Giving Thanks

Today I would like to give thanks...

First, I'd like to thank our COURAGEOUS U.S. SOLDIERS/HEROES who put their lives on the line every day for our freedom. Not to mention the fact that many are separated from their families during the holidays and the rest of the year. My prayers are with you and your families!

Second I'd like to thank the other soldiers/heroes. Those who have fought the heated battle of abuse, bullying and violence! These victims, advocates, survivors are true warriors, even more so the thousands of others who've had to be the TRUE HEROES and pave the way for others with their very lives! Today we thank and honor each of you and your families! Together we can END THE WAR on abuse, bullying, violence and BULLYCIDE! Kudos to all of you!

Thirdly, I'd like to thank my AMAZING FAMILY and FRIENDS! These are the HEROES that hold my arms and heart up every single day, with their love, support, encouragement, kind words, affection, and prayers.

Fourthly, I'd like to thank those HEROES who have SUPPORTED US in one way or another. Your donations, prayers, and words of encouragement have been what's kept us going! Thank you all! We truly cannot do this without you. You are the wind beneath our wings! THANK YOU BIG JOHN STEAK & ONION for being our PROUD SPONSOR and giving us a sizable donation to offer 6 Free Workshops in Schools all over Michigan!

Over the past year, because of the freedom, love, and support we've had, we've been able to GIVE BACK to others and take this message of freedom into the public schools and communities across the U.S., where we've literally been able to change hearts and save lives! Thank you! You are what is making a difference and the world a better, safer place! 

God bless you all and Happy Thanksgiving!

Lisa Freeman, CEO AbuseBites.com

www.abusebites.com

*Michigan Bullying Expert

*Abuse Advocate & Survivor

*Certified Pet Therapist & Dog Trainer

*Award-Winning Author & Speaker

Autism Workshop in Freeland Michigan

Yesterday was amazing! I love being with Autistic kids and families and I was already excited about being invited to the Great Lakes Bay Autism Fundraiser and Walk. BUT it was way better than I had anticipated. The group of adults and kids were so diverse and fun!

Ashley Blake (below) is a board member for the Autism Center. We met last year on our Walk & Talk Across Michigan event to raise awareness on abuse, bullying and violence. She had taken my card, and just last week gave me a call to ask if I'd like to come to their event and maybe do a presentation. She's an awesome person, it was so good to connect with her again!

Ashley (back left) smiling during the doggy presentation, while the kids have their eyes glued to me and the dogs. 

I shared my love for AUTISM, and Brian's story about how awesome he was. Born with Aspergers and a rare heart defect, doctors said he'd only live to be a year old! God miraculously healed him surgery after surgery and he lived to be 22! Sadly, that most of his years he was bullied for being different. Yet, he loved everyone, even forgave his bullies and wanted to help them. 

 It was a very heart touching moment and I got all choked up. But everyone was very patient and one boy asked what he died from. Another boy said "A shining Star!" Yes, Brian is definitely my shining star--my hero!

Before the workshop began, these college students paused for some pet therapy with the dogs! We were very short on volunteers for the day, so we chose to leave "Lover" home and only bring two dogs. And they were "pur-fect"!

It was great to see Snickers doing so well throughout the program. He was really loving the attention from the young woman (below) whose studying to be a social worker. She was wonderful with both dogs! Usually Baby Ruth shy's away, but not from her!

Snickers plopped down on the floor and chilled as the children gathered around him. He was born to be the "Bully Buster"! He's a true pet therapy dog!

Snickers yawns (below)! All the excitement has wore this 13 year old abuse rescue out! Not to worry, he loves attention and can sleep anywhere!

Still, the show must go on... Snickers napped through most of the speaking and interaction with the children.

BUT as soon as it was time for TRICKS n TREATS Snickers perked right up! And the kids and adults alike totally loved the show.

