Completing Him Challenge -- Overall Feedback

Interestingly, I am sooo glad I took this challenge.  My husband and I:


- had some heartfelt conversations
- we grew closer
- I discovered things I didn't know mattered to him
- and I fell in love with him again:-)!!! 


THANKS FOR THE CHALLENGE COURTNEY!!!

Our Family Vision

I missed the Linky on this challenge; however, it's better late than never:-).  The vision for the Cook Family is as follows:

1.) Eventually move to AL 

2.) Ensure J.J. and Gwenyth are prepared for the real world

3.) Have a secure financial future

4.) Break cycles of our past 

R-E-S-P-E-C-T My Husband

Respect to my husband means asking myself the question, "How would James feel if I did?"  and vice versa.

I am continuing to learn and grow in the area of respect.  I realized I must submit to my husband.  The thought of submitting to my husband was not easy for me.  After many hard times and trials in our marriage I realized how completely clueless I was.  Submission is not being a doormat.  It is the total opposite.  I've found how much closer I have become to my husband because I chose to submit.

I have learned that when a woman doesn't feel loved by her husband, its because her husband doesn't feel respected.  

Favorite Meal(s)

My husband enjoys a nice GUMBO!!!  with sides of rice and cornbread.  When he doesn't say anything through the whole dish, I know he enjoyed himself:-)

He also enjoys spaghetti and prime rib w/steak fries.  Like we say down South, "That's Good Eatin":-)

The Five Priorities

My husband's five priorities are:

1. Loyalty
2. Respect
3. Trust
4. Consideration
5. Honesty

What Do I Admire About My Husband?

I admire that my husband is:

1.  A great provider

2.  A good father

3.  He has a generous and giving heart

4.  He cuts the grass

5.  He is helpful and there when I need him

6. He has a good sense of direction; (unlike myself:-)

7. He is ambitious and competitive

8. His depth and range in his enjoyment of  music

9.  He is wise and a good judge of character

10.  He chose me.


When I read this to my husband, he smiled from ear to ear:)!  I am sooooo thankful for him.

My Prayer(s)

My husband and I are a mismatched pair when it comes to faith/religion.  I believe and he doesn't.  I continuously pray for his salvation.  I know nothing is impossible with God and one day, my prayer will be answered.  With that being said, each morning as he leaves for work, my prayer states: "I plead the blood of Jesus over my husband.  God, protect him to and from each destination that he may ponder."  I am thankful my husband is a great provider, caring father, and a loving husband.  Not  a day goes by that I don't confess these promises:


 Acts 16:31:
³¹And they answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ [^[a]give yourself up to Him, ^[b] take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved, [and this applies both to] you and your household as well.

And....


1 Corinthians 7:14  
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are holy.


"El Shaddai"

Our Wedding Day!

Well, we didn't have a wedding or a honeymoon.  We got married at the Madison County Courthouse in Huntsville, AL in 1996.  Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures to share either.  I remember being nervous and happy all at the same time.  I learn something new everyday and maintaining a healthy marriage and family is hard work.  It was one of the happiest days of my life:-)!!!

The Cook's Dating Story

(First picture we took at a photo gallery in Andalusia, AL.--  James (21) Gertha (19))

My husband James and I met in 1992 at Lurleen B. Wallace State Jr. College in Andalusia, AL.  I was 19.  He's from Mobile, AL and I'm from a little town forty-five minutes South of Albany, Ga called Morris, Ga.
  At the time, I was dating someone else. Consequently,  I found out he was seeing another girl besides me.  I was hurt, a little.  However,  in my heart , I liked James from the start.  I used to watch him in the backyard from my bathroom window of our apartment complex.  ( Our college didn't have dorms so we lived in apartments)  I wanted to make sure that he liked me too because I didn't want to get hurt again.  I would speak and we'd oddly end up in the same places.  Later, I discovered he was watching me as well:-).

We couldn't stand to be away from each other.  He was always on my mind.  I love how he would always be there when I needed him, give me what I needed and put me first.  I graduated in 1992 from LBW and transferred to Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, AL.  We'd write letters and had an ENORMOUS phone bill:-).  We were miserable apart.  But, being who he is, he transferred to Athens State to be near me.  I love him for that.  I miss that feeling and that energy.

I'm going to let him know/show him just how much I love and  appreciate him.  He's such a remarkable provider for our family.

This is us 14 years and two children later.