Hello friends! I just posted a ton of pictures on our family blog www.cochranfamily101.blogspot.com if you'd like to see a storyboard of our lives this past year... I meant to do it in January but you know how life is :)
We're doing great and loving Colorado (or at least, I am). The other day we were driving somewhere and everywhere I looked, mountains towered to the sky; I nearly cried with awe--they're so beautiful. And I can't capture it properly with a camera so you'll have to come visit to see what I mean *laugh* I know I know--that's called bribing. But I miss you Georgians (and relatives) very much... I wish you all could move out here and then we could have everything! I personally have started a part-time job for Mike doing his personal accounting for him. It's kind of a sad story because I was going to start online college this month but I'm still considered a non-resident of Colorado because we haven't been here a year yet so the classes cost nearly triple for me what they would cost a resident and it's too much. So we are waiting on the Lord :) Your prayers would be great because it seems like God has just shut this door...
Anyway, God bless! Have a wonderful weekend.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
A New Perspective on The Civil War
My mom is on several homeschool e-loops and this one lady had an interesting opinion on Lincoln's reason for the civil war. She does use some direct quotes so I am finding myself leaning this way... Definitely NOT a popular opinion, but could it be true? Your thoughts are welcome...
"Perhaps, however, the idea that the abolition of slavery was the cause
of this war is historically inaccurate.
Lincoln was not fighting to free slaves but to promote and secure his
idea of a strong, central government that would control the states. By
bringing in the slavery issue, *after* the start of the war, Lincoln
was hoping to encourage the slaves to revolt in the South and to make
the Southerners look like cruel slave-holders. It was nothing more
than a political foil to keep England and France from joining the
Confederate ranks, which they were seriously considering, having even
sent delegates to the South. Lincoln's claim that Southerners hoped to
irreversibly establish slavery was completely false. Both England and
more recently Russia had peacefully freed their slaves through a
gradual process that intrigued the Southerners greatly. They were very
interested in doing likewise, and had begun to implement a similar
program years before the War.
Also, contrary to popular belief (fueled by modern-day history
revisionists) the Emancipation Proclamation did not free slaves or
outlaw this abominable institution. It simply "freed" the slaves
living in the Southern States, leaving their Northern brethren in
chains. It is interesting to note as a little aside, that many
Unionists protested this change in the war's "cause." Many were
indignant at the idea of dying for a "negro" and many even deserted at
this point. Even after the war, the 13th amendment that actually
abolished slavery was not ratified until 1901. Why? Because Delaware
- a northern state - absolutely refused to ratify it (December 1865).
Although Lincoln (and the Union position) are considered "The Great
Emancipator(s), their introduction of the slavery issue in promoting
their cause had little to do with good-will or moral principles. It
was instead a desperate - and may I say clever - move calculated to
sully the Confederate cause. As a matter of fact, Lincoln himself said
in 1862 that: "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the
union ... If I could save the union without freeing any slaves, I would
do it; if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I
would also do that."(1)
In the end, he chose the latter as the more politically expedient way.
Unfortunately, most history textbooks summarily describe the war as one
fought over slavery - with the Union army representing the
abolitionists and the Confederates representing the cruel slave owners.
A study of the original writings, however, will prove that nothing
could be further from the truth."
-Daisy
(1) Abraham Lincoln in a letter to Horace Greeley, editor of the New
York Tribune, dated August 22, 1862.
"Perhaps, however, the idea that the abolition of slavery was the cause
of this war is historically inaccurate.
Lincoln was not fighting to free slaves but to promote and secure his
idea of a strong, central government that would control the states. By
bringing in the slavery issue, *after* the start of the war, Lincoln
was hoping to encourage the slaves to revolt in the South and to make
the Southerners look like cruel slave-holders. It was nothing more
than a political foil to keep England and France from joining the
Confederate ranks, which they were seriously considering, having even
sent delegates to the South. Lincoln's claim that Southerners hoped to
irreversibly establish slavery was completely false. Both England and
more recently Russia had peacefully freed their slaves through a
gradual process that intrigued the Southerners greatly. They were very
interested in doing likewise, and had begun to implement a similar
program years before the War.
