  This summer I met Karen Beaudin as she traveled through New York on her way home. The weather resembled something from the opening in the The Wizard of Oz but she persevered and arrived safely. We enjoy dinner, prayer, laughter, and much conversation. Karen and I have something in common, both are sisters were kidnapped. The endings are different though. My sister, Heidi Allen remains missing while Karen's sister, Kathy was found brutally murdered. Two sets of sisters sharing the bond of kidnapping and the hope of seeing our beloved sisters again in heaven.  After Heidi's disappearance I searched for a book written to encourage, inspire, heal, and uplift the sister's heart. I found books written for the parents of a missing child or the child of a missing adult (which these are still too few), and some for the grandparents but the sibling had yet to be written. Please don't misunderstand, I found a few books written for a sister but they were of anger, hate, and rage. I didn't need to be filled with more negative emotions. I needed to know I wasn't alone. I needed to know I was loved. I needed to know there was hope. In 2010 I researched more intensely for books written by other sisters of the missing. I only found a few. Two stand out, a booklet written and developed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and a book written by my (now) friend, Karen Beaudin. I read Karen's book over a weekend and cried to know someone else understood. Sisters have a common bond, one only a sister could explain or understand.  NCMEC's booklet, What About Me? and Karen Beaudin's book, A Child is Missing are valuable resources for the sibling left behind after the kidnapping of their brother or sister. I am pleased to know my first book, Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey will be another resource to the hurting, grieving, and struggling sibling searching for something to believe in, to trust, and to hope for as they continue their search for their lost brother or sister. The sibling's who have buried their found sibling struggle daily and need to the same things. The siblings reunited with a lost sibling also require the same knowledge. We all need to know we are not alone and that someone cares. God cares and loves each of us. Thank goodness. Two sisters with a common bond finally meet. Laughter, tears, and prayer filled our evening together. Words on paper share our stories with all of you. To learn more about Karen's book, visit her website at: (you may also click on any of the photographs with her book cover on it for a direct link) http://www.karenbeaudin.com/ To learn more about my book, visit my "Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey" page on this website or click on the photo of my book cover for a direct link. To access a free download of of NCMEC's "What About me?" copy and paste the below link or click on the photo of my sister, Heidi M Allen in the bottom right for a direct link. http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=3462 Thank you everyone! How do you see these types of publications benefiting you personally?
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Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey * When the Waves Subside: There is Hope * Encourage Others: One Day at a Time No More Pain: I Can Fly * YOU are a Rainbow * Goal Setting for a Renewed You *Also available on Kindle* |
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