When Mandy and I met, we were poor. I was recovering from a 3 year life setback and Mandy was a single mom. Our credit was in the toilet. Mine was worse than hers. We lived in a dilapidated double wide trailer for our first two years together as we worked toward our goal of owning a home. Six months after our wedding “Highline Homes” told us we qualified to have a new home built. The market was tanking at the time and although our credit was better I was still nervous about qualifying for the loan. They told us we qualified however and convinced us to write a $1700 check. Three days later our loan was denied and they kept our money. Highline homes stole $1700 from us in my opinion. We were devastated. We were so poor that it felt as though we lost a million dollars. The Realtor we were working with convinced us to talk to a mortgage lender she had worked with. He was a terrific human being and pre-qualified is for a home loan in a matter of days. It was not a construction loan mind you. He stated “ I have been in this business for 40 years and there is no way in hell I could qualify you for a construction loan. Highline knew you didn’t qualify and simply wanted your money” This fueled my ire to no end but the money was gone and we were going to get a home of our own. Chalk it up to a learning experience.
We looked at several houses before making an offer on our home. Once the offer was accepted and the process began, we would drive to the house 2-3 times a week to walk the neighborhood or sit on the deck. We bought furniture. We bought paint. We counted the days. It felt as though it would never happen but on April 4, we signed papers and took possession. It was the most amazing feeling in the world.
We have come so far in the last 10 years. Looking back it feels like a dream. We did very little that first year but after that we set about making our home a reflection of who we are as a couple. To date we have remodeled the kitchen and brought the laundry room in from the garage. We have tiled, painted, recarpeted, and remodeled both bathrooms. We are in the home stretch now. Only a few projects remain and they are in process.
We had only lived on the lake for a year before buying our first boat.! You cant live on a lake and not have a boat. We have upgraded twice since then. We won’t be upgrading again.
It is strange to me that I had nothing 12 years ago. No money, no possessions of value, and from what my doctors said, no future. Today, I am married to the love of my life, relatively healthy, and have everything I ever wanted in life. I am a blessed man.
Tonight I will tip a glass of good red wine and remember and appreciate all we have been through and our many blessings.
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