We were still closing! It turned out that Mr. Realtor was calling to see if we could meet earlier than we planned. He wanted to bump the entire closing up to around 1:00 p.m., a whole three hours before we had originally planned. I agreed and immediately called David when I got off the phone to tell him to leave work. We were closing!!
We met Mr. Realtor for the final walk-through before going to the lawyer’s office for closing. When we arrived, workers were still crawling all over the house. We did a walk-through with Mr. Realtor, and there were a few minor things in each room that needed to be fixed.
The craziest thing I made them fix was our bathroom vanity. The light, mirror, and sink were so off-center that I could not look at them. The light was shifted one way, the mirror the opposite direction, and the vanity stationery, but none of it was centered. The rest were small touch-up places on the wall here and there, but nothing major.
We left the house to go to the lawyer’s office for closing. The biggest concern was that the matching 12×12 shed and the seeding and straw had not been done outside, but Mr. Realtor put all our troubles to rest. At the closing table, we signed a contract that said that the amount of money it would take to build the shed and seed and straw the yard would be withheld in escrow until the builder finished it. If he did not finish it within 30 days, then the money would be used to find someone who could.
After signing our names 1438 times on stacks and stacks of papers, Mr. Realtor dropped the keys in my hands, the keys to our brand new mountain home. Just like that, all that frustration, bad news, and waiting were over. We were leaving that closing table with a brand new home!
We went and grabbed a bite to eat and then rushed up to the house and make some final decisions as to what we were going to bring with us to get us through the night. Then we headed off to Bull Run Mountain to gather up what we needed for the night. The first thing on our list was our mattress, no doubt about it; we were going to sleep in our new home that night!
Lying on our mattress on the floor of the master bedroom of our new home that night, I could still hardly sleep. I couldn’t believe where I was. I just lay there and listened to the sounds of the quiet house. I couldn’t believe we were really there.
Eventually, I drifted off to sleep feeling safe, whole, and complete. There is no feeling like coming home, and for the first time since I moved out of my parent’s house at 22 years old, I felt like I was HOME.
The next morning, we woke up to the most awesome sight. Daybreak had brought a dusting of snow along with it.
I walked up the driveway to get a picture and to take in the most awesome sight I ever witnessed. As I stood there in the cold, the world was quiet and everything stood still. Our snow-dusted home was breathtaking and my eyes filled up with tears.
Finding our mountain home didn’t happen overnight. Heck, at times, we didn’t think it would happen at all. None of that mattered anymore. Our dreams come true, and when your dreams come true, you only see the good. All the bad things slip away. The bad things are just the things that you face, deal with, and get over. They are the things that make you a stronger person. They test your strength, your faith, and even your endurance, but if you just believe; all things will work out the way they are supposed to.
You must understand that everything happens for a reason and that certain people come into your life for a reason.
This story started back when our Virginia Beach Realtor left that postcard on our door and in our mailbox. I didn’t know why I kept his postcard; I just knew I would need it later.
There was a reason why I was laid off from that job in Louisa and the same reason we didn’t find a home to buy with our realtor.
There was a reason we found that home for rent at Bull Run Mountain, where we spent our first winter toughening up and realizing living on a mountain is a different way of life.
If none of these things had happened, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
When you aren’t happy with your life, you have to make changes. You have to take a leap of faith. You have to go outside of your comfort level. You have to be prepared to get knocked down, but you must have enough fight within yourself to get back up. You have to do whatever gives you inner peace, satisfies your soul, and does what makes you happy.
I looked up what snow symbolizes. Although deep snows can represent death and hardship, it can also symbolize changes and transformation or new beginnings.
If you recall, every time we made a move after leaving Virginia Beach, it snowed. David calls me a snow angel because it always seemed to snow when we moved, but that’s not it at all. We made our dream of finding our mountain home come true. As I finish our story, I realize this isn’t the end. We are finally home, the start of a new beginning.
Each year we take a week of vacation off from work and we stay at home on the mountain. We live where we vacation, there is no reason to go anywhere else.
So that, my friends, is what Staycation really means.
All we had to do was BELIEVE.
A True Story By Debra Matthews Spivey
Lea says
I’m so glad that you finally got your story finished out – and the real story started for you both! It feels good to read the whole story of how you managed to make it to your own slice of heaven, through all the bumps along the way that can make it feel like it’s never going to happen. 🙂
The Mountain Kitchen says
Thank, Lea. Yes, all those bumps were nothing like they seemed to be at the time. 🙂
POTP says
I raise thy goblet of all that is awesome and cool. Well done.
