Take Four

by Karen Kingsbury

  Praise

  What Readers Are Saying About Karen Kingsbury’s Books

  Karen’s book Oceans Apart changed my life. She has an amazing gift of bringing a reader into her stories. I can only pray she never stops writing.

  Susan L.

  Everyone should have the opportunity to read or listen to a book by Karen Kingsbury. It should be in the Bill of Rights.

  Rachel S.

  I want to thank Karen Kingsbury for what she is doing with the power of her storytelling—touching hearts like mine and letting God use her to change the world for Him.

  Brittney N.

  Karen Kingsbury’s books are filled with the unshakable, remarkable, miraculous fact that God’s grace is greater than our suffering. There are no words for Ms. Kingsbury’s writing.

  Wendie K.

  Because I loaned these books to my mother, she BECAME a Christian! Thank you for a richer life here and in heaven!

  Jennifer E.

  When I read my first Karen Kingsbury book, I couldn’t stop…. I read thirteen more in one summer!

  Jamie B.

  I have never read anything so uplifting and entertaining. I’m shocked as I read each new release because it’s always better than the last one.

  Bonnie S.

  I am unable to put your books down, and I plan to read many more of them. What a wonderful spiritual message I find in each one!

  Rhonda T.

  I love the way Karen Kingsbury writes, and the topics she chooses to write about! Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us, your readers!

  Barbara S.

  My husband is equally hooked on your books. It is a family affair for us now! Can’t wait for the next one.

  Angie

  I can’t even begin to tell you what your books mean to me…. Thank you for your wonderful books and the way they touch my life again and again.

  Martje L.

  Every time our school buys your next new book, everybody goes crazy trying to read it first!

  Roxanne

  Recently I made an effort to find GOOD Christian writers, and I’ve hit the jackpot with Karen Kingsbury!

  Linda

  When Karen Kingsbury calls her books “Life-Changing Fiction™,” she’s merely telling the unvarnished truth. I’m still sorting through the changes in my life that have come from reading just a few of her books!

  Robert M.

  I must admit that I wish I was a much slower reader…or you were a much faster writer. Either way, I can’t seem to get enough of Karen Kingsbury’s books!

  Jillian B.

  I was offered $50 one time in the airport for the fourth book in the Redemption Series. The lady’s husband just couldn’t understand why I wasn’t interested in selling it. Through sharing Karen’s books with my friends, many have decided that contemporary Christian fiction is the next best thing to the Bible. Thank you so much, Karen. It is truly a God-thing that you write the way you do.

  Sue Ellen H.

  Karen Kingsbury’s books have made me see things in ways that I had never thought about before. I have to force myself to put them down and come up for air!

  Tabitha H.

  I have read many of Karen’s books and I cry with every one. I feel like I actually know the people in the story, and my heart goes out to all of them when something happens!

  Kathy N.

  Wow, what an amazing author Karen Kingsbury is! Her stories are so heart-wrenching…I can’t wait until the next book comes out…. Karen, please don’t ever lay your pen down.

  Nancy T.

  Karen Kingsbury’s words leap off the page…. I just finished a new series last night and once again she has touched me beyond compare!

  Kendra S.

  ABOVE THE LINE SERIES

  Take Four

  Book Four

  Karen Kingsbury

  New York Times Bestselling Author

  DEDICATION

  To Donald, my Prince Charming…

  Summer is here again, and I can hardly believe that this might be our last together as a family. The last time we are all living under the same roof, sharing the same breakfast table, looking forward to the same lazy afternoons by the pool. We saw this coming, of course, but that doesn’t make the reality any less sudden. Kelsey heading off to California simply makes this a summer we must hold onto, savoring every day together and appreciating that nothing stays the same. Yes, of course there will be other summer days, other summer weeks. But this summer—a whole summer—will be precious, indeed. In the meantime, our boys see nothing too unusual about school being out and summer stretching long and forever ahead of us. Even Ty who will be a senior in the fall hasn’t really stopped to realize that life is changing. But here’s the most wonderful thing about all this—we’ve appreciated every day together, and so we have no regrets. That our kids would grow up and experience their dreams is what we’ve prayed for them all along. We’ve held on with all the love in our hearts, but we’ve held on loosely, knowing they were only here on loan. Now we will rejoice at the time we’ve had together and trust God that the changes ahead will bring new and different sorts of happy times, new and precious types of memories. Of course, this summer will also see you and the boys getting ready for your second year together on the football field and basketball courts. Quite a contrast from how this year might’ve played out after your stroke on the last day of January. God healed you completely, and I am so grateful! We need you, honey. Every day. I’m so grateful to see you coaching again, sharing your uncanny gift of teaching and mentoring another generation of kids—and best yet, now our boys are part of the mix. You and our boys, making memories together. Isn’t this what we always dreamed of? I love sitting back this time and letting you and God figure it out. I’ll always be here—cheering for you and the team from the bleachers. But God’s taught me a thing or two about being a coach’s wife. He’s so good that way. It’s fitting you would find varsity coaching again now—after twenty-two years of marriage. Hard to believe that as you read this, our twentieth anniversary has come and gone. I look at you and I still see the blond, blue-eyed guy who would ride his bike to my house and read the Bible with me before a movie date. You stuck with me back then and you stand by me now—when I need you more than ever. I love you, my husband, my best friend, my Prince Charming. Stay with me, by my side, and let’s watch our children take wing, holding onto every memory and each day gone by. Always and always…The ride is breathtakingly beautiful, my love. I pray it lasts far into our twilight years. until then, I’ll enjoy not always knowing where I end and you begin. I love you always and forever.

