How do you keep loved ones close when you're separated by hundreds of miles? These viewers have some great tips on how to remain connected to friends and families.

Tanya recently moved to New York from Australia. To keep in touch with her friends from back home -- not an easy feat considering the high cost of international phone calls -- she uses Skype, an Internet that lets her talk to anyone anywhere in the world for free. She also makes sure to keep a perpetual calendar to keep track of birthdays and special occasions. This way she always knows when to send off a card.

Kathleen's daughter Kaitlyn used to get upset when her mom traveled on business, so they came up with a few rituals that make the time apart a little more bearable. Kathleen records bedtime stories onto an audio tape and Kaitlyn follows along with the book while she listens. Kathleen also writes letters to her daughter and leaves them around the house for her to find throughout the day. And when Mom gets home, they always have a special meal planned!

When Rach's friend Terry travels for business, she keeps in touch with her daughter, Livia, by writing special notes before she leaves. She seals each one with a kiss (literally!) and shares a joke she finds on Yahooligans! on the bottom of each note so that Livia is sure to start her day with a smile. Every day that Terry is away, her husband places a note in Livia's room so that Mom doesn't feel too far at all!

Livia has her own meaningful way of staying in touch with the people she loves. She sent her grandfather a bear from Build-A-Bear that plays a message she recorded, so he can hear Livia's voice whenever he squeezes the bear's hand.

Another great way to stay in touch and send some love is with a care package. Here are some tips for creating and sending off a little bit of home to someone far away.

Try to think of what the person you're giving it to would want, not what you would want to receive. If they're on a restrictive diet or are recovering from health problems, for example, a package of relaxing spa products, teas and a gossip magazine might be good.

A care package for those in the military could include a tape recorder for sending messages back-and-forth from home, healthy snacks (nothing that might melt) and handy items like Ziploc bags and baby wipes -- items that are hard to get when you're in a foreign country.

A "study-aid" package for college students could include trail mix and popcorn, and things like tea and coffee to help keep them awake if they're pulling an all-nighter.

Also, when you send a care package, think about where it's going and consider how it's going to get there. If it's going to be shipped overseas, make sure it's packed in something flat that will hold up.