That was good stuff. I mean that. Quite the journey indeed. I’ve always wondered what folk do for vacation when they already live where you’d wanna go for vacation. Now I know! And I don’t blame you either. I think I would probably do much the same, save for when I required a bit of fishing for to sooth my soul. That and ice cream. Some things are worth going down the mountain for I suspect.
Anyways, thanks for telling your story here. I know writing such things takes a lot of time and work, so, know that it was appreciated and enjoyed. Even inspiring. Yes indeed it was.
And hey to David!
-PotP
The Mountain Kitchen says
Thank you so much for all your kind words. I’m sorry it took me so long, but I managed to get it all out for the world to read. There are a few things worth leaving the mountain for, but not many! 🙂
Annie @ Givememeatloaf says
GOOSEBUMPS! What an awesome post. Congrats to you and David on working so hard and keeping the faith to get what y’all both wanted so badly – awesome story for all of us to remember when we’re dreaming big too! Cheers!
The Mountain Kitchen says
Thanks, girl. It was an outter body experience reliving it again. Took a lot of energy. Thanks for reading! ❤
Debbie from MountainMama says
I read every word of your story from beginning to end and when you finally got to move into your new home I cried!!!! I’m so happy for you both and I know the feeling. I didn’t build my home but it’s my dream home none the less….and closing took 5 long months where I thought I was going to go out of my mind! I drank a lot of martinis in those 5 months, that’s for sure! So glad my daughter pointed me in the direction of your blog – love it.
The Mountain Kitchen says
Oh Debbie, 5 months?!?! Yes, you know the feeling to realize a dream come true. I’m so glad you enjoyed our story. I’m glad your daughter connected us too! ?
Nancy Lester says
I read your story and enjoyed every minute of it! My husband and I live in Florida near all our families. We’ve made many trips to the Smokey Mountains over the years. In fact, our first trip as a married copy was in 1972. We took many camping trips with our four kids in tow. Throughout the years we always dreamed of having a cabin in the mountains, but family obligations always prevented it. Now I’m taking care of my mom who has Alzheimer’s, so the dream seemed even less attainable. But I throughly enjoyed reading about how your dream came to fruition. Thank you and I wish you a happy life.?
The Mountain Kitchen says
Nancy,
Thank you so much for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed reading our story. Family should always come first. God bless you for taking care of your mama. Your story is still being written, you just have to believe! <3
Debbie
Belinda says
Such a wonderful dream that came true for your guys! Thank you for sharing. My husband and I have carried the same dream of the mountains of Tennessee or North Carolina for over 15 years now. We have vacationed that area for over 20 years and it has always felt like home to us and where we should be.
We were finally able to make the decision to take that step out on faith and make it happen this year. We will be leaving Texas in September of this year and moving to the mountains. I don’t know what the outcome will be, or where we will end up but I do know that this is a dream we must pursue.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. It is a great inspiration to both of us! Enjoy your lovely mountain home! Blessed be
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Belinda! One thing is for sure, you will never know if you don’t try!! I’m so glad you enjoyed reading our story. It makes me happy to inspire people to take a chance in this life. So many feel stuck some where they don’t really belong, and never take a chance to find out what life could really hold for them. Thank you so much for taking time to comment! I wish you and your husband the best of luck in your journey to find your mountain home. No matter what happens, keep your faith, and don’t let anyone tell you no! Godspeed!
LISA POPE says
What a awesome story !! I enjoyed every line !! You really do have to go after
things you want in your life! Congratulations to both of you! I found the site
looking for a better way to fix ribs ! They turned out great thanks to David !
Wishing you many more happy days on the mountain !
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Lisa! Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story. I know it’s long, but in my heart, I wanted to share it with others. I’m so glad you liked the ribs also. David has a lot of fans. He’s known for his ribs. It means a lot to hear from readers. Thanks for taking time to comment! ~ Debbie
Kathy says
Loved reading about your journey! I am so glad that you were able to realize your dream. Your mountain home is beautiful. Hope there are pictures of inside too.
I would love to have a cabin in the mountains someday…
We live in Hokie country, so we aren.’t too far away. Love the Blue Ridge mountains. We spent a week driving and camping along the Blue Ridge parkway too. Loved making memories although setting up and taking down a tent each day got old.
Love your blog, and look forward to reading more.
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Kathy! Thanks for reading our story. You live in an area near and dear to many people we know. Lots of Hokie friends and family! Thanks for taking the time to comment. I love hearing from our readers. Debbie