  To Kelsey, my precious daughter…

  When you were born, when the days seemed to spread out before us as if they’d last forever, I never let myself imagine a final summer with you at home. But here we are, sweetheart. You have dreams and you must follow them. We believe in your gifts, your ability to capture an audience and your passion for performing. In California you can explore your dreams to perform and see where God leads you. If that winds up being back here in the Northwest, we will be grateful, of course. But most of all we want God’s will for your life. You must seek His will to find it, and so we completely support your decision to go. We only wish it didn’t take you so far away. But even then you’ll have times when you come home, when you’re back here under our roof again, sitting at the breakfast table with your brothers. Like this summer, every day we have with you in the coming years will be special. But then, I guess that’s always been true with you, my sweet, sweet girl. Remember God walks with us every step of this life and for those who love Him, the best is always yet to be. This fall we will watch you take wing, having worked hard to reach this point in your education. We believe in you, sweetheart, and we will be cheeri
ng every day from our places here back home. You’ll always be our little girl, Kelsey. And you’ll always be part of this family. Forever and ever. I’m so proud of the strength you’ve found in this, your twenty-first year. You are beautiful inside and out, and I am more convinced than ever God has great, wonderful plans for you. Take your talents and go find your platform for Him! In the meantime, we’ll leave the porch light on. I love you, sweetheart.

  To Tyler, my beautiful song…

  What a tremendous year of growth for you, my strong son. You’ve put aside the stage for now and have focused on becoming the young man God wants you to be. In the process you have become convinced you’d like to be a Christian artist—writing and singing songs for His glory. You’ll never know how proud that makes me and your dad. We love our evenings when your homework is finished and you head into the piano room. The chords blend together as you create and your golden voice fills our home. How blessed we are that your music is the soundtrack of our life. And yet I know the song will only last so long. You are about to start your senior year. One more school year and you’ll be off to college. One more trip for back-to-school supplies, one more homecoming, one more basketball season, one more prom. I’m holding onto every precious moment, with everything I have. These are the bittersweet years, when the end is all too clearly in sight. And yet, like Kelsey, you will always be a part of our lives here, Ty. You’ll excel in the coming year, growing in your talents and convictions, I’m sure. And the deep and lasting relationships you’ve begun here in your childhood will remain. Thank you for the hours of joy you bring our family, and as you head into a year of lasts I promise to stop and listen a little longer when I hear you singing. I’m proud of you, Ty. I’m proud of your talent and your compassion for people and your place in our family. However your dreams unfold, I’ll be in the front row to watch them happen. Hold on to Jesus, son. I love you.

  To Sean, my happy sunshine…

  What a thrill it was watching you—just a freshman—take on varsity football and basketball this past year. You were concerned going in, and that’s understandable. “What if I can’t play as well as the older guys?” you asked me. “What if I can’t tackle?” We prayed and believed and then, right before the season started, you did something I’ll always remember. You came to me and asked if I could find custom wristbands for the team. “I want them to say Philippians 4:13,” you told me. You’d seen Florida university’s Timmy Tebow donning that verse on his eye black before each game, and now you wanted to have a similar show of faith. A week passed and another, and every few days you asked until finally I set everything aside and ordered them for the whole team. I’ll never see that verse without seeing the sincerity in your eyes, the desperation, almost, that if you were going to play football, you needed to always remind yourself of the truth. You can do everything through Christ who gives you strength. And you can, Sean. You proved that this year by being the team’s leading receiver. Oh, and one of the best tacklers on the team. You remain a bright sunbeam, bringing warmth to everyone around you. And now you are an example of faith as well. I’m proud of you, Sean. I love you so much. I pray God will use your dependence on Him to always make a difference in the lives around you. You’re a precious gift, son. Keep smiling and keep seeking God’s best for your life.

