Cara Brookins was left emotionally broken when her second abusive marriage ended. She got well by building her own house, which she did after seeing YouTube videos on how to do it.
The mother of four started looking for a new house in 2007 after being forced to sell the Bryant, Arkansas, home she and her soon-to-be ex shared. At the moment, though, anything the computer programmer analyst could afford was too tiny. Brookins too felt obliged to take action to bring her family back together. She admits, “But I had no idea what that should be.”
Brookins, therefore, came up with the idea to build her own house from the ground up. According to Brookins, 45, “If anyone was in our situation, they wouldn’t do this.” “No one else viewed it this way, and now that I think about it, I understand it sounds crazy.”
One acre of property cost Brookins $20,000, and she obtained a building credit for about $150,000. She then started watching YouTube tutorials to learn how to do things like run a gas line, build a wall, lay a foundation, and install plumbing.
Her children, ages 2 to 17, helped her throughout the nine-month construction of the 3,500-square-foot home. At the time, Drew, who was 15 years old, helped Brookins make the preparations. Jada, who was 11 at the time, transported water from a neighbor’s pond using buckets because there was no running water on the property. She then combined the water with 80-pound sacks of concrete to create the mortar for the foundation.
It felt impossible the entire time, according to Brookins, who worked when the kids were in school. After school, Brookins drove her family to the five-mile-away construction site where she worked late into the night on the new house.
YouTube videos previously were vague and provided numerous solutions to a task. Brookins employed a part-time firefighter with building experience for $25 per hour to help with some of the more challenging tasks. She remembers, “He was a step ahead of us in knowledge.”
On March 31, 2009, Brookins and her kids moved into the five-bedroom home. She gave it the name Inkwell Manor in recognition of her desire to become a writer.
In the years afterwards, Brookins has written numerous middle grade and young adult books. She has also written a biography titled Rise: How a House Built a Family, which will be released on January 24.
Building the house helped Brookins emerge from her depression. We were ashamed that our best option was to construct our own shelter, Brookins adds. “We weren’t really proud of it,” In the end, it proved to be the best thing I could have done for myself.
She says, “You can do anything you set your mind to if I, a 110 pound computer programmer, can build a complete house.” Choose one goal and stay with it. Find the big thing you want to do, move slowly in that direction, and take those who also need healing with you. That has a lot of influence.
(VIDEO) Willie Nelson’s Son Performs ‘Always on My Mind’ and Wow… He Really Takes After His Dad
Lukas Nelson, the son of country legend Willie Nelson, is a member of the rock and roll band Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, currently touring the country. Recently, they performed at an intimate local venue for a small audience.
During the performance, Lukas engaged with fans, taking requests for songs to sing. When one patron asked for his father’s hit song “Always on My Mind,” Lukas rose to the challenge.
As the music began, Lukas’s voice immediately evoked his father’s, captivating the audience with its country charm. The backup band provided solid support, but it was Lukas who truly stole the show.
A soulful trumpet solo added depth to the performance, elevating the mood of the venue.
When Lukas reached the part of the song where his father famously whistles, the crowd erupted into applause, visibly delighted by the homage.
Released over thirty-five years ago, “Always on My Mind” remains a beloved classic among country music fans. Lukas’s rendition showcased his inherited musical talent, proving that he is poised to shine in his own right, free from the shadow of his father’s legacy.
If you are a fan of this video and of Willie Nelson’s son, Lukas Nelson, and his band “Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real”, then share it with your friends so they can experience the next generation Nelson performing a hit made famous by his father. Like what you heard? Scroll down join the discussion at the bottom of the page
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