Other Life-Changing Fiction™ by Karen Kingsbury September 11 Series One Tuesday Morning Beyond Tuesday Morning Stand-Alone Titles Oceans Apart Even Now Ever After Where Yesterday Lives When Joy Came to Stay On Every Side Divine Cody Gunner Series A Thousand Tomorrows Just Beyond the Clouds Redemption Series Redemption Remember Return Rejoice Reunion Firstborn Series Fame Forgiven Found Family Forever Sunrise Series Sunrise Summer Someday (spring 2008) Red Gloves 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 Children's Titles Let Me Hold You Longer Let's Go on a Mommy Date (spring 2008) 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 www.KarenKingsbury.com ZONDERVAN One Tuesday Morning/Beyond Tuesday Morning Copyright © 2006 by Karen Kingsbury One Tuesday Morning Copyright © 2003 by Karen Kingsbury Beyond Tuesday Morning Copyright © 2004 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, downloaded, 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 August 2009 ISBN: 978-0-310-86661-9 Requests for information should be addressed to: Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530 ISBN-10: 0-310-60651-9 ISBN-13: 978-0-310-60651-2 All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, 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. The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of Zondervan, nor do we vouch for their content 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, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80920 Interior design by Michelle Espinoza DEDICATION To Donald, my prince charming. When I wrote about Jake Bryan, I was writing about you—a man whose love for God is the heartbeat of all he does, all he says. All he is. I thank God that you are that kind of man, and that I am blessed to call you mine. I pray that our days together will always be the light they are today, and that I will continue to follow your lead, as you follow Christ's. To Kelsey, my little Norm, our precious teenager. The other day I remembered a time when you and Katie and Jentry were walking into kindergarten together. You were just the way I've made Sierra to be in this book —long golden curls and a smile that left a mark on everyone it touched. The beautiful thing, honey, is that you're still like that. I love that you are a one-in-a- million girl. You are the laughter in our home, Kelsey. I love you always and forever. To Tyler, my special boy. Watching you grow up I am often moved to silent awe—not an easy place (especially if you ask your dad). Handsome and tall, eyes set firmly on the goals you have for tomorrow. How many ten-year-olds want to star on Broadway, produce Hollywood films that are pleasing to God, and still write novels as a hobby? We all know the answer. Tears fill my eyes when I look to the day—dangling out there in the not-so-distant future—when the theme to Annie won't play constantly in the background. But for now, I'm savoring every note, memorizing every crazy thing you say and do, and knowing that God has a special plan for you. And remember what you mean to me. I'll always love you, always believe in you, always pray for you … my oldest son. Hold on fast to Jesus, buddy. He knows the way from here to there. To Austin, my miracle boy, who's gotten so big this past summer. Just a few more months and our time together will be over, little one. In the fall you'll join the whirlwind with the others—off to school. But for now you and I still have what feels like endless mornings of give-and-go on your plastic indoor basketball hoop. “Make it higher, Mommy … I'm Michael Jordan, remember?” Yes … I remember. And when you score seven goals in a soccer game as you did last week, I know without a doubt that God is smiling at you. Was it five years ago that the doctor rushed you into surgery and told us there was something wrong with your heart, when he told us you might not live to see your fourth week of life? Even the doctors are amazed at how well you are now, how you have not a trace of the heart problem you suffered back then. Lucky, they say. Very lucky. But we know the truth, don't we, MJ? God gave you back to me, and I am grateful for every single morning. I love you, Austin. Always and always. To EJ, my first chosen son. You have grown in leaps and bounds since coming to live with us from Haiti. We thought we were going to bless you by giving you a place in our home. But that wasn't how it worked out. The blessings have been all ours … watching you go from a frightened, helpless child to a self- sufficient, articulate little boy. God is the one who brought us together, and I pray you hang on to Him every day of your life. He has huge plans for you, son. I love you, EJ. To Sean, my happy silly-heart. You are so easily pleased, so happy to be here. I remember when you told me that one day you'd get a job and save up some money. “So I can give it to you, Mommy … for everything you and Daddy have done for me.” What I told you then is the same thing I want to tell you now. Just love God, Sean. Nothing would make me happier in the years and decades to come than to watch you love God the same way you love Him now. Don't forget about all the gifts He's given you … I love you, Sean. To Josh, our gentle giant. You are easily the fastest boy at school, the strongest in any game you play. Yet watching you is like watching an adult among children—you have that same gentle quality, that patience and kindness. I see it especially when you play with Austin, letting him win and even more, letting him think he's won. That takes a special type of confidence, a rare gift. You can do whatever you want to in life, Joshua. God has blessed you that greatly. Always remember that your abilities come from Him … and know that I love you forever and ever. And to God Almighty, the Author of Life, who has—for now—blessed me with these. Contents Title Page Copyright Page One Tuesday Morning Dedication A Note to the Reader Acknowedgement Chapter: One Chapter: Two Chapter: Three Chapter: Four Chapter: Five Chapter: Six Chapter: Seven Chapter: Eight Chapter: Nine Chapter: Ten Chapter: Eleven