Four years ago today, I jumped with joy when I became the sole owner of my childhood dream home. While the land had been gifted to me by my parents many years prior, its future hung precariously in the balance while I navigated my new life as a single mom in the midst of a heartbreaking divorce.
As a child growing up in the country, I longed to live in a cozy log home like Laura Ingalls Wilder in “Little House on the Prarie.” It was a dream come true when my parents divided the property, giving me four acres of land so I could build a little cabin and start a family.
We moved in when I was pregnant with our first child. The floors were unfinished and we slept on a mattress on the living room floor. The front lawn was mud as far as the eye could see. But then grass seed was planted and a natural wood floor replaced the sub-flooring. A cherry tree took root and a campfire site was dug out.
Like Little Red Riding Hood without the threat of the wolf, my daughter would wave goodbye as she set out on the trail behind our house to visit her grandparents next door.
It was a dream come true.
Until it all came crashing down.
When my husband left, I struggled to manage our family finances solo, racking up thousands of dollars in credit card debt including lawyer fees. My credit score took a nose dive, hovering in the mid 500’s — and making it impossible for a lender to approve a refinance in my name.
But the worst was yet to come.
I was sued for full custody, child support, alimony, and the house — while *I* paid the mortgage for three years!
My credits cards were maxed out and I could no longer afford a lawyer. I faced this lawsuit on my own, representing myself in my divorce while working full-time and juggling side jobs to pay down my credit card debt and boost my credit score.
I reached out to old friends and made new ones, learning everything I could about finances and divorce law. I joined financial groups on Facebook, read law books, and became a regular at the Self-Help Center at the local court house.
In the course of a year, my credit score skyrocketed, reaching the 700s — and I negotiated a divorce settlement that allowed me to keep the house.
Four years later, I now sit on my front porch, listening to the sound of the wind in the trees and gazing at the lush red berries wanting to be picked.
It is a dream come true.
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