It only took twenty minutes to vote today thanks to all who voted early.  Have you voted yet?

If you read last week’s posts you know I was giving out a free copy of Matthew Paul Turner’s  newest book, Churched . The rules were that you had to leave a comment by 5:00 PM on Friday.  Today I went to an online number generator and randomly selected a winner. If you left this comment, the book is yours: Chris wrote:Give it to Susan! The book club thing sounds fun. Which leaves me in sort of a dilemma…. So Chris, either email your address to jennifer at jenniferschuchmann.com or send me an email telling me that you want me to send it to Susan.  For the rest of you, the link to buy your own copy is here . ~Jennifer

For all of you who were worried about my son’s gender identity issues when he dressed up like Hannah Montana  at school on Friday, rest assured that by the time he got home from school, he was all done with being a diva.  Here’s the proof:           And with his friend Will, a real joker. Hope you had as much fun giving it out as you did taking it in (chocolate that is…). ~Jennifer 

Last night at 10:30 on the way home from the middle school dance my son said, “Can you wake me up five minutes early so that I can find a costume to wear to school?” My thought: Five minutes?  Are you kidding me? That just begs for a tardy slip.  What I said: “Let’s think of some ideas tonight so we can have a plan for the morning.” “So what do you think I should be?” At this moment every mom of a young teen boy knows that whatever you say is going to be wrong . This is just a conversation starter to buy him time to think of an idea that is socially acceptable amongst his peer group, a costume that has the right amount of “I’m just playing along, I am too cool to really dress up for Halloween.”  What I should have said : “Hmm. Let’s see. How about a robot, a cowboy, or a monkey, you have that brown sweater you never wear…” But because I find joy in life by annoying him,  What I said:  ”Why don’t you be Hannah Montana?” And then paused before bursting out into laughter at the thought. But my pause was long enough for him to respond, ”That’s a great idea!  You’re the best mom in the whole world. I am so glad you picked me up from the dance instead of Dad!” Uhm, really? From the boy who is embarrassed when I bring the team ice pops after cross country practice because someone might see me? From the boy who doesn’t want me to get out of the car to pick him up because that’s embarrassing? From the boy that will look at me across a crowded room or field and then go the opposite way because his friends might think he has a mother? That’s what it takes to get appreciation? Telling him to wear a Hannah Montana costume? I would have passed out, but since my 13-year-old, varsity cross country running, basketball playing, former football defensive man-boy can’t drive, I didn’t have that option.  A stop at our local 24-hour Walmart, a few $3 and $5 clothing items and here is my son  daughter Hannah, with whom I am well pleased? Or perhaps a little scared?  Fortunately, he is all boy. And though he wouldn’t like me saying it, he’s at least a little like his mother–sarcastic and opportunistic like when it comes to making social commentary on all things Hannah Montana (and annoying the twelve-year-old girls at his school).            I have to admit that when he pushed the button on the “headset mic” and sang along to the music, it was pretty funny–mostly because he didn’t know any of the words. I took a few pictures while I was up at school, mostly to reassure myself that my kid wasn’t the only weird one.             It was great to see one other cross country team member dressed as a girl even if she was a stone age one.  I also saw another scary costume, a John McCain look-a-like by a boy who has essentially the same build and neck tic. But even though he was coaxed, he didn’t want to call anyone “my friend.” Perhaps he’s not such a maverick.           Can you guess this one? Stuffed animal?  Can’t be. He moves, running to his mama when he’s afraid. Maybe a view from the front will help… But the most creative costumes didn’t come from the students or the animals, they came from the teachers.           Mrs. Carder our language arts teacher is wearing a family heirloom that has been handed down through peace-loving women in her family for generations.          Mrs. Humphrey our science teacher apparently let the dry ice experiments go to her head.  But the best costume in the whole school had to go to Mr. Frederic who is confined to a wheel chair….                               Yabba Dabba Doo! Happy Halloween to You! ~Jennifer  P.S. As I write this you only have about two hours to enter the drawing for a free copy of Churched . I’ll only include those who left comments by 5:00 pacific time. (Since I didn’t add a time zone in my previous post, you east coasters get a bit longer).

Several months ago, my publicist asked me for a DVD of my television appearances so she could use it to show producers who might be interested in having me on to talk about the book. However, at the time I had only been on two shows, couldn’t find the DVDs and had no idea how to edit them into something that would be helpful. Then I met Josh.  Josh is one of the kindest people I know and the funniest. I liked him from the moment I met him and the more I got to know about him the more I liked him. One day while he was at my house I mentioned that I had a few tapes (my collection of appearances is growing) and needed someone to edit them. Josh, a former television host with mad camera and editing skills, was way overqualified for the job, but he offered anyway. I told him I was in no hurry, that if I had it in time for the next book release (March of 2009), that would be fine. Josh is a former country music DJ and is currently between gigs. (Say a prayer for him, he’s up for a big one.) And he is also starting his own business so I knew he had a lot going on for the next few months.  But last night he surprised me twice. First, he had finished the video. Second, it was better than I had even dreamed it could be.  See for yourself.     Best of all, my publicist loved it! Thanks Josh, for all of your hard work and creativity…But most of all for your friendship. ~Jennifer