Put An End to Abuse & Suffering

Lately I've been so attacked. I'm just getting my life together after the loss of my precious son, Brian, my father, and my sister, Sue, who lost her battle with cancer just before Christmas.

It's hard losing those that we love.

My son passed away from heart complications, my father due to COPD, and my sister due to cancer. Although it was hard to let them spread their wings toward heaven. It was equally hard to watch them suffer day after day.

Sadly, suffering is part of life.

But there is a type of suffering that we can do something about, and even prevent. Abuse. A five letter word that is so misunderstood. Abuse, bullying, violence, are all forms of power and control. Some think it's love. And this is how someone acts when they love you.

Love is not Abuse. Love is not bullying. Love is not violence.

The Bible gives a really clear picture of what love is in I Corinthians 13:4-8

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
⁸ Love never fails. 

If each of us walked in this true definition of love, there would be no abuse, bullying or violence. Can you imagine if we all "loved" others the way God wants us to? WOW! I can!

That gets me excited! I hope it gets you pumped up too. Because together we can put an end to abuse and suffering, by loving the abuse, bullying and violence out of this world!

Home for the Holidays

It was great to get away on vacation in November over the Thanksgiving holiday. The trip to Florida was beautiful. No rain or snow all the way down or back driving. No bad weather. Only one day of cold while there, all the rest of our 8 days was filled with mostly blue skies and sunshine.

We took a break from everything! I didn't work out once, but I walked the beach, played shuffleboard and putt putt golf, swam, and even shot some pool. Mostly we just kicked back and enjoyed ourselves. We even got to see dolphins swim by from our balcony, and the sunrises and sunsets over the ocean were breathtaking.

No matter how enjoyable and awesome our vacation was though, it was so nice to get back home.

Home is where my heart is. I love our little town of Owosso, Michigan and all the people in it. Corunna is pretty decent too! Love all the Christmas lights and decorations, and love the support and closeness we have in this tight knit community.

But I love my house too. I live next door to where I grew up and spent all my Christmas's. Traditions that we've instilled in our kids have been memories that will carry on to the next generation.

This year our Abuse Bites Team were invited to participate in the Tree of Lights Parade in Corunna, Michigan. Our theme was Santa's Paws for a Cause to Stop Abuse & Bullying. We won BEST MARCHING/WALKING UNIT, received a trophy, and a $50 check!

The parade's theme was Mardi Gra Christmas. My sister, Sue had just passed away and her favorite color was purple--mine pink--so I bought the balloons in her memory and let them go in the middle of the parade.

We also took the dogs in Christmas Costumes to our local Nursing Home, Pleasant View Medical Care Facility, to visit my mom and others for a time of healing pet therapy.

On Christmas Eve we celebrated Christmas with our family . After a delicious dinner prepared by my loving husband, we all gathered together for several hilarious games to the theme of "Surviving Christmas". After each game, the WINNER got to choose and open one wrapped gift. Some were legitimate gifts (gift cards and such) while many others were hysterical pranks.

I never laughed so hard in all my life.

The first game we filled 5 baby bottles with Mt. Dew to determine who was the biggest sucker. For four of them, you could say, "Christmas Sucked" but for the lucky winner, Sam, she got to grab a present.

Sam Wins!!! She's the Biggest Sucker!

They entered arm wrestling contests, balloon blowing contests, a clothes relay, and a couple of games where you couldn't smile--everyone was ROTFL. I was laughing so hard I was crying.

Typically I'm crying because of the great loss I've suffered with my son, father, and now sister passing away. It felt good to have a fun time, celebrate, and laugh. Laughter is the best medicine that's for sure. And gifts given this time of year help to make it a merrier Christmas.

BUT the best Christmas gift of all is simply this, being with all those that love you and celebrating the birth of the precious Christ Child.

From our Home to Yours... Have a wonderful New Year!

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

Fake Friends

What would you do for your friends? Lie? Steal? Cover up for them? Take the blame? Murder?

All any of us want in life is to be loved and accepted by someone. We don't always know when 'fake friends' are taking advantage of us or using us. So, many times, we'll do whatever it takes just to be included. I know I did.

