Charlie & Collin

A long distance relationship since 27/12/14 | Engaged 27/12/19 | 20 years old and 23 years old | 3,840 miles between us | Wales, United Kingdom - Minnesota, United States | Blog is run by Charlie | www.our-ldr.tumblr.com/aboutus

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27th December 2019 | We're engaged!💍 He proposed on our 5th anniversary at Como Park. Collin is the love of my life and I'm incredibly lucky to now call him my fiancé! He's such a special person to me and I wouldn't be the person I am today without him supporting me. Looking forward to closing distance and spending forever with him 🥰

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Reunited after 7 months ❤️

I can't believe he's here. He finished his flight training & gained his instrument rating a few weeks early before he starts the next certification (commercial) and he just has online classes for now. The same day we decided he should come to the UK and I booked his flights & he left the next day!

We seriously needed this. Not for our relationship, that is always strong, but for our mental health.

I was struggling to get out of bed everyday and keep up with my university work. I started having serious s*icidal thoughts because of being isolated for months, banned from visiting him because of the US travel ban, our visa still not processing at the embassy, the load of uni work I had to get on with even in the middle of mental breakdowns because I can't afford the time, and a load of family problems on top of that.

He really came at the perfect time. Being with him just heals me because he gives me strength to deal with whatever life throws at me and he makes me look at things more positively.

Now we can do our online classes together and get ourselves back on track with our degrees. Being with him for Christmas & our anniversary will give me that boost to keep me going until we can close distance finally.

So blessed.

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It's October 10th. I can't believe we are still separated by the travel ban 6 months later.

Just trying to focus on my university work and dissertation. This is so painful.

Shadow, my dog, also has been such a huge support to me. Since I came home in April he has completely changed being more affectionate and cuddly with me. This is unusual for him because he's 4 years old and a working line dog so he was never cuddly with anyone. He senses my anxiety attacks and sits or leans on me. I started reinforcing this and now he tasks whenever I have one giving me deep pressure therapy. It helps so much and I seriously couldn't get through this year without Shadow. Just having him with me every time I leave the house without someone else really grounds me. I never go anywhere that dogs aren't allowed alone.

We have also started running together at least once a week and exercise really clears my head. I feel confident when I have Shadow with me. I haven't been able to leave the house without him or a family member.

My flights were also cancelled and I'm getting a refund. Let's prey my next post will be booking flights again when the ban lifts.

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I need to stay positive.

I'm terrified that June will come after I finish my degree and at that point not seen my fiancé for over a year AND my K1 visa not in my hand ready for my dog and I to move over to the US.

That would be worst case scenario for me.

But it's September 1st. It's another day closer to being reunited with my fiancé! I'm taking every day as it comes. I look forward to him waking up on the video call and just hanging out with me. I love playing games like A Way Out and Borderlands 3 with him or watching shows like Supernatural. I get to track his flights with Flightradar24 when he flies for flight training which is so cool! I'm just appreciating the time I get to spend with him even if it's just online but I miss him so much.

I've also been spending time mostly with my dog Shadow. We've been working on tricks together and he's been such a huge support to me. When it feels like I have nobody I always have my dog. I honestly don't know what I'd do without my best friend!

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4 years ago Collin took a chance and left the US for the first time to meet the British girl he'd been video calling every day for the past year & a half prior. I'm so blessed that he came into my life and how well we clicked. I just knew that when we hugged and touched for the first time that he would be in my life forever from that moment. I was so shy back then.

Now we are engaged, in the K1 fiancé visa process and so close to getting married & closing distance next year!! He has brought me out of my shell, motivated me to go to college and study Animal Management and I left with the highest grades possible, and now I'm 10 months away of finishing my Animal Behaviour bachelor degree and planning on volunteering at the zoo as soon as I can after I move over! This will allow me to get the last bit of experience I need before applying for zoo keeping jobs and hopefully they'll take me on at the same zoo.