Also, contrary to popular belief (fueled by modern-day history
revisionists) the Emancipation Proclamation did not free slaves or
outlaw this abominable institution. It simply "freed" the slaves
living in the Southern States, leaving their Northern brethren in
chains. It is interesting to note as a little aside, that many
Unionists protested this change in the war's "cause." Many were
indignant at the idea of dying for a "negro" and many even deserted at
this point. Even after the war, the 13th amendment that actually
abolished slavery was not ratified until 1901. Why? Because Delaware
- a northern state - absolutely refused to ratify it (December 1865).
Although Lincoln (and the Union position) are considered "The Great
Emancipator(s), their introduction of the slavery issue in promoting
their cause had little to do with good-will or moral principles. It
was instead a desperate - and may I say clever - move calculated to
sully the Confederate cause. As a matter of fact, Lincoln himself said
in 1862 that: "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the
union ... If I could save the union without freeing any slaves, I would
do it; if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I
would also do that."(1)
In the end, he chose the latter as the more politically expedient way.
Unfortunately, most history textbooks summarily describe the war as one
fought over slavery - with the Union army representing the
abolitionists and the Confederates representing the cruel slave owners.
A study of the original writings, however, will prove that nothing
could be further from the truth."
-Daisy
(1) Abraham Lincoln in a letter to Horace Greeley, editor of the New
York Tribune, dated August 22, 1862.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Knitting in the New Year
Well I guess I ought to say HAPPY NEW YEAR! May you all have a blessed season this 2008...
Mike expressed a desire to learn how to knit, so I gave him knitting needles and yarn for Christmas, plus a "coupon" for a "free knitting lesson from his fellow lefty" (like me, he's a lefty and, trust me, only a lefty can teach a lefty how to knit--I tried for the longest time to learn from a righty and got so messed up...). So on New Years eve day, he tells me had had a bad dream the night before that the knitting coupon had expired and that I wouldn't give him a lesson *laugh* So he wanted to get right on it. We did, and here are some pictures that Ellie took. Let me tell you that there's nothing like teaching a 50-year old GUY how to knit!
I'm holding the scarf I've been working on (and have currently finished) and he's holding up three fingers for the three rows he's accomplished. Not to put a damper on the picture, but he got revenge on me for laughing at his style by messing up shortly after this picture. He goofed so badly that we had to start COMPLETELY OVER. I'm kidding when I say he did it in revenge--he was as frustrated as I was--but still... :)
Let me tell you that it was an experience I will never forget...
Mike expressed a desire to learn how to knit, so I gave him knitting needles and yarn for Christmas, plus a "coupon" for a "free knitting lesson from his fellow lefty" (like me, he's a lefty and, trust me, only a lefty can teach a lefty how to knit--I tried for the longest time to learn from a righty and got so messed up...). So on New Years eve day, he tells me had had a bad dream the night before that the knitting coupon had expired and that I wouldn't give him a lesson *laugh* So he wanted to get right on it. We did, and here are some pictures that Ellie took. Let me tell you that there's nothing like teaching a 50-year old GUY how to knit!
I'm holding the scarf I've been working on (and have currently finished) and he's holding up three fingers for the three rows he's accomplished. Not to put a damper on the picture, but he got revenge on me for laughing at his style by messing up shortly after this picture. He goofed so badly that we had to start COMPLETELY OVER. I'm kidding when I say he did it in revenge--he was as frustrated as I was--but still... :)Let me tell you that it was an experience I will never forget...
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
A Day to Always Remember...
Yes, I am very excited about snow. Picture this...
Sleeping in the warmth of my bed...
looking at the clock...
seeing it's 8 AM...
not really wanting to be in my PJs all morning, so getting up before Elizabeth (who I share a room with), and getting into some clothes...
heading upstairs to see what one always sees on Christmas morning...
and then, SEEING SNOW! and tons of it outside...
staring out the window, thanking God for answering my prayer for a white Christmas....
opening gifts...
laughing...
enjoying eachother's company...
playing team monopoly (Mike loves that game and will get us to play it anytime he can)...
winning *laugh* (Patricia and I really did win)...
taking a brief naptime...
getting all bundled up to go outside and SLED!...
having a brief snowball fight with Mary while we wait for everyone else...
driving on super icy roads and doing some fancy sliding...
getting to a huge sledding hill and getting a little nervous about going down...
climbing the hill and getting more nervous...
taking one of our sleds and getting ready to go down the hill with Dad...
