“Horses have been a blessing to our kids! There is a horse for every personality in our home. It has been neat to see confidence arise in those who struggle with self-worth or fears from past trauma; excitement bubbling over from having the opportunity to pet, groom, or ride a horse.” Amanda Zamarron, Cookson Hills…
“Our horses are special because they listen to the anger, fears, hurts, uncertainty, and joys of our kids without telling a soul the secrets entrusted to them.” Amanda Zamarron, Cookson Hills Housemom Equine Program Update Since July 2019, students have flocked to the barn for horsemanship classes. Every time students come to the barn for…
He spoke barely above a whisper, and I almost missed it. On the first day of school, I had asked my 6th-grade math class to calculate how much money they could save by the time they graduated from Cookson Hills. Students at Cookson Hills are able to earn money in several ways during their time…
The role of houseparents comes with unique stressors and rewards. This no doubt influences the length of time a couple will devote to this ministry role. Nationwide, the average length of service for houseparents ranges from just six to nine months. Since 1957, Cookson Hills has been blessed by many couples who have given over…
Let me be clear – the reason I am a student at Cookson Hills is all me. I was an egotistical jerk who only cared about himself.
Looking back over the past couple of months reveals a Christmas and New Year season filled with fun activities, school improvements, contests, concerts, and parades. Our high school newspaper and yearbook staff has compiled a list of the highlights. We hope you enjoy this glimpse of life at Cookson Hills. New Tree Ornaments & Door…
People often ask what brings kids to Cookson Hills. Each child’s story is different and unique, but sometimes a child’s path to Cookson Hills begins the day they are born, due to choices made by the adult caregivers in their life. You see, when parents abandon their children, they are bruising an innocent child, inflicting…
Having dealt with foster care in three different states, I know the system and where it fails—and I know that what Cookson Hills offers kids is unique and extremely valuable.
Nothing evokes feelings of home and family quite like Thanksgiving. In our experience, “home” is less about a physical place and more about being with your tribe. Likewise, “family” is less about shared DNA but more about bonds of the heart. Our Thanksgiving table reflects these values, where an ever-varied cast of relatives, Cookson Hills…
We call it “Middle School Mentors,” and it is a part of our Cookson Hills Christian School service learning focus.
Before coming to Cookson Hills, I always felt like I was alone. I pushed everyone I loved away and hurt them with my actions and words. At the time, I didn’t realize that I was causing so much pain to my family. Eventually, I hurt them to the point where they don’t know how to…
To a soul seeking comfort, When I was 14 years old, I saw a counselor. Her church supported Cookson Hills. She recommended Cookson Hills to my father because of the many problems I was going through. One may ask what I was experiencing at 14 that I would need to be sent to a children’s…
As a teacher, I believe it is my job to prepare students for life after school. In the real world, you don’t always have extra supplies, so you have to improvise. In 6th grade reading, the students had a craft project that went along with the reading assignment. I had just the right amount of…
Four years ago I was tasked with the responsibility of planning a marriage retreat for the houseparents of Cookson Hills. With my husband and I having just been houseparents, my memory was still fresh as to what it felt like to try to sustain a marriage in the midst of ministry to kids who are…
As a part of our school’s re-accreditation efforts last year, we took a look at what we call our Expected Student Outcomes. That is, after a student’s time in our school, what are some of the things we want them to walk away with? One of the things we discussed was that they could recognize the…
Cookson Hills is one of 25 different ministries that our church supports on a monthly basis. Each of those partners are unique, serving across the country and around the world. Part of my role at Christ’s Church is to stay connected with these partners and to find ways to connect our church with the ministry. …
Much of who I am today can be attributed to my childhood years of growing up at Cookson Hills. I accepted the role of Executive Director at Cookson Hills for a couple reasons. First of all, I wanted to give back. It was at Cookson Hills that I learned to work hard, live a disciplined…
I have been at Cookson Hills for almost four years. I was placed at Cookson Hills because over the years I had rebelled against my mom and stolen from her. I also stole small objects from stores and other people. A rift appeared between me and God. I didn’t really pray or talk to Him,…
I believe music is so impactful in our lives because it comes from the Creator of the universe. In fact, music or references to music are mentioned in God’s Word over 1,000 times. The book of Psalms is filled entirely with songs written to God. Not only is music and singing something that is important…
Occasionally I catch a quiet moment with my children. A moment when I know their ears can hear and their heart is especially open to me. In those rare moments I always speak this truth. “Son, there are many voices in this world. Which ones can you trust?” He replies, “God, mom and dad.” “That…
Some three odd years ago I stared at my computer screen knowing that Villa Rica Christian Church needed to expand our missions program. I knew God was leading us out of West Georgia but really did not know where. As I began the daunting task of searching the internet, I found Cookson Hills. Their website…
I was born in Uganda where I lived for 13 years. My family and I moved to Los Angeles, California when I was barely thirteen. My father’s job didn’t allow him to settle in Los Angeles. He was always moving to different places for work. After a year of living in California, we decided I…
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” –Hebrews 10:23 The struggles with our daughter, Sonya, started relatively small. First, she had migraines and started to miss days of school and also church, stating that she was too tired or had a headache. She lost interest in learning…
At the age of 50 (with my husband 54), I was enjoying some empty nester years, running two international organizations from my home, had a flexible schedule, good friends, great home and property, could help my husband in ministry, had time to eat right, exercise and be healthy. We went for motorcycle rides, played golf…and…
Why I came to Cookson Hills I’ve been enrolled as a student at Cookson Hills twice. The first time I was here, I was 13 years old. I came because I had been refusing to do my schoolwork; I was lying, manipulating and stealing from my parents. The second time I came to Cookson Hills…
