People sometimes have the strength to get back on their feet after things go wrong. The mother of four, Cara Brookins, is a great model of this strength. After getting out of two violent marriages, Cara had little money and a big job to do: she had to give her kids a safe and stable place to live.
Cara was determined to start over, so she set out on an amazing trip to build her own house from scratch. YouTube lessons helped her learn the skills she needed to make her dream come true. Her kids, who are between the ages of two and seventeen, were very helpful during the building process. They worked with Cara to make a 3,500-square-foot house on an acre of land.
There were some tough spots on the trip. Cara remembers the many nights she worked on the building site, the blurry YouTube videos, and the times she doubted her own abilities. But with the help of her kids and a part-time fireman who gave them advice, they kept going and made their dream come true.
Cara and her kids moved into their new house on March 31, 2009. They named it Inkwell Manor. Cara was deeply affected by the event and went on to write several books and a memoir called Rise: How a House Built a Family.
The story of Cara shows how strong desire and toughness can be.