Collin has gone from a lazy failing high school student to the best pilot in his school and securing A grades in every class of his Commercial Aviation bachelor's degree. He's gained his Private Pilot Licence and is working his way up getting all the licences to Instrument Certified Flight Instructor. I'm so proud of both of us and so excited for our future ❤️

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The US travel ban

Praying I get to visit the US soon but I'm SO HAPPY that my fiancé has 4 weeks off in December/January so he can come to the UK for Christmas and New Year!! He hasn't been here since Christmas 2016! It would be amazing if the ban lifted because if I go over in September then we can get the same flight back to the UK together! I really hope we can.

Honestly with so many people spreading negativity in the FB groups saying they don't think the US travel ban will be lifted at all this year, this is all I have to hold on to. I haven't seen him in months.

Being in his arms again will feel so sweet. I also can't wait to marry him next year, then nothing will ever keep us apart again. It's so crazy how just because we are not married yet that I cannot be with him. A piece of paper is all that separates us. Married couples are no different to us. They aren't immune to this virus.

It's a kick in the teeth too that the US embassy are processing visas for students and athletes to enter the US but they have completely stopped processing fiancé visas! My K1 visa will stop being processed once it reaches NVC. How are students and athletes more important than a couple wanting to marry and live together?

I won't stop fighting to see my love. Please join us and join the Love Is Not Tourism / Love Is Essential movement on twitter if you're also being kept apart and of course I always follow back. https://twitter.com/letusreunite1?s=09

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"When they work, long distance relationships are the best sort of beautiful. That someone could wait months, cross miles and oceans for a few short spectacular moments with the person they love, that's it, you know? That's what we're all searching for." - Beau Taplin • Long Distance

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This is the hardest part of our long distance relationship journey.

It's really affecting my mental health how we have no idea when we will reunite again. Waking up is a chore, I've been getting bad migraines from stress, one day I lose my appetite and the next I turn to food to make me feel better, and I wish I could not wake up just sleep through this whole thing until the day I can travel again. I'm too anxious to leave the house most days. I only go when I'm with a someone or with my dog.

I love my fiancé so much for his support but I can't rely on him to just take all of my grief and negativity. He's in flight training and we both wish he could visit me so bad but he can't. I'm the only one free to travel but the ban is still stopping me. I can't afford to spend a vacation in Mexico for 14 days then enter the US to get around the ban.

Praying for some good news soon so I can finally reunite with him 💔🇬🇧✈️🇺🇲

Also we decided it's best to elope in the courthouse next year instead of planning a whole wedding. I still want a Como Zoo wedding but it will be later when we can afford it fully. I also don't think everything will be back to complete normal by then either so it's for the best. I wish I could marry him as soon as we reunite. I love him so much. I never want to be away from him again.

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Update !

I ended up flying back home on the 24th of April because I had to rebook my flight with Aer Lingus to Dublin from Chicago instead. I flew with Delta to Chicago from Minneapolis. It was so strange going through the airports when they're empty and I had whole rows to myself on the flight to Dublin. There was only 11 of us all spread out.

I really wish I stayed put with him just a few weeks longer. I miss him so much. I have tickets booked to come back in June so just waiting to see if it's possible to go. If somehow the travel bans are lifted during this summer and UK citizens can re-enter the US then I'm going. I'll wear my mask and take all the precautions and stay away from others to make sure I don't spread if I somehow have it. I just want my fiancé even if we're stuck sitting in the house and yard all summer.

But if the travel bans stay in place I'll get a refund and we won't be seeing each other until we close distance in June/July next year. If that's the case it will be heartbreaking but we got this. We're still waiting for our NOA2 in the K1 visa process but it seems the wait is about 5 months from NOA1 so it's probably going to be around August when we receive that.

Just enjoying time with my dog and playing games with Collin right now and trying to stay positive.

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I've been in Minnesota since March 1st and the whole virus stuff has been crazy. My flight home was cancelled but I've been booked to go home on 27th April. Everything is pretty much shut in Minnesota apart from supermarkets and the UK back home is in lockdown. I just hope those flights don't get cancelled too and the situation calms down soon.

