New Beginnings

Dearest Friends, Family, Loved Ones...

The last month has gone by in a whirl, and it has taken us a while to catch our breath. Between the wedding, the honeymoon, Christmas, moving back to Phoenix, job searching, "Thank You" cards, and the college semester starting up again, life has been very busy. Despite the busy schedule however, I apologize that I kept you out of the loop for so long! I know this update has been long overdue…

Wedding Bells

As one can imagine, there is MUCH involved in the planning of a wedding, and there are many things to consider. There’s the date, the venue, the theme, the décor, the cake, the dress, the shoes, the wedding party, their outfits, the music, the photographer, the order of service, and, well… You get the picture… and that was only the beginning! Planning a wedding is a huge undertaking that is not to be taken lightly, and it most certainly cannot be done singlehandedly. That’s where my Mom and our close family friend, Aunty Sonja came in. There is no way that anything would have turned out so beautifully nor run so smoothly, if it hadn't been for them. They were the most amazing support throughout the entire process of preparing for the Big Day... especially my Mom J We were amazed at how many of our friends and family members were so eager to assist with their various skills and talents! By the time it came to December 17^th, because of all the hard work and effort that everyone put into the planning of the wedding, everything was perfect.

                                                                                                                         

The day I became Mrs. Hunter Combs was the happiest of my life! The weather was glorious, we were surrounded by loved ones, and the venue looked like it came straight out of a fairytale book. Everything was picture perfect... and it all went by in a blur... but in all, Hunter and I had a phenomenal time with our family and friends who gathered with us to witness the covenant we were to make under God. It really felt like we were in a dream the entire time... like an out of body experience. It truly was the most incredible day of our lives!!

We want to thank all who prayed, supported, donated their talents, efforts, and time, and cheered us on as we prepared for the Big Day! We could not have done it without any of you, and we are truly thankful!!!

Christmas is the Time
A week after the wedding, Hunter and I spent Christmas with my family in Cape Town. We had a fantastic time of fellowship together!! A new family tradition (as of the last few years) has been to have bacon and waffles for Christmas Eve. It is, I must say, a very scrumptious tradition, indeed. It was Hunter’s first “summer Christmas,” so he found it sort of strange wearing shorts and a tee rather than being all bundled up and cozy :P Christmas is always such a wonderful time to remember, not only the birth of Christ, but also the reason why Christ came to earth in the first place: to die for our sins. It’s a very sobering thought to meditate over… Yet, while pondering over this very thought, I was brought a lot of joy because our Savior is GOOD and gracious towards us!! We are so undeserving, but He is faithful and good to us… for this, I am truly thankful J

Back to the Land of Cactus and Sand
Soon after Christmas, Hunter and I flew back to Phoenix, Arizona to settle into our cute, one bedroom apartment. My Grandparents and a few of our close family friends, the Gilberts and the Parks, generously offered to set everything up in our apartment for us so that we wouldn’t have to once we got back. We were astounded at how completely delightful the apartment looked when we walked through the door for the first time. It was a real and profound blessing to have our family and friends step in in such a significant way! Hunter and I are truly blessed…

Wedding Bells²

A little over a week after touch down, we were blessed with a wedding reception here in Phoenix! Organized beautifully by Hunter’s wonderful Mom, Tammie (my new mother-in-law!!), her daughter, Christina (my new sister-in-law!!), and Boo (Hunter’s Grandma), the reception was an opportunity for us to celebrate our marriage with family and friends who were unable to attend the wedding in South Africa!! The event was held at our church, West Greenway Bible Church, my Grandpa, Bill Bathman, blessed us with an inspired message, and our pastor, John Correia, conducted a really touching ceremony (a renewal of vows of sorts). We had so much fun celebrating with everyone! Hunter’s Mom, sister, and Boo did a fantastic job setting up the church prior to the reception. It was truly a beautiful reception, and we were very blessed by all who were there J

New Beginnings
It’s a new chapter in the life of the new Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Joshua Combs. At present, Hunter is in the process of looking for jobs (with some hopeful prospects), while I have gone back to attending classes at Arizona Christian University! We love married life, and it has been a very happy adjustment so far. God has been providing for us in countless ways! We are in awe with how good He has been to us. Every time we begin to doubt, God surprises us again and again with His faithfulness and His provision. We are so excited for what He has in store for us in the future!!


Thank you, as always, for your love and support in this new chapter in our lives. We are so grateful to each one of you for your involvement in our lives! You have impacted us in far more ways than you can imagine, and we are so blessed to know you all… May the Lord bless you all abundantly!!

With love,
       Hunter and Andrea

Ps: Romans 4:7-8