Overcoming Challenges, Creating a Home
Cara Brookins, a strong and determined woman, found herself emotionally drained when her second abusive marriage came to an end. To help heal and regain her strength, she embarked on a remarkable journey – building her own home. With no prior experience, she turned to YouTube tutorials to learn the skills necessary to construct a house.
After selling their previous home, Cara and her four children were on the lookout for a new place to call their own, but none seemed to fit their needs. Driven by a deep longing to reunite her family, Cara hatched a plan to build a home from scratch.
A Leap of Faith
Embarking on this project was not easy. Cara invested $20,000 in a plot of land and secured a construction loan of approximately $150,000. With determination in her heart, she learned various building techniques, such as laying a foundation, building walls, running gas lines, and installing plumbing, by watching the insightful YouTube tutorials.
Her four children, aged two to seventeen, were right there by her side throughout the nine-month construction process. Drew, the fifteen-year old, assisted his mother in creating the house plans, while eleven-year-old Jada used buckets to transport water from a neighbor’s pond and mixed it with concrete to create the foundation mortar. It was an incredible team effort.
A Journey of Hard Work and Sacrifice
Cara and her family worked tirelessly on their new home. After school, they would head to the construction site, facing blurry tutorial videos and various methods to complete tasks. To stay on track, Cara hired a part-time firefighter with building experience, who provided valuable guidance. The journey was filled with challenges, but the family persevered. Finally, on March 31, 2009, Cara and her children moved into the five-bedroom house they had built with their own hands. They lovingly named it Inkwell Manor, symbolizing Cara’s passion for writing.
A New Chapter Begins
Cara’s incredible story didn’t end with the completion of her house. Inspired by her journey and newfound confidence, she went on to publish several novels, as well as a memoir, “Rise: How a House Built a Family,” which shares the inspiring tale of her family’s resilience. Cara believes that building the house was born out of necessity rather than pride, but it turned out to be the most empowering decision she had ever made.
Empowering Others to Overcome Adversity
Reflecting on her experience, Cara shares a powerful message: if a 110-pound computer programmer like herself could build an entire house, anyone can achieve their dreams. Her advice is to set a clear goal and take small steps towards it, while also inviting others who may need healing along on the journey. Together, we can find the strength to overcome any obstacle. Cara’s story is a testament to the incredible power within each of us.
