters of your own started between you and your significant other:

1. Never Negative.  Ever.  If you aren’t seeing eye to eye on something then fine, but you still love each other so say that.

2. Surprises.  I love when I find a note in the most unexpected places.  One of the best recently, a post it stuck inside the Keurig.

3.  Post-it Notes Work Just Fine.  You don’t have to buy elaborate cards or feel like you need to buy stock in Hallmark.  Trust me when I tell you a post it note stuck to your clothes that says you’re beautiful and loved will do wonders for your day and your marriage.

4.  Limit the Technology.  Yes, we do the text and email when we are crunched for time but making time to write a quick note or a letter means so much more.

What are some little ways you and your significant other make time to do to keep the romance and love alive when the busy times hit?

Carole lives a life surrounded by water as a marine biologist married to a fisherman.  Their greatest catch to date is their son Allan, who fills the house with laughter, way too many trains, and causes trouble with his sidekick, Sandy Dog.  Nestled in a secluded part of NC, they comb the beaches soaking up the sand and salt.  She talks about the high seas of life over at Surf Momma and tweets as @SurfMommaBlog.