  To Josh, my tenderhearted perfectionist…

  The final weeks of this past school year have flown by, and you have grown right along with them, my precious son. So many memories will remind me of your first year of high school, but some will always stand out. The week, for instance, when you first appeared in the paper as one of the area’s top leading rushers. The next game someone commented on your talents on the sidelines, and in your quiet, humble way you simply pointed up and said, “It’s all because of God.” So young, and yet such a leader already. Another memory I’ll hold tight to is the time you attended a youth rally at your Christian school. A few girls from the public middle school attended and spotted you. They walked up and made a face at you. “You go to this Christian school,” they sneered. “Yes,” you answered. They laughed a little. “So what’s that mean, you’re a goody good?” Rather than be intimidated or feel the need to impress them, you smiled and nodded. “That’s right. I want to be a goody good.” More than all your touchdowns and more than your great grades, I’m proud of your character, son. Hold tight to that. With great talent comes great temptation, and I’m sure the years ahead will prove that. But by having God first in your life, you will be ready for the challenge. I have no doubt that someday we will see your name in headlines and that—if God allows it—you’ll make it to a major college team. You’re that good, and everyone around you says so. Now flashback to that single moment in a broken-down Haitian orphanage. There I was meeting Sean and EJ for the first time when you walked up. You reached up with your small fingers, brushed back my bangs, and said, “Hi, Mommy. I love you.” It might’ve taken six months of paperwork, but I knew as you said those words that you belonged with us. The picture becomes clearer all the time. Keep being a leader on the field and off. One day people will say, “Hmmm. Karen Kingsbury? Isn’t she Josh’s mom?” I can’t wait for the day. You have an unlimited future ahead of you, Josh, and I’ll forever be cheering on the sidelines. Keep God first in your life. I love you always.

  To EJ, my chosen one…

  Here you are with eighth grade behind you, and I can barely recognize the social and academic leader you’ve become. We worried that moving you to the Christian school with one year left in junior high might hurt you. Maybe you’d have trouble making new friends or adjusting. I think you worried too. But look at what you’ve become in this one short school year! You are one of our top students, and you’re inviting a different set of friends over every weekend. I compare that to your utter silence back at the public schools and I can only celebrate and thank God that this was the best decision we’ve ever made for you. But even beyond your grades and your natural way of leading your peers in the right path, we are blessed to have you in our family for so many reasons. You are wonderful with our pets—always the first to feed them and pet them and look out for them—and you are a willing worker when it comes to chores. Besides all that, you make us laugh—oftentimes right out loud. I’ve always believed that getting through life’s little difficulties and challenges requires a lot of laughter—and I thank you for bringing that to our home. You’re a wonderful boy, son, a child with such potential. I’m amazed because you’re so talented in so many ways, but all of them pale in comparison to your desire to truly live for the Lord. I’m praying you’ll have a strong passion to use your gifts for God as you enter high school in the fall. Because, EJ, God has great plans for you, and we want to be the first to congratulate you as you work to discover those. Thanks for your giving heart, EJ. I love you so.

  To Austin, my miracle boy…

  Here it is, baseball All-Star season again—your very last in Little League. Funny how life goes so fast. We signed you up to play T-ball and once in a while on hot summer days when you were playing, we’d gaze at the far end of the park, at the field where the big kids played. It was hard to picture you ever getting that big, because that seemed like forever away. So many stages and levels of baseball between T-Ball and the end of Little League. But now, precious son, you’re there. One last season, and someday soon, one final at-bat in Little League. Your very last. You’re an amazing athlete, Austin, defying the odds and proving again and again that you are our miracle boy. I’m sure you’ll play baseball again in one of the older leagues or for your high school one day soon. But for now, I will gladly relinquish the role of author and speaker and simply sit in the stands and keep score for your team. Little League mom for this last season. I’m grateful you take your sports so seriously, but even more than that, I’m blessed that you take your role as a Christian so seriously. The other day we were driving somewhere and your friend Karter made an observation. “Austin,” he said, “I think you’re going to grow up to be ju
st exactly like your dad.” You shared that story proudly and beamed at us from the backseat. And up in the front, your dad had tears in his eyes. Yes, Austin, you are growing up to be like your daddy. There could be no greater compliment, because your dad is the most amazing man. The bittersweet of knowing that every morning you stand a little taller is juxtaposed with the joy of knowing that Karter is right. You’re a little more like your dad every day. I’ve said it before, and it’s true. Heaven has windows, and I’m convinced Papa’s still cheering for you, son. Especially this season. As you soar toward your teenage years please don’t forget that or him. You’re my youngest, my last, Austin. I’m holding on to every moment, for sure. Thanks for giving me so many wonderful reasons to treasure today. I thank God for you, for the miracle of your life. I love you, Austin.

  And to God Almighty, the Author of Life, who has—for now—blessed me with these.

  Table of Contents

  Cover Page

  Praise

  Title Page

  DEDICATION

  FOREVER IN FICTION™

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen