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.
Fаns fееl sоrry fоr Jеnnifеr Lореz аftеr Веn Аfflесk’s рhоtоs with Jеnnifеr Gаrnеr wеnt virаl
With the few exceptions of celebrities who have stayed together for years and are still going strong, most Hollywood marriages eventually end up in divorce, and the public is always eager to learn more when A-list couples start to separate. Recently, the media has been obsessed with the relationship between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, who tied the knot in July 2022 following a second engagement.
Rumors of Trouble in Paradise
Amid rumors of their split, photos of Affleck and his ex-wife Jennifer Garner have gone viral, heating the speculations even further. The former couple has been seen together in Santa Monica, which has stirred up various reactions on social media. Some fans of Lopez have expressed their displeasure, with one person calling Garner “a dаngеrous, obsessed woman, using kids to control a weak man, one with addiction and depression issues.”
Another fan added, “I’m happy Affleck and Garner split because him being unhappy with her was the reason for his alcohol addiction.”
However, others fondly remember the days when Affleck and Garner were together. “Ben and Garner are the real ‘Bennifer.’ They belong together with their kids but Ben is a fool,” one commenter nostalgically remarked.
Co-Parenting and Moving On
The reality is that Affleck and Garner have remained friends who co-parent their children effectively. They have been seen hugging on occasion, dressed casually during their outings. Affleck was spotted in blue jeans, a gray long-sleeved top, and white Air-Jordan Nikes, while Garner opted for gray slacks, a long-sleeved black top, and sunglasses.
Interestingly, it appears that Garner and Lopez also get along well. A source close to them described their relationship as “very cordial and very healthy and functioning.”
Garner, who has entered a new relationship following her divorce from Affleck, is reportedly happy with her current family dynamics. A source close to her stated, “Garner is in a great space and feels good about where things currently stand with her new family dynamics.” The source also added that Affleck and Garner “have open communication and both are working to make this transition the best it could possibly be.”
Affleck’s Professional Success
While many believe that Affleck’s personal life is falling apart, his professional life is thriving. In August, the film he co-produces and stars in, “The Instigators,” will be released. This serves as a reminder that despite the turbulence in his personal relationships, Affleck continues to find success in his career.
In the world of Hollywood, where relationships are often under the microscope, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, and Jennifer Lopez are navigating their personal dynamics while maintaining their professional commitments. Their ability to co-parent effectively and sustain cordial relationships amidst rumors and public scrutiny is commendable.
What are your thoughts on the dynamic between Affleck, Garner, and Lopez? Share your opinions with us, and don’t forget to shаrе this article with your family and friends on Facebook!
Leave a Reply