Mike generously offers to give us a push and I get a bad feeling...
he gives us a horrible push and we go flying down the mountain, spinning BACKWARDS!...
I scream...
several times...
we slide to a stop with snow in our faces and down our necks...
and I want to do it again!...
climb the hill....
go down...
climb the hill...
go down on a double inertube with Mike...
get a record of snow down my neck...
think the blow-up inertube is the best because one doesn't feel the bumps...
go up and down several times...
go down one last time with Patricia...
get in the van...
drive home while trying to get warm...
spend a lovely evening eating and playing games...
That pretty much covers our day yesterday (from my perspective). I put up lots of pictures on the family blog the other day and more are upcoming so here's the link... www.cochranfamily101.blogspot.com Merry Christmas to you all, and I hope you had as wonderful a day yesterday as I had! Praise the Lord for coming so many years ago and giving us a reason for such bountiful joy...
Sleeping in the warmth of my bed...
looking at the clock...
seeing it's 8 AM...
not really wanting to be in my PJs all morning, so getting up before Elizabeth (who I share a room with), and getting into some clothes...
heading upstairs to see what one always sees on Christmas morning...
and then, SEEING SNOW! and tons of it outside...
staring out the window, thanking God for answering my prayer for a white Christmas....
opening gifts...
laughing...
enjoying eachother's company...
playing team monopoly (Mike loves that game and will get us to play it anytime he can)...
winning *laugh* (Patricia and I really did win)...
taking a brief naptime...
getting all bundled up to go outside and SLED!...
having a brief snowball fight with Mary while we wait for everyone else...
driving on super icy roads and doing some fancy sliding...
getting to a huge sledding hill and getting a little nervous about going down...
climbing the hill and getting more nervous...
taking one of our sleds and getting ready to go down the hill with Dad...
Mike generously offers to give us a push and I get a bad feeling...
he gives us a horrible push and we go flying down the mountain, spinning BACKWARDS!...
I scream...
several times...
we slide to a stop with snow in our faces and down our necks...
and I want to do it again!...
climb the hill....
go down...
climb the hill...
go down on a double inertube with Mike...
get a record of snow down my neck...
think the blow-up inertube is the best because one doesn't feel the bumps...
go up and down several times...
go down one last time with Patricia...
get in the van...
drive home while trying to get warm...
spend a lovely evening eating and playing games...
That pretty much covers our day yesterday (from my perspective). I put up lots of pictures on the family blog the other day and more are upcoming so here's the link... www.cochranfamily101.blogspot.com Merry Christmas to you all, and I hope you had as wonderful a day yesterday as I had! Praise the Lord for coming so many years ago and giving us a reason for such bountiful joy...
Friday, December 21, 2007
Merry Christmas!!!
Well, it's that wonderful time of year again! I must say, that Christmas-time is the BEST :) I love how cheerful everybody is (most of the time). I honestly can't believe how fast this year has flown by... Things seem to speed up more the older I get (does anybody else have that feeling?).
So what are you and your family doing for Christmas? We're going to have a (hopefully) white Christmas at our new home here in Denver, Colorado. Christmas Eve we attend a service at church and then have a nice, quiet Christmas day (exchange gifts, eat, play games and football in the snow). I'm a home body so that sounds glorious to me :)
I hope you all have a beautiful Christmas. God bless!
So what are you and your family doing for Christmas? We're going to have a (hopefully) white Christmas at our new home here in Denver, Colorado. Christmas Eve we attend a service at church and then have a nice, quiet Christmas day (exchange gifts, eat, play games and football in the snow). I'm a home body so that sounds glorious to me :)
I hope you all have a beautiful Christmas. God bless!
Friday, December 7, 2007
Life in Denver so Far...
My dad's school Dove Christian Academy (www.dovechristianacademy.org) is attempting to raise money and one way they're doing that is by radio ads so today one of my dreams came true: I was on the radio! (And by the way, those who know me know that it most definitely is NOT my dream to be on the radio--totally joking on that one *smile*.) So we all headed inside this nice radio building somewhere in Denver (I'm still not good with directions etc. *sigh*) and went into this nifty recording room. Then my dad said his piece and then all of us kids (my four siblings and I) said, "Dove Christian Academy serves special needs students" (say that four or five times real fast and you'll have a tongue-twister). When the recorder played it back it actually sounded really good (better than it sounded live anyway). So yeah, it was a neat experience.
