Away for Valentine’s Day Published Feb. 13, 2015 By Airman 1st Class Alexa Culbert 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, ALA. -- Valentine's Day is a celebration of love and relationships and consists of heart-shaped boxes of candy, jewelry and flowers. Unfortunately, not every couple can be together for the holiday. For couples in the military, long-distance relationships are part of being an Airman, but that doesn't make it any easier, especially on days like Valentine's Day. Being away from loved ones during a holiday can be rough, but Airmen can find ways to make the distance seem closer. "Even though they're apart, couples need to still do something special together, even if it's sharing a dinner via Skype," said Andrew Tveit, a family readiness consultant for the Airman and Family Readiness Center. "Take time and do something together." Long distances and time apart make it tough to keep the spark going in a relationship. The key is communication. "Couples have to keep that spark alive, it makes them feel much more connected while apart," Tveit said. "Communication is the hardest thing couples' experience, but it is also one of the easiest things to solve." With today's technology, communication in long-distance relationships is easier. Couples can have face-to-face interaction with the touch of a button. "My husband and I send 'good morning' texts and pictures every day," said Airman 1st Class Natalie Chacon, 42nd Force Support Squadron, Military Personal Service flight customer support apprentice. "We try to make it as cheesy as possible to make each other laugh. It keeps us present in each other's lives." Adding personal touches to a gift or taking time to do something special for a loved one helps long-distance relationships work. "I personally like hand-written letters when we're apart from each other, it's something personal that can be kept," said Tveit. "It takes a little more time, but it's a little more intimate." Chacon says she and her husband order gifts for each other and send them in the mail as a surprise to each other. Other than communication, it is also important couples don't let being separated bring them down. "A lot of the time, people let themselves get bored, they do not want to do anything without their spouse," said Tveit. "They need to continue what they enjoy to do to make time go faster and also share it with the person they're away from." "I focus on things that make me happy, and I keep myself busy with hobbies, friends and volunteering," said Chacon. "Couples can't get hung up that they can't be together and dwell on the things they can't do, just do what they can at their best abilities," said Chap. (Maj.) Travis Yelton, 42nd Air Base Wing chaplain. The Airman and Family Readiness Center, the Family Advocacy program, chaplains and military life consultants are just a few resources couples have available when seeking support in long-distance relationships.