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  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.

  Other Life-Changing Fiction™by Karen Kingsbury

  9/11 Series

  One Tuesday Morning

  Beyond Tuesday Morning

  Every Now and Then

  Lost Love Series

  Even Now

  Ever After

  Every Now and Then

  Above the Line Series

  Above the Line: Take One

  Above the Line: Take Two

  Above the Line: Take Three (spring 2010)

  Above the Line: Final Cut (summer 2010)

  Stand-Alone Titles

  Oceans Apart

  Between Sundays

  This Side of Heaven

  When Joy Came to Stay

  On Every Side

  Divine

  Like Dandelion Dust

  Where Yesterday Lives

  Shades of Blue (fall 2009)

  Redemption Series

  Redemption

  Remember

  Return

  Rejoice

  Reunion

  Firstborn Series

  Fame

  Forgiven

  Found

  Family

  Forever

  Sunrise Series

  Sunrise

  Summer

  Someday

  Sunset

  Red Glove Series

  Gideon’s Gift

  Maggie’s Miracle

  Sarah’s Song

  Hannah’s Hope

  Forever Faithful Series

  Waiting for Morning

  Moment of Weakness

  Halfway to Forever

  Women of Faith Fiction Series

  A Time to Dance

  A Time to Embrace

  Cody Gunner Series

  A Thousand Tomorrows

  Just Beyond the Clouds

  Children’s Titles

  Let Me Hold You Longer

  Let’s Go on a Mommy Date

  We Believe in Christmas

  Let’s Go Have a Daddy Day (spring 2009)

  Miracle Collections

  A Treasury of Christmas Miracles

  A Treasury of Miracles for Women

  A Treasury of Miracles for Teens

  A Treasury of Miracles for Friends

  A Treasury of Adoption Miracles

  Gift Books

  Stay Close Little Girl

  Be Safe Little Boy

  Forever Young: Ten Gifts of Faith for the Graduate

  www.KarenKingsbury.com

  Karen Kingsbury

  Above the Line Series

  Take Two

  BOOK TWO

  Copyright

  ZONDERVAN

  Take Two

  Copyright © 2009 by Karen Kingsbury

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

  ePub Edition June 2009 ISBN: 978-0-310-32216-0

  Requests for information should be addressed to:

  Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

  ISBN 978-0-310-31893-4

  All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

  Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers printed in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other — except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

  Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920. www.alivecommunications.com.

  Interior design by Michelle Espinoza

  09 10 11 12 13 14 15 • 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Contents

  Cover

  What Readers Are Saying about Karen Kingsbury’s Books

  Othe
r Life-Changing Fiction™by Karen Kingsbury

  Title page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Forever in Fiction

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  Twenty-Six

  A Note From Karen

  Reader Study Guide

  Read an Excerpt Frome the Next Book in the Above the Line Series: TAKE THREE

  Above the Line Series

  About the Publisher

  Share Your Thoughts

  DEDICATION

  To Donald, my Prince Charming …

  How I rejoice to see you coaching again, sharing your gift of teaching and your uncanny basketball ability with another generation of kids — and best yet, now our boys are part of the mix. 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 that you would find varsity coaching again now — after twenty 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, savoring 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 …

  You are almost twenty and though I cringe even writing those words, I am blessed to be your mom and your friend. My heart soars with joy when I see all that you are, all you’ve become. This is a precious year for us because you’re still home, attending junior college, and spending nearly every day in the dance studio. When you’re not dancing, you’re helping out with the business and ministry of Life-Changing Fiction™ — so we have many precious hours together. I know this time is short and won’t last, but I’m enjoying it so much — you, no longer the high school girl, a young woman and in every way my daughter, my friend. That part will always stay, but you, my sweet girl, will go where your dreams lead, soaring through the future doors God opens.

  Honey, you grow more beautiful — inside and out — every day. And always I treasure the way you talk to me, telling me your hopes and dreams and everything in between. I can almost sense the plans God has for you, the very good plans. I pray you keep holding on to His hand as He walks you toward them. I love you, sweetheart.

