After a month I soft-launched the theme that you see now, with a few exceptions. At the beginning of 2010, the page included a link to a ‘photo of the day’ blog, as well as a Tumblr for what I thought would be a niche between WP and Twitter. Big Mistake! Too much content to was needed to keep the site looking alive! So after about a month, all 3 aspects of the blog were nearly lifeless. I’ll admit, part of it is because I just resented Tumblr for not being like WordPress. What do you mean I have to edit themes ONLINE? I can’t edit files in an editor? Needless to say, I have repented and turned back to what I’ve known all along with work, WordPress is the way.

So now, a new year is starting, and I’m making a new attempt to chronicle what happens in my life.To catch you up to speed, I thought I’d give you a one paragraph synopsis. I call it “2010: a josh odyssey”. Here goes:

I started the year taking 2 winter session classes at LSU so I could graduate before turning 21. In the spring semester I took 21 hours, again, to speed up the graduation process. It was the hardest semester of my life. Long nights, group projects, real work, and balancing it all with running my own company to make a living and pay for school. Graduated in May within 2 weeks of turning 21. Finished with a 3.8 GPA (doesn’t matter) and $0 of debt (matters a lot). A week later I took the girl of my dreams to New Orleans and got down on one knee; she said “yes!” 2 weeks later I started working at Gatorworks in addition to running Ferrara Creative (steady jobs impress chicks and their parents). In June we went to Cape Cod for 2 weeks on vacation. In October we went to New Orleans again, but this time we got married. After the wedding we decided to go to Europe for 2 weeks. That was fun. Then we came back home. Now we live in Prairieville with a happy condo of our own, more kitchen appliances than we know what to do with, and a jolly fish named KatieBob. The End.

So here it is.

I challenge you to get involved in the incredible things going on around HPC and the globe. This isn’t your time to travel? Give. Maybe you are saving for a trip yourself? Give. We all have 10 bucks to spare, it can go a long way. We are all in this together. We must support one another!

Here are 6 incredible opportunities for you to get involved in something larger than yourself. PRAY & GIVE.

// Carole & Evangeline

// Leah Friedrichs

// Paul Charbonnet

// Dustin Alise

// Elton Veals Jr.

// Jonathan Menck

Go for it.

These are people that, just like me and you, will not be able to go & do without support. Your support. So hunt them down, email them, call them, Twitter them, just contact them, pray for them, and help send them as tools of love.

Anyway, lots of things have been going on since there was a blizzard in the 225. God has done some incredible things in my life and the people around me – it’s been quite an adventure, to say the least.We’ve had incredible Christmas services at HPC, the start of a fresh new year, amazing Amplified services with Epic student ministries, and I’ve had the priviledge of going and being in some amazing positions and opportunities already this year!

Having just entered into the 3rd month of ’09, it’s been a whirlwind of a year so far. Just around the corner are some incredible things like 7 Days of Servolution that are sure to leave an awesome impact on our communities and those around the world.

One of those incredible chances that I’ll have this year is the opportunity to go with the Serve Team leadership to Africa in May. As well as being able to go with the Serve crew, we’ll be going with some Refuge highschool students and leaders. I can’t tell you how humbling it is to be able to be a part of being thehands and feet of Jesus not only in our own community, but in a community across the globe. Absolutely mind-blowing!

So now begins the task of raising funds. It’s easy for the task to look daunting, but I have seen God make a way time and time again. I don’t want this first post back to be all about raising money for the trip, but if you are curious about what’s going on with the trip, or if you are able to contribute at all (even $10 helps!) check out Josh-Bob.com/AFRICA

You can also Chip In through the widget on the sidebar right here :)

Alright, this has gone on long enough. Hopefully this becomes more consistent! That’s all for now.

Trice and Brandon getting ready for the neighborhood snowball fight!

Have fun with the new features, check them out in the sidebar.

Also, don’t forget to follow me on twitter, much more action there than here these days – Twitter.com/JoshBob

Alright, procrastination done. Back to finals week.

To make a long story short, I was trying to avoid someone that was drifting into my lane (too much turkey will do that), and I didn’t see a truck that was turning in front of me (due to lack of tail-lights or turn-signals).

All I remember is the impact, and then my car being smokey (airbag debris) as it felt like I was riding the teacup ride at Disney. My car spun a full 180, and the truck that I hit did about the same, as well as flipping on it’s side.

It’s only by the grace and favor of God that everyone walked away from the accident. There were 7 passengers in the other vehicle, most small children without seatbelts, in a truck that seats maybe 5. They were able to climb out the back window of the cab with only minor cuts.

My car (God rest her soul) didn’t fare very well. The hood was bent up, broke the windshield and was only stopped from hitting my face by the safety glass film. After a little work to get the door open I was able to get out with only some cuts and bruises to show for it, and able to help the other family out of their vehicle.

I would normally never blog about this in this sort of detail except I sat in a message this weekend that talked about divine interruptions, and I can’t help but look at this as such. The officer that filed the report couldn’t understand how my car withstood that kind of impact well enough to keep me safe. There is no replacement for functional seatbelts and airbags, but I can’t deny the clear second chance, His hand on my life.

So, wear your seatbelts please, they actually work. But make sure you look for the interruptions placed in your life, I have to think they are more than just a little inconvenient.

Are you taking time to make a difference I
someone’s life today?

I love seeing this side of any major event, always nice to slow down and take it in every now and then.