To Tyler, my lasting song …
I love that you are branching out, Ty, that you’ve taken time to write music and work on your piano playing. One of the highlights of this past year was the moment when you told me you absolutely knew God was leading you into a future of Christian music. Then watching you start to pen songs from the overflow of your heart, songs that talked about God’s greatness and purpose, His mercy and grace. How great is our God, that He would lead you in this direction. I’ve also seen your heart grow attached to the special friends in your life who love God as much as you do. Another gift from our Lord. I am so grateful for your place at our local Christian school! I’ve seen your faith become strong and personal, and I’ve watched you hold your shoulders back, head high as you lead with compassion and set an example for your peers. Keep pushing the limits, Ty. And as you take the stage for whatever’s next this year, know that I’ll be cheering you on. Let’s enjoy this coming season, and the ones that follow it. With your Dad there teaching you in so many ways, I see you becoming more like him with every passing season. Your music fills our home, and I can’t imagine the deafening silence that lies in the not-too-distant future when you go off to college. In the meantime, keep singing for Him. I am so proud of you, Son. I love you always.
To Sean, my happy sunshine …
I love your heart, Sean. I love that you are always looking for a chance to sidle up to me and talk about every topic that breezes through your heart. You and I can sit for hours talking about different job descriptions, or the state of our nation’s faith or political climate. We talk about God and heaven and why it is that some people won’t turn their hearts to Him. One of the things you’ve often said lately is that you don’t know how you’ll learn to be a grown-up. “What if I don’t know how to pay bills?” you’ll ask. Or, “I won’t have any idea how to run a house, Mom.” And sometimes, “I hope I make it as a pro athlete, because I’m not sure I can do anything else very well.” It touches my heart that you care so much about the future and what’s ahead. But our job — your dad’s and mine — is to help you relax a little. God will make the next step clear when it’s time for you to take it. Kids don’t become grown-ups all at once or overnight — even though it sometimes feels that way to us. God will walk you through it, and we will too. I guess the great thing is that you care so much. You’re a conscientious young man with a great heart for God. Not long ago I told you that as you got older, if you went to the public high school, you’d either end up very lonely — the way Kelsey was through high school — or you’d get dragged into the incessant partying and immoral choices of most athletes at our local school. I love how you’ve watched for whether I was right. Just the other day you said, “I’m so glad we’re going to the Christian high school. Remember what you said about being lonely? Well, last weekend the kids we know had a big party, and me and Josh didn’t get invited.” You had a knowing look in your eyes. “It’s because they know we won’t drink, Mom. So you were right about being lonely around that crowd.” I wanted to stand up and shout, “Yay for God!!” We are so blessed to have you boys starting high school with your dad at such a wonderful school. I can’t wait to see all the ways you grow in the coming years, and how you start to understand the details of life that today seem so elusive. And don’t worry about being a pro athlete, Sean. You’re great at lots and lots of things. I love you so much. Hold tight to Jesus. In life, He’ll help you suit up exactly where He wants you to play.
To Josh, my tenderhearted perfectionist …
Starting a new school and leaving friends you’ve known all your life is never easy. Yet you, my dear son, have made this transition with optimism and faith — and for that I will always be grateful. It was the same way when Dad homeschooled you boys for those years. You didn’t complain, but rather looked for the positive in each situation. That’s the case now, and I know that God will bless you for it. You have embraced the new kids at your Christian high school, knowing that it is a different situation than the one you would’ve found at our major public school. There won’t be crowds of kids, but there will be a class you’ll be close to, and pep assemblies that are more fun than what’s happening down the street. And there won’t be the constant pressure to drink and party, nor the assumption that as a star athlete you’ll have physical relationships with girls. For the most part, you will be surrounded by kids like yourself. In making this decision, your dad and I prayerfully asked God where you and your brothers belonged. God made it very clear. We know you would’ve been a standout athlete at the big public school, but that is not what this time in your life is about. We did not adopt you so that you could be popular or have your name in the headlines. Rather, we brought you here asking God that we might raise you as a godly young man, one who will honor Him and one who will lead your future family and generations to come with the faith and knowledge you learned here with us. Here’s the cool thing. You’ll be even more of a standout at your smaller Christian school. And you’ll be a leader too. I can’t wait to watch it all play out, Josh. I’ll be in the front row, cheering you on always. I love you so much! Hold on to Jesus!
To EJ, my chosen one …
What I love about you, EJ, is the way you’re always surprising us. You have the driest sense of humor in the family, often making us burst out loud with laughter at the things you say. Though you’re easily the quietest of the kids, you are very perceptive, knowing just when to say the right thing and finding perfect timing to put a smile on our faces. But the words you said the other day made me smile in a different way. One of your siblings was commenting that getting A’s wasn’t that important. As long as a class was passed, that was what mattered. You gave a puzzled look. “Not me. I say get the highest grade of all. That way you can do anything you want when you grow up.” Now, for some kids that might be the natural response or something they might’ve repeated based on a parent’s teaching. Not you. For years you would grow bored of school and we would struggle to keep you interested. Then, after being homeschooled by your dad, you had a change of heart. You try harder than anyone, and you look with anticipation for your report card. You’ve been on the honor roll at school for the past few years, and now I know why. You want the chance to grow up to be whatever you want to be. I couldn’t be happier about that, EJ. Whether God has in mind for you to be a pastor or a doctor, a politician or a civic leader, a businessman or a teacher and coach like your dad, you’ll go after the dream and you’ll get it. Because God will honor your determination to try. I’m so glad you’re finding your strength in Him. He is all that matters in the end. We are thrilled with all you’re becoming, all you desire to be. Keep your eyes on Jesus. I love you so much.