  To Tyler, my lasting song …

  I can hardly wait to see what the next school year brings you, my precious son. Last year you were one of Joseph’s brothers, and you were Troy Bolton, and Captain Hook — becoming a stronger singer and stage actor with every role. This year you began a new high school, where God has continued to shape you as the leader He wants you to be. I’ll never forget the moment on the K-Love Cruise this past year when you were so deeply moved during worship. You told me, “Mom, I think God is leading me into a future of Christian music.” Wow, Ty. What an amazing God we serve, that He is putting such a dream on your heart now, while you are not yet a junior in high school. I still love seeing you on a stage, but I sense that you want to spend more time on a different stage — the stage of life. I know it’s hard realizing that time with your best friend, Kelsey, is running short. But you’ll be fine, and no matter where God leads you in the future, the deep and lasting family relationships you’ve begun here in your childhood will remain.

  Thank you for the hours of music and song. As you finish up your sophomore year, I am mindful that time is rushing past, and I make a point to stop and listen a little longer when I hear you singing. Your dad and I are proud of you, Ty, of the young man you’ve become. We’re 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, Ty. I love you.

  To Sean, my happy sunshine …

  What a scare we had this past year watching you go through encephalitis and mono. I’ll never forget the way your faith shone in the emergency room that one terrible night. I told you that without a spinal tap, you might die. You only looked at me, confused, and said, “Well, then I’d be home with Jesus, and that would be better!” The staff at the hospital was amazed, and I stood in awe of your deep belief — even in the delirium of your sickness.

  New things are just around the corner for you, Sean. I can hardly believe you start high school in the fall, taking on a host of new adventures in the process. Always remember who you are and whose you are as you venture into that next step. One of the things I love most about you, Sean, is your beautiful smile and the way your eyes light up when we’re together as a family. Keep that always. You are a bright sunbeam, bringing warmth to everyone around you.

  One thing that will stand out about this past year is your crazy ping-pong skills. I absolutely love playing against you, Sean. You’re quick as lightning and it makes me a better player. Of course … I never really thought I’d be hoping for a win against my little boy. But then, you’re not all that little anymore. I’m proud of you, Sean. I love you more than you know. I pray God will use your positive spirit 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 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 eighth-grade year, but some will always stand out. The week, for instance, when you scored five touchdowns in your team’s city championship — three rushing, two on interception returns. Then that same week you turned around and scored a total of eight goals in two intense soccer games against the top teams in our state. Amazing. No wonder I’m always seeking to make our devotions about staying humble! Seriously, sweetheart, God has given you tremendous talent in sports. I have no doubt that someday we will see your name in headlines and that — if God allows it — you’ll make it to the pros. You’re that good, and everyone around you says so.

  Now, flash back 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, reached up with your small fingers and brushed back my bangs, and said, “Hi, Mommy. I love you.” It might’ve taken six months, 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 in the last few months of seventh grade, and I can barely recognize the student athlete you’ve become. Those two years of homeschooling with Dad continue to reap a harvest a hundred times bigger than what was sown, and we couldn’t be prouder of you. But even beyond your grades, 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. Clearly, that’s what you displayed the other day when you came out of nowhere in your soccer qualifiers and scored three goals.

  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 so excited about the future, EJ, because 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 season again, and once more I smile when I see you at bat. You take your sports so seriously, but even more than that, you take your role as our son seriously. The other day we were driving somewhere and you said that your friend Karter made an observation. “Austin,” he said, “I think you’re going to grow up to be just exactly like your dad.” You shared that story proudly and beamed at us from the backseat. And up in the front seat, 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 bittersweetness of knowing that every morning you stand a little taller is juxtaposed with the joy of knowing Karter is right. You’re a little more like your dad every day. I love your tender heart, Austin, the times late at night when you come to me, tears in your eyes, and tell me you’re missing Papa. The other kids miss him, too, but I don’t hear it from them as often as I hear it from you. Papa’s still cheering for you, Son. As you soar toward your teenage years please don’t forget that or him.