In good news I watched Collin fly his first ever solo flight and he was amazing! I'm so proud of him. He works so hard for his degree and he's a very talented pilot. I've been going up to the airport with him every time he has flight training and I sit doing my university assignments inside the airport. Other than that we haven't been doing much. Just playing Minecraft together and Animal Crossing! I wish Shadow was here so I could walk him all the time instead of sitting inside but I'll have plenty of time with him when I get home.

We also sent off the K1 visa petition! We got a notification from them that our case has been accepted and opened. So exciting but hopefully nothing gets postponed because of the current situation.

I have a flight booked to come back here in June but if this virus stuff gets worse I'll have to postpone it and come later. I'm just hoping I'll be allowed to go at least even if we don't have anything to do all summer if everything is shut. I'll be happy just sitting in the sun in the front lawn with Collin and watching him fly up at the airport.

Hope everyone is staying safe and I'm sorry to those long distance couples being kept apart right now with the travel bans and countries shutting borders. It's a scary time.

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Little update

I'm overwhelmed at the followers, interactions and messages I've received after my engagement post! Thank you all so much it means so much to me.

We have officially started the K1 visa process which will allow me to enter the US and marry Collin to live there once I receive it. We're hoping to get it asap after I graduate in March next year so I can become a permanent resident and get a green card and be able to get a job! This lines up perfectly because by the time all my paperwork and stuff is complete and I have a job he'll have graduated from Aviation college and he gets employed right away as a flight training instructor. This allows us both to save up and get our own place together.

In other news I booked my flights for the summer and I'm going back over on June 11th until August 24th! Shorter trip than usual because I want to spend some time with my family before I go back to university.

The future is looking very bright :)

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Managed to capture a little moment last night 💘

We were sat playing games together and he just reached over and grabbed my hand to kiss it. Seems like nothing major for most people but god does every moment like this count when you know there's only 19 days left and you have no idea when you'll see each them again. That's why I love to take pictures of these things to look back on when I'm missing him the most.

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okay but you two are genuinely adorable together and give me faith in relationships again ❤

Aww that makes me happy, thank you anon! 💘

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3 years ago today I nervously sat in anticipation and excitement in the back of my dad's car while we drove to Manchester airport to pick up the American that I'd been video calling every day for over a year and a half. We waited in terminal 1 arrivals and he finally walked out. I ran up and hugged him. Meeting him was the best thing that ever happened to me. He says it was the best thing to him too. My dog Shadow met him when we got home and he warmed to him so quickly like he knew that he's my favourite person. He has never been closer to anyone other than me since. I can't wait for the three of us to be together one day forever when we close distance.

So lucky to be writing this right now from his bed at his home. I love him so much and I'm grateful that we get to continue growing together over the many years to come.

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Reunited with the love of my life for 3 months!

Honestly never as happy as I am when I'm with him 💗

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15 days to go until we're reunited again for nearly 3 months!

I'm so excited for all the past little moments we have had together that I'm really missing right now

Going for a drive somewhere blasting our favourite music and singing

Getting fast food and doing a little jiggle dance like Winnie the pooh as we're opening up our food

Cooking together

Going fishing and relaxing in the sun just talking about deep shit

Shopping and trying on silly hats and stuff

Just falling asleep so easily on his chest because he's comfy

Waking up a little in the night and feeling him pull me closer

Suprise hugs from behind with a small kiss on my cheek

Water fights in the garden and me being soaked down to my underwear because he always wins

Going down the two person slide at the waterpark, always being catapulted head first into the water and laughing even though it hurt

Giving him a body massage after work when he's had a long and difficult day then him always returning the favour

And everything else I've been able to experience with him so far

It's been a long slow wait since last time I saw him. He's going to be the perfect reward after finishing my first year exams!!

Added this picture from my last visit because he's gorgeous and I love him so much 💗

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You're worth the wait.