Once upon a time, a chubby little blonde haired, blue eyed, baby girl entered this world, (me). I was fortunate to have parents that took good care of me. They made sure I had a warm place to sleep, food to eat, and clothes to wear. I never doubted that my parents loved me and…
When I was 15 years old, I ran away from home. I knew it was a bad choice, even when I was doing it, but I just didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t really want to do the right thing. Eventually, the cops brought me home and everything in every part of my…
Just off a gravel road on the outskirts of Sheridan, Wyoming sits a plain white house on a 3-acre plot. If I close my eyes, I can see my granny’s flower garden, abuzz with giddy bees, and the row of deep purple pansies in the shade of the garage. Pansies always make me think of…
I have a little one who is very fearful of making mistakes. This little one has yet to see failure as an opportunity for improvement. When we had an “open-ended” project this little one would ask me for my approval every step of the way. “Do you like this Miss Hodges? Is this okay? See…
Dear Friends, The family unit is the primary tool by which God seeks to accomplish his purposes on this earth. It is God’s built-in support system for life. It shapes our identity and who we become. It is our living example of how to connect with God the Father. Family is the training ground; the…
From current ideas about nutrition to parenting techniques to budgeting, organization, and every other kind of self-improvement, we seem to be fascinated with attempts at bettering ourselves. But as much as we want to improve, it’s not easy to talk about the reason we’re not okay in the first place. Sin is an increasingly…
My husband and I have had the privilege of ministering as houseparents at Cookson Hills for about two years. For the better part of the last eight years, we have served in roles as houseparents and foster parents. It never gets any easier to walk through the things life has dealt these precious students. …
Where were you in 1967? Some of you may be thinking, “I wasn’t even BORN yet!” Back then, I was a baby believer heading to Bible College to learn about this newfound Savior, Jesus Christ. Little did I know what an adventure the Lord was taking me on! Right away, I joined the college…
I had lived in the same house in Joplin, Missouri all fourteen years of my life until my parents felt a stirring that God was sending them elsewhere. My parents had always thought about being houseparents, even before I was born, but they thought they should raise their own four kids first. My parents…
I stepped into the interview. Butterflies in my stomach. I was greeted with familiar, calming, faces. “The only position we have open right now is a janitorial position at the school.” I was thrilled to be considered for a job and it was one that I had skills in. “But we expect that there…
Sometimes God calls us to places we don’t expect. He asks us to trust Him and have faith to serve in the Kingdom. The serving is always for the Lord, but He has ways of working in our own hearts as much as He works in the hearts of those we are ministering to. After…
This was our 5th year of taking ten awesome high school students to CIY MOVE. Every year, prior to the event, Satan whispers in our ear, “It’s too much time… the drive is too long… it’s too much work.” But, it’s an honor to do it, and we praise God as we watch changes occur…
Believe it or not, my journey to Cookson Hills started when I was ten years old and I signed a commitment to be a missionary for the Lord. When I grew up, I married a minister and served alongside him. After the birth of five sons and a 22-year relationship, I became a single…
Our amazing ministry partners support Cookson Hills in countless ways. One of those happens behind the scenes, through service on our Board of Directors. At the annual Board retreat in April, two outstanding members, Rashonda Taylor and Larry Naumann, reached their maximum terms and ended their Board service. While we are sorry to see…
Have you ever felt inspired? Inspiration is such a powerful word and even more so, a powerful feeling. In Greek, it means God-breathed/life. In Hebrew, it means spirit/wind, and in our common dictionary, it means to stir/motivate. First, inspiration is God-breathed. It is received as a desire directly from God. Secondly, when we are…
It seems a little surreal sometimes that five years has already passed since I joined the teaching staff at Cookson Hills. It seems even more surreal when I consider where I was mentally, emotionally, and physically in my life as I moved here versus where I’m at now. In 2013, I was a hot…
My name is Jaci and I would like to share my story about how God has changed me. I come from a very complicated family background. I was adopted and raised by my older sister, whom I call mom and it just gets more complex from there. I used to go to church when…
For many years, we tried to have children of our own. After four years of marriage, we had a miracle baby that we have thanked God for every day. Before his birth, we had struggled through four devastating miscarriages, wondering why we couldn’t have children. We prayed and prayed, asking God for answers. One morning…
What does it take to make a positive change in your family- A Vision? A defined Purpose? The Desire? While all these are certainly helpful and have their place, they alone do not make change happen. It takes more than pure desire to make the picture in your head come to life. It takes…
My wife and I knew very little about houseparenting before we came to Cookson Hills. We knew that we were interested in a ministry that we could do as a family. When we heard a missionary come to our church and talk about houseparenting, we began to look at places in the United States…
Over the past six years, we have said hello and goodbye to over forty different children while being foster parents or houseparents. We affectionately call our home ”The Nest.” The dictionary defines a nest as: “a retreat or refuge, a resting place, a home.” This is the picture-perfect idea of what we want our…
Before coming to Cookson Hills, I was not the best person and I knew I could be better. When my mom first told me about going, I felt like I was just being sent away again because she didn’t love me or that my family didn’t want me anymore. While on my tour, I…
Has your child had high hopes for something only to be let down, resulting in your child becoming significantly upset? It’s a staple in parenting, right? Maybe it was losing a game, a friend who canceled a sleepover, or getting a lower test grade than expected. Using an adult lens we might look at…
A lot of times, being the Bible teacher means you have to push past the eye rolls and arguments; you have to remember where the students are coming from and respect it. You get a lot of dozing, irritated students – the ‘shields up student’ if you will. It can be pretty defeating if…
I’m pretty sure I have the best job on the planet. As school secretary/librarian here at Cookson Hills I get to interact daily with all of our kids on campus. My prayer is always that the kids see the library as a warm and inviting safe place. Whether it’s to get a book, a…
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