So many of the kids came up afterwards and thanked me and said, "That was a really fun program!" I think I had as much, if not more fun than they did! I like acting goofy and sharing a message that will touch the hearts of everyone listening, both young and old.

When the show ended, Snickers went right back into sleep mode. All in all, it was a fantastic day! 

Thanks so much Ashley for inviting us! Looking forward to coming again next year :)

NOTE: If you'd like more information about Lisa Freeman, Michigan Anti-Bullying Expert and Certified Pet Therapist and the diverse workshops she offers for all ages, please visit her website @ www.abusebites.com.

Empowering Students in Pentwater Michigan to Stop Abuse & Bullying

We had a great time in Pentwater Michigan this week! The children's K-6 workshop was phenomenal! The games and interaction fun and hilarious!

Our program is fun, that's for sure! But while we have fun, we're sending a bigger message to students!

Many of these volunteers (above) are shaking maraccas. Two of them don't have anything. I asked them how they felt. They said, "Sad, and left out." So I asked the students with the instruments to demonstrate kindness and share with the ones who didn't have any. How quickly smiles poured onto these precious faces. We empower students to accept others and include them. 

These students (above) demonstrated how quickly what we say can turn into gossip. Words hurt, words heal, but words can even kill. So we empower students to zip their lips unless they have something nice to say. We also educate students on what to do when bullied "ASKING FOR HELP" is way different than tattling and we explain the difference. 

Cyber Bullying is huge, via text, picture, email, or facebook (fakebook)! In this demonstration (below), one of the high school students came forward and participated to show that if I took a picture of him and sent it to all his friends, they'd send it to their friends, and on and on, until the whole world had this picture he didn't want to share. We empower students to BEWARE of the information they SHARE and to REPORT any cyberbullies right away!

I'm sure you're aware of the statistics by now: 160,000 kids in the USA fear going to school every day due to bullying. In 85% of school bullying there is no intervention. And 1 teen dies every 30 minutes due to bullying and bullycide.

Bullying and bullycide are running rampant all over the USA. Sadly, today the bully often has more power than those being bullied. Abuse Bites CHANGE rally's empowers students to regain the power in their own lives to make the CHANGE that is needed to put a stop to bullying. 

This Pentwater middle school student (below) faced a fear in our "FEAR FACTOR" game, to demonstrate to other students that it's hard to stand up for yourself or others and do something scary when you're all alone, but it can be done! Yay! Go Pentwater!

However, we empower students to stand together--not to be singled out and stand alone! We share our inspiring stories of how we overcame abusive and bullying situations, and use updated statistics, student demonstrations, and interactive games to drive the message home.

Statistics today tell us that there is typically 1 bully to every 7 students in the school. Below is a photo of our "TUG O WAR GAME". Our bully is on one end, six students on the other. Guess who wins?

There is power in numbers--if those other 6 simply STAND TOGETHER, they will defeat the bully every time. Too many times we're giving the bully the audience and not backing the target or victim. When we asked for volunteers, hands shot up all over the gym (below)! Eager to participate and eager to stop bullying! A great day for sure!

Pictured below is Baby Ruth, our "Bully" Dog. She is absolutely the worst dog we ever had. She chewed up everything, wouldn't potty train, and was very aggressive toward other people and pets. She even ran away from me when I was calling her and got hit by a car at a year old. However, since I worked harder with her, disciplined her, loved her, and didn't give up on her, she CHANGED and was a better dog. By sharing her story, we explain how "bullying is just a behavior" that can "change" with the right help.

Empowering Bullies to CHANGE! Her outfit reads "Paws for CHANGE".

At the end of our workshop, we encourage all students whether they were victims/targets, bystanders, or bullies before, to make a CHANGE and be different now! 98% of all students came forward to declare the CHANGE to stop bullying in their school and community! Isn't that amazing?!

If you would like to bring this empowering change to your school, church, work place, or community, please contact: 

Lisa Freeman, CEO of Abuse Bites

AbuseBites.com

989-729-214