Besides being on the radio we've been getting more involved with our new Sovereign Grace Church, and enjoying the beautiful Colorado weather! I really need to take a picture of the mountains... They're awesome!
I hope life is treating you well and God bless.
Besides being on the radio we've been getting more involved with our new Sovereign Grace Church, and enjoying the beautiful Colorado weather! I really need to take a picture of the mountains... They're awesome!
I hope life is treating you well and God bless.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
And Life Goes On...
I just finished putting pictures on our family blog www.cochranfamily101.blogspot.com of our road trip up here to Denver. Yes, we have now moved into a house in Denver and are beginning to settle in. We haven't bought a house yet (can't do that until our house in GA sells) but we're staying with my dad's old friend named Mike, who's like our uncle and a lot of fun :) He has a five bedroom house (three bedrooms in the basement) so it's working out great so far and I actually really like his house--it's very homey. I'm still sad about the move, but now that we're here I'm beginning to feel like it's home. It's really that I don't like change, but I'll cope with it :) Thanks all of you for your prayers...
Incidentally, it snowed here in Denver last night and this morning we awoke to two beautiful inches of snow on the ground. This morning we walked to the park (which is right down the road--what a blessing) and had a lovely walk in the winter wonderland... :)
Have a wonderful week and God bless!
Incidentally, it snowed here in Denver last night and this morning we awoke to two beautiful inches of snow on the ground. This morning we walked to the park (which is right down the road--what a blessing) and had a lovely walk in the winter wonderland... :)
Have a wonderful week and God bless!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Goodbye...
It is now a for sure deal: we are moving from Jefferson, Georgia to Denver, Colorado on November 19th, 2007 (Monday). Yeah, that's in less than a week. It's all happened so fast that I feel like I'm gasping for breath and just can't get it. But we are really driving away from Georgia this Monday and there's nothing I can do about it but accept it. I don't want to leave. I've grown comfortable here and I now have deep relationships with many people at my church. I feel like I'm being completely uprooted from everything (except my family) that I love and cherish. It's so hard! And it seems like a dream; like something unreal... Your prayers for me and my family would be much coveted during this time.
On a more general note, the packing is going really well and so far everything is going smoothly. My dad is flying down here on Thursday or Friday to help us all drive up on Monday.
So yeah, that's pretty much it. I know that I'm young and that I, Lord willing, have my entire life ahead of me, but it's still so hard... It's only by God's grace that I don't give in to depression. Yes, I'm moving away from my friends that feel like family, but I'm not moving away from Jesus! He will always be with me, no matter where I go--how very comforting that thought is! Praise the Lord...
On a more general note, the packing is going really well and so far everything is going smoothly. My dad is flying down here on Thursday or Friday to help us all drive up on Monday.
So yeah, that's pretty much it. I know that I'm young and that I, Lord willing, have my entire life ahead of me, but it's still so hard... It's only by God's grace that I don't give in to depression. Yes, I'm moving away from my friends that feel like family, but I'm not moving away from Jesus! He will always be with me, no matter where I go--how very comforting that thought is! Praise the Lord...
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Cochran Blog Post!!
Hi blog readers! I posted about Robert, Mary, and Patricia's birthdays on our family blog so go to the below link to see!
www.cochranfamily101.blogspot.com
I would post all the pics here too, but that seems kind of silly :) Have a great weekend!
www.cochranfamily101.blogspot.com
I would post all the pics here too, but that seems kind of silly :) Have a great weekend!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Pictures will be Elsewhere...
Hi faithful blog readers! We have been busy around here because my dad came home for a little over a week and we got to hang out with him. He left for Colorado again this morning and will be back on November 16th to (supposedly) move us! Prayer for our house to sell is still needed, and many thanks to all of you who have prayed for us so far. We now have a FAMILY blog
http://www.cochranfamily101.blogspot.com/
And that is where we will be posting pictures of what our family's been up to. I will still post on this blog, but I will also be posting on the family blog. So go the above link and see what there is to see! God bless all of you...
http://www.cochranfamily101.blogspot.com/
And that is where we will be posting pictures of what our family's been up to. I will still post on this blog, but I will also be posting on the family blog. So go the above link and see what there is to see! God bless all of you...
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