One woman’s journey from being abused to being able to build a home and a new life
From Hardship to Hope: A Mother Builds a Home and a New Life
After her second marriage ended, Cara Brookins faced a daunting challenge: providing a stable home for her four young children. With little money and no construction experience, she embarked on an extraordinary journey to build a house from scratch, relying on YouTube tutorials and her family’s determination.
Brookins secured a $150,000 building loan, purchased land for $20,000, and designed a 3,500-square-foot house. Alongside her children, aged two to seventeen, she tackled every step of construction—from laying the foundation to installing plumbing. “It wasn’t an easy trip,” she said, describing late nights and the challenges of learning on the go. The family’s nine-month effort culminated in a home they called Inkwell Manor.
Building the house transformed the Brookins family, instilling resilience and teamwork. Brookins’ journey from despair to triumph inspired her autobiography, Rise: How a House Built a Family. Her story proves that even in life’s darkest moments, determination and creativity can light the way forward.
