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A Mom Constructed This Entire House from Scratch Using YouTube Tutorials
Picture this: you’re trying to whip up those Pinterest-worthy cupcakes for your child’s birthday, the ones supposedly crafted to look like adorable penguins using Oreos and M&Ms—only to have them resemble a deranged orca whale that just had a mishap. Now, feel the sting of inadequacy when you hear about the incredible journey of Lisa Hayes.
This remarkable mother built a stunning five-bedroom home from the ground up, all thanks to good old YouTube tutorials (seriously, I can barely finish a middle school Home Ec project).
Lisa and her children, Alex, Mia, Noah, and Zoe, constructed their dream abode in Bryant, Arkansas, as a means to escape an abusive relationship. After enduring two tumultuous marriages filled with violence, Lisa reflected, “My kids and I needed something better.” She worried about their self-esteem and confidence, and decided it was time to take action and transform their lives.
In 2007, while driving past the remains of a tornado-damaged house, with only the foundation left standing, Lisa was inspired. With a bank loan, she invested $150,000 in materials and rallied her family to get to work. A senior computer analyst and author with zero construction experience, Lisa turned to YouTube and her local hardware store for guidance, tackling everything from concrete floors to plumbing and cabinetry.
At the time, as Lisa admits on her website, “Building our own house wasn’t something we bragged about. We kept it mostly under wraps, even from my coworkers and the kids’ friends. The stigma surrounding domestic violence is heavy. But little by little, we found our strength and strengthened our family ties.”
Now completed, the cozy Inkwell Manor—named because Lisa envisioned writing there one day—has been their safe haven for the last eight years. Lisa shares with us how this experience has reshaped her children: “They’re fearless now. They jump into anything without hesitation. There’s nothing they think they can’t accomplish. It’s amazing.” With Lisa as their role model, they’ve learned what true courage looks like.
Lisa has also pursued her passion for writing. Her new book, Rise, will be released on January 24, detailing her family’s struggles and the journey they undertook to emerge stronger. Lisa has adopted a powerful mantra: “Set an impossible goal and with enough determination, you can achieve it.”
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In short, Lisa’s story is a testament to resilience, showcasing how determination and creativity can build not just a house, but a home filled with love and strength.