Halfway to Forever
Read Halfway to Forever Online
Authors: Karen Kingsbury
Tags: #Fiction, #Religious, #Christian, #General
RAISE FOR
K
AREN
K
INGSBURY’S
B
OOKS
Halfway to Forever
“Halfway to Forever
has believable characters you care about. You’ll feel their tension, heartbreak, and joy. Karen Kingsbury sweeps readers right in. She really knows how to tell a story!”
R
ANDY
A
LCORN, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF
D
EADLINE AND
T
HE
I
SHBANE
C
ONSPIRACY
“Karen Kingsbury’s
Halfway to Forever
is an emotionally charged novel of heartache and hope. Keep the tissues handy!”
R
OBIN
L
EE
H
ATCHER, AUTHOR OF
R
IBBON OF
Y
EARS
and
T
HE
S
TORY
J
AR
“Karen’s signature style will inspire you and keep you turning pages until the last luscious page.”
P
ATRICIA
H
ICKMAN, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF
K
ATRINA’S
W
INGS AND
S
ANDPEBBLES
When Joy Came to Stay
“Kingsbury confronts hard issues with truth and sensitivity.”
F
RANCINE
R
IVERS, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF
L
EOTA’S
G
ARDEN
“Kingsbury’s poignant tale of a lost and broken family and how they experience God’s miraculous healing is a sure guarantee to bring hope and joy to her readers.”
M
ELODY
C
ARLSON, AUTHOR OF
D
IARY OF A
T
EENAGE GIRL
“A thought-provoking account of the battle of depression in a believer’s life. It leaves no doubt that God is loving, merciful, and faithful.”
N
ANCY
M
OSER, AUTHOR OF
T
HE
M
USTARD
S
EED SERIES
A Moment of Weakness
“Kingsbury spins a tale of love and loss, lies and betrayal, that sent me breathlessly turning pages.”
L
IZ
C
URTIS
H
IGGS, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF
B
OOKENDS
and
M
IXED SIGNALS
“A gripping love story. A
Moment of Weakness
demonstrates the devastating consequences of wrong choices, and the long shadows deception casts over the lives of God’s children. It also shows the even longer reach of God’s providence, grace, and forgiveness.”
R
ANDY
A
LCORN, BESTSELLING AUTHOR
“One message shines clear and strong through Karen Kingsbury’s A
Moment of Weakness:
Our loving God is a God of second chances.”
A
NGELA
E
LWELL
H
UNT, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF
T
HE
I
MMORTAL
Waiting for Morning
“What a talent! I love her work.”
G
ARY
S
MALLEY, BESTSELLING AUTHOR
“Kingsbury not only entertains but goes a step further and confronts readers with situations that are all too common, even for Christians. At the same time, it will remind believers of God’s mercy and challenge them to pray for America. The book … reveals God’s awesome love and His amazing ability to turn moments of weakness into times of strengthening.”
C
HRISTIAN
R
ETAILING
, S
POTLIGHT
R
EVIEW
NOVELS BY KAREN KINGSBURY
Where Yesterday Lives
When Joy Came to Stay
On Every Side
A Time to Dance
A Time to Embrace (sequel to A Time to Dance)
One Tuesday Morning
Oceans Apart
THE FOREVER FAITHFUL SERIES
Waiting for Morning
A Moment of Weakness
Halfway to Forever
THE REDEMPTION SERIES
(Co-written with Gary Smalley)
Redemption
Remember
Return
Rejoice
Reunion
THE RED GLOVES CHRISTMAS SERIES
Gideon’s Gift
Maggie’s Miracle
Sarah’s Song
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
HALFWAY TO FOREVER
Published by Multnomah Books
A division of Random House, Inc
.
© 2002 by Karen Kingsbury
Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc.
7680 Goddard St., Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Excerpts from the hymn GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS by Thomas O. Chisholm © 1923, Ren. 1951 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by Permission.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from:
The Holy Bible
, New International Version (NIV)
© 1973, 1984 by International Bible Society,
used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House
Multnomah
and its mountain colophon are registered trademarks of Random House Inc.
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, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission.
For information:
MULTNOMAH BOOKS • 12265 ORACLE BOULEVARD, SUITE 200
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80921
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kingsbury, Karen.
