Gina Heslop
Cara Brookins, a mother of four, found herself in a harrowing situation after leaving her second abusive marriage. Faced with emotional exhaustion and the challenge of providing a new home for her children, she embarked on an extraordinary journey that would reshape their lives. With little money, Cara decided to build her own house, a decision born out of desperation and determination.
After selling her previous property, Cara hunted for a new home, but affordability seemed elusive. Driven by the need to reunite her family, she hatched an unconventional plan—to construct her own home from the ground up. Investing $20,000 in a one-acre land and securing a $150,000 construction loan, Cara turned to YouTube tutorials to learn the intricacies of construction, from laying a foundation to installing plumbing.
Over the nine-month construction period, Cara’s children, ranging in ages from two to seventeen, became her building crew. From creating plans to transporting water for the foundation mortar, they played pivotal roles in the construction of their 3,500-square-foot home. Despite facing challenges and the seemingly impossible nature of the task, the family persevered.
Cara, working while her kids were in school, dedicated evenings to building their new home on the five-mile-away construction site. Blurry YouTube videos and varying techniques added to the difficulty, but a part-time firefighter with building experience joined the effort, providing valuable guidance.
On March 31, 2009, Cara moved her family into the completed five-bedroom house, naming it Inkwell Manor in homage to her writing ambitions. This remarkable feat not only provided shelter but also became a catalyst for Cara’s writing career. She published novels and a memoir, “Rise: How a House Built a Family.”
Reflecting on her experience, Cara acknowledges the initial embarrassment of building her own shelter but emphasizes its profound impact. Through their story, Cara and her children inspire others to overcome adversity, demonstrating that even in the direst circumstances, hope for a better future can emerge through resilience, determination, and unity.