To Austin, my miracle boy …
What an adventure you’re just beginning, Austin. You and your brothers starting at a new Christian school, a place where you’ll make amazing memories and forever friends. I’m so glad you’ll be a part of this wonderful community, and I expect that this year is the beginning of a time when God uses you as a brilliant light for Him. You will be a leader at this school, as you have already been a leader for your friends at your elementary school. But even as I am thrilled with all that lies ahead, I still can hardly believe you are at the beginning of middle school. For the last year I’ve been calculating lasts. Your last back-to-school ice cream social — something that’s only done at the grade school. Your last open house, and your last chance to participate in the science fair. Your last time to have recess built into your daily routine. How can it be that my youngest child is no longer in grade school? As difficult as it is to see you grow, it is even more exciting to see all you are becoming. I think of the time at the beginning of last baseball season when the umpire pulled aside our coaches and said, “I love your catcher. I’ve never seen a boy in this league with as much character and good manners as that young man. Please … tell the rest of your team to take a lesson from him.” Wow, Austin. As happy as your dad and I are when you make an out at home plate or when you hit a home run, those things pale in comparison to the way you’re being a light for Christ. You grow to be a little more like your daddy every day. Something that must make your Papa smile up in heaven. Keep on, my youngest son. Keep Jesus first and know that I love you always and always.
And to God Almighty, the Author of Life, who has — for now — blessed me with these.
N
O BOOK COMES TOGETHER WITHOUT A
great and talented team of people making it happen. For that reason, a special thanks to my friends at Zondervan who combined efforts to make
Shades of Blue
all it could be. A special thanks to my dedicated editor, Sue Brower, and to my brilliant publicist Karen Campbell, and to Karwyn Bursma, whose creative marketing is unrivaled in the publishing business.
Also, thanks to my amazing agent, Rick Christian, president of Alive Communications. Rick, you’ve always believed only the best for me. When we talk about the highest possible goals, you see them as doable, reachable. You are a brilliant manager of my career, and I thank God for you. But even with all you do for my ministry of writing, I am doubly grateful for your encouragement and prayers. Every time I finish a book, you send me a letter that deserves to be framed, and when something big happens, yours is the first call I receive. Thank you for that. But even more, the fact that you and Debbie are praying for me and my family keeps me confident every morning that God will continue to breathe life into the stories in my heart. Thank you for being so much more than a brilliant agent.
A special thank-you to my husband, Don, who puts up with me on deadline and doesn’t mind driving through Taco Bell after a basketball game if I’ve been editing all day. This wild ride wouldn’t be possible without you. Your love keeps me writing; your prayers keep me believing that God has a plan in this ministry of fiction. And thanks for the hours you put in working with the guestbook entries on my website. It’s a full-time job, and I am grateful for your concern for my reader friends. I look forward to that time every day when you read through them, sharing them with me and releasing them to the public, lifting up the prayer requests. Thank you, honey, and thanks to all my kids, who pull together, bringing me iced green tea, and understand my sometimes-crazy schedule. I love that you know you’re still first, before any deadline.
Thank you also to my mom, Anne Kingsbury, and to my sisters, Tricia, Sue, and Lynne. Mom, you are amazing as my assistant — working day and night sorting through the mail from my readers. I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know.
Tricia, you are the best executive assistant I could ever hope to have. I treasure your loyalty and honesty, the way you include me in every decision and the daily exciting website changes. My site has been a different place since you stepped in, and the hits have grown a hundredfold. Along the way, the readers have so much more to help them in their faith, so much more than a story with this Life-Changing Fiction
TM
. Please know that I pray for God’s blessings on you always, for your dedication to helping me in this season of writing, and for your wonderful son, Andrew. And aren’t we having such a good time too? God works all things to the good!
Sue, I believe you should’ve been a counselor! From your home far from mine, you get batches of reader letters every day, and you diligently answer them using God’s wisdom and His Word. When readers get a response from “Karen’s sister Susan,” I hope they know how carefully you’ve prayed for them and for the responses you give. Thank you for truly loving what you do, Sue. You’re gifted with people, and I’m blessed to have you aboard.
A special thanks also to Will Montgomery, my manager. I was terrified to venture into the business of selling my books at events for a couple of reasons. First, I never wanted to profit from book sales at speaking events; and second, because I would never have the time to handle such details. Monty, you came in and made it all come together. With a mission statement that reads, “To love and serve the readers,” you have helped me supply books and free gifts to tens of thousands of readers at events across the country. You understand my desire to give away our proceeds for ministry purposes. More than that, you’ve become my friend, a very valuable part of the ministry of Life-Changing Fiction
TM
. You are loyal and kind and fiercely protective of me, my family, and the work God has me doing. Thank you for everything you’re doing and will continue to do.
Thanks too to Olga Kalachik, my office assistant, who helps organize my supplies and storage area and who prepares our home for the marketing events and research gatherings that take place here on a regular basis. I appreciate all you’re doing to make sure I have time to write. You’re wonderful, Olga, and I pray God continues to bless you and your precious family.
I also want to thank my friends with Extraordinary Women — Roy Morgan, Tim and Julie Clinton, Beth Cleveland, Charles Billingsley, and so many others. How wonderful to be a part of what God is doing through all of you. Thank you for making me part of your family.
Thanks also to my forever friends and family, the ones who have been there and continue to be there. Your love has been a tangible source of comfort, pulling us through the tough times and making us know how very blessed we are to have you in our lives.
And the greatest thanks to God. The gift is Yours. I pray I might use it for years to come in a way that will bring You honor and glory.
Whenever I receive the completed paperwork for a Forever in Fiction winner, I read through the details of the life being honored in fiction — whether the person is alive or has passed — and I am touched by the real-life stories that come my way.