(Originally posted August 9, 2025 by Ashley Arnold)

Today, our cottage doors officially opened!

Houseparents…

Such a simple word, but one that carries a weight only Heaven truly understands! When you open the door to a cottage like this, you’re not just stepping into a house. You’re stepping into a holy assignment. It’s more than four walls and a roof. It’s stepping into stories, some shattered, broken, torn apart waiting to be restored. It’s inviting brokenness to sit at your table and saying, “You’re safe here.” You bring your parenting, your rhythms, your quirks. You bring your faith. You bring your own children. You bring your entire being….open, raw, and willing to give more than you ever imagined possible! And believe me, every ounce of that will be tested….your endurance, your love, your hope, your very spirit. Because houseparenting is far more than a role; it’s a spiritual battle fought every day in the trenches of real life. It demands a heart willing to keep loving even when it feels like there’s nothing left to give.

This is the journey… hard, holy, and absolutely worth every single step!
Houseparenting is holy ground.
It’s not for the faint of heart.
And you won’t survive it without Jesus.
Because this kind of love? It costs something.
It forces you to confront your own healing.

And I’ll be honest, I never imagined we’d walk this path again…to open up our family once more, stepping back into the very kind of ministry that once shattered us. I questioned God more than once, “Are we truly ready for this?” We aren’t healed, but I’ve come to see, it’s in the pouring out that He fills us up, and in our obedience that He makes us whole! How many times did Jesus return to those who rejected Him? How many times did He bleed love into hearts that pushed Him away?

How many times did He choose grace over bitterness, mercy over resentment? And still…He loved anyway!!!
This is our “yes” to the Great Commission.
Loving them, guiding them, being the hands and feet of Christ, this is how we go into all the world.

This cottage is our mission field.
These boys, our assignment.
So here’s to our journey at Joy Ranch.
To our new home, Leebrick Cottage.
To filling this space with the warmth, laughter, and love of the Arnolds.
Please pray for our family, and all our heart boys who will enter through this door. Pray every heart will be healed and that this home always reflects the heart of Jesus. 💚

Timothy & Ashley Arnold shown here with their sons (oldest to youngest) Jaydin, Braydin, and Kaydin