Halfway to forever / Karen Kingsbury.
p. cm.
eISBN: 978-0-307-76938-1
1. Adoption—Fiction. 2. Pregnant women—Fiction. 3. Brain—Cancer—Patients—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3561. I4873 H35 2002
813′.54—dc21
2001007865
v3.1
Dedicated to …
D
ONALD, MY KNIGHT
in shining armor, my one true love. Can this really be our fourteenth anniversary? Years slip by like hours in a day, but I cherish every one. With you by my side the best keeps getting better, and I thank God that you are such an example to me, to our children, to your students and athletes. Thank you for being my best friend and for believing in forever. Aren’t we having a blast? Year after year after year after year … I love you so.
Kelsey, my sweet little “Norm” who has long since shed her little-girl image and traded it in for the look of a young teen on the brink of everything new and wonderful and exciting. You’re busy these days, sweetheart, but it does my mother-heart good to know you still remember who you are: a child of God, a daughter, a sister, a student, a friend. I cherish the times we have together even more now that you are in middle school, because in the distant corridors of time I see you, not too very far from here, in a cap and gown. I can’t slow the ride, but I can be grateful for every minute, knowing full well that God’s plans for you will be nothing less than amazing. I am so proud of you, honey. Always remember that I love you, Kelsey.
Tyler, my handsome, budding young writer. I love when you tell me you’re going to act and sing when you grow up—but in your spare time you might write for fun. I guess that’s all writing is, after all: fun. The way God intended His gifts to be. I will long remember your “one voice” ringing out across the school’s Veteran’s Day assembly. May God lead you to always be that one voice ringing out for Him, and may His plans for your life become more evident with each passing year. I love you, Ty.
Austin (or Michael Jordan, depending on the moment). This
past year I have watched you take giant steps away from babyhood and into the strong, strapping young boy you are becoming. I will never forget sitting on the edge of your bed that September evening before your fourth birthday, singing with you, kissing you goodnight, and saying good-bye to my three-year-old. You’re not my baby anymore, but you are still my miracle boy. The heart that beats within you is fully devoted—whether slamming a basketball through a net or singing songs for Jesus. Keep that, honey, as God’s spectacular plans for your life unfold. Keep it always. I love you, Austin.
EJ, our youngest Haitian son. Adopting you has blessed us beyond words. We have watched you grow from a shy, insecure little boy to a confident, goal-kicking, letter-sounding, smiling child with no limits to your potential. God definitely brought you into our lives for a reason, and I am grateful every day. I can’t wait to see what He has planned for you. I love you, EJ.
Sean, our half-angel boy. When we brought you home from Haiti you made an instant place in our hearts for one reason—you were constantly praying to Jesus. Even now, when we give you a present, you drop to your knees and thank God for the giver. When we give you a meal, you won’t take a bite—no matter how hungry you are—until proper thanks has been given. And when you finish eating you look to the heavens and say, “Thank you, Jesus.” You told me recently that you would grow up and get a good job one day so you could give me and Daddy some money because we’d helped you so much. With teary eyes I told you that wasn’t necessary, just love Jesus all your life, Sean. And as God reveals His plan for you, I am convinced that will always be the best advice I could give you. I love you, Sean.
Joshua, chosen by God for our family. When I went to Haiti to adopt your two best friends, I didn’t know about you. But you worked your way into my heart in minutes with your sweet songs
for Jesus and your sad little smile. How wonderful God is to bring you into our family this past September. You are brilliant at everything you do, from reading, to those soccer foot skills that would make any teenager envious. At six years old you clearly have a great desire to do things right, a determined spirit that will take you far, and a compassion for others that makes you a natural leader. Always remember where your gifts come from … and that God has very special plans for you. I love you, Joshua.
And to God Almighty, my Lord and Savior, the Author of Life, who has—for now—blessed me with these.
S
O MUCH GOES
into the writing of any single book. I couldn’t possibly move on to my next project without stopping to thank the people who have made this one possible. First, and foremost, it is my great pleasure to thank God who has given me the gift of writing. I am amazed at the letters pouring in from my readers, letters that prove God is changing lives with the gift of story—just as He did when Jesus walked this Earth. I pray I always use His gift in a way that touches hearts and glorifies God.
Also, thanks to my wonderful husband and children, who understand when life goes on hold because Mommy has a deadline. Donald, you have the most uncanny ability to pick up where I leave off when I need a little extra help. “Thanks” doesn’t come close. In addition, thanks to my extended family, many of whom tirelessly continue to spread the word about my novels. I am grateful for each of you.
Beyond family, there are those friends who have prayed for me, supported me, and listened to me discuss story ideas. In that light, a special thanks to Sylvia Wallgren and Ann Hudson, my personal prayer warriors, without whom none of this would ever happen. And to those special friends and sisters in Christ who have made such a faithful impact on my life. You know who you are.