Meet Cara Brookins - an Arkansas-based mother of four who did something so extraordinary, it left thousands of people in awe. After abusive relationships, two marriages filled with violence, and being stalked by a man with a mental illness, “my kids and I needed something,” Cara said. “I felt ashamed and I was worried that they had no self-esteem and no confidence." So, the woman set out for a fresh start for both her and her family. Unfortunately, Cara couldn't afford a new house but that didn't stop her. Instead, she decided to build one - on her own with zero experience and zero knowledge.
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It all started in 2007 when Cara spotted a tornado hit house with only the foundation left... “It made me think, ‘what if we bought some 2’x4’s and sheetrock and put that together? What would our dream house be? Would we want to build it?,’” Cara said. Her kids (then 2, 11, 15 and 17) were absolutely up for it, as after all the domestic violence, this was a way for them to improve their lives.
So, using a bank loan of $150,000 for materials, lots of Youtube tutorials, and team work - the family did it! They learned how to frame a house, pour a foundation, and before they knew it they had built a 3500 square foot house with five bedrooms, a three-car garage, a huge shop, and a two-story treehouse - and the family was stronger as ever! Cara and her family have been living in the 'Inkwell Manor' for the past eight years and she can bravely say her kids are "now fearless". “They dive into anything. There’s nothing you could suggest to them that they could not do. it’s an incredible thing.”
You can read more about Cara and her family in her new book called 'Rise', which will be available to purchase through Amazon on January 24th.
Meet Cara Brookins and her kids Jada, Roman, Drew and Hope
Image credits: Ashley Murphy
Cara has been in abusive relationships, two marriages filled with violence, and was stalked by a man with a mental illness - it affected the whole family
Image credits: Cara Brookins
“My kids and i needed something,” Cara said
Image credits: Cara Brookins
“I felt ashamed and I was worried that they had no self-esteem and no confidence...They had been powerless"
Image credits: Cara Brookins
So the whole family (kids aged 17, 15, 11, and 2 at the time) set out for a fresh start by building their own house, as they couldn't afford buying one
Image credits: Cara Brookins
The only problem was they had zero knowledge and zero experience - but that didn't stop them
Image credits: Cara Brookins
Using a bank loan of $150,000 for materials, lots of Youtube tutorials, and team work - the family did it
Image credits: Cara Brookins
While they learned how to frame a house
Image credits: Cara Brookins
How to pour concrete
Image credits: Cara Brookins
How to lay bricks
Image credits: Cara Brookins
And how to work together
Image credits: Cara Brookins
They also learned how to rebuild a broken family
Image credits: Cara Brookins
And before they knew it...
Image credits: Cara Brookins
They had built a 3500 square foot house with five bedrooms, a three-car garage, a huge shop, and a two-story treehouse
Image credits: Cara Brookins
And the family was stronger as ever
Image credits: Cara Brookins
Cara and her family have been living in the 'Inkwell Manor' for the past eight years
Image credits: Cara Brookins
And she can bravely say her kids are "now fearless"
Image credits: Cara Brookins
“They dive into anything. There’s nothing you could suggest to them that they could not do. it’s an incredible thing”
Image credits: Cara Brookins