I let my so-called friends talk me into everything; skipping school, smoking, drinking, drugs, stealing, running away, sleeping around, etc. That's crazy! I didn't want to do any of it, but because my 'friend' wanted me to, I did.

Last night I watched "The Bling Ring," about these teen wannabe's in Hollywood who used a new kid with a panic disorder to help them break into all the celebrities homes and steal their goods. At the end, when everyone was arrested, the boy that was lured into the whole thing said, "I didn't do it for the money. I did it because I had friends. I've never had friends. And I liked how I felt when I was with them--I was a different person."

Now they are all facing prison time!

(Photo above is the actual Bling Ring burglars!)

Sad!

Even sadder. Recently I spoke to two different mothers who have special needs boys, who just turned adults. Both boys share pretty much the same story. They had been lured by a young teen girl saying she was 18, and that she liked them, wanted to go with them, and wanted them to do sexual things with her and her friends. Of course, these boys, given their mentality (functioning at only a 10 year old's age level) jumped at the chance to have a real relationship with someone. The girls videotaped the event and have not only made these boys a laughingstock in the community, but now they are facing prison time as well!

Insane!

Even movies portray that you have to be a certain person or look a certain way to get the hot chicks!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Too bad the movies have it all wrong. True love is not found in a person's looks or position they hold, or the abilities they have, NO it's found much deeper--in the heart!

I raised four children with varying disabilities. Between them they had dyslexia, learning disabilities, Asperger's Syndrome, emotional impairments, bi-polar, panic, schizophrenia, heart condition, ADD, ADHD, not to mention OCD and ODD. None of them had many real friends growing up. Many times they were lured into giving their money and prized possessions away. Even as adults, now, people still try to use them, but I've educated them to be on the look out about such friends.

Today people with disabilities are increasingly becoming victims of what is called "Mate Crime" where fake friends take advantage of, hurt, and sometimes even murder them. These fake friends show up when these individuals get their disability checks and finagle them out of their funds. Some have even moved into their homes and lived off them!

Worse yet, one innocent victim, Stephen Hoskin (below), a man from the UK with learning disabilities, was tortured to the point of death by his fake friends. Stephen was taken to a viaduct where he was forced to hang by his fingers from railings, then they stamped on his hands, which caused him to fall 100 ft to his death. Tragically 90% of mate crimes go unreported, due to those with disabilities keeping it a secret because they want friends and will do anything to keep them! (Read Full Story)

Read about both men, the victim and the murderer.

This story and others only prove that we must work even harder to educate our disabled children, our community, and those who could and should protect them! Together we can stop abuse, change hearts, and save lives!

By: Lisa Freeman, Author, Speaker, Abuse Advocate
Founder & CEO of Abuse Bites & A Time to Heal

Anti-Bullying Rally in Flint

We held an Anti-Bullying Rally in Flint yesterday!

Rocking the Violence Out Of Flint was amazing!

Ryan LoRee from Team Revelation Gym put the event together. He had talked to some people out at Walmart when we were doing our fundraising event there and that's when he got in touch with us about speaking and doing our Abuse Bites presentation. Anything to team up with others to stop abuse, bullying and violence! 

Together we can do this!

Ryan (above) founded Team Revelation a non-profit judo/wrestling type place to give free instructions and mentoring to troubled kids and youth! Kudos Ryan!

Ryan's two beautiful little girls fell in love our Yorkie, Lover.

This little boy stopped to play with Lover.

This boy's little sister was afraid of dogs...

At first she even turned her head away and wouldn't look at him...

But then I actually got her to play with Lover!

Great Things Happened All Day! And we met some really amazing people!

The Judge William Crawford (right) and a Respite Volunteer from a local shelter.

A lady & her daughter are entering our Free Book Drawing! We donated a whole box of books so that everyone who entered could win!

Judge Crawford stayed longer than he intended just to do the special honor of signing Brian's Memory Quilt! It was a very emotional moment!

The man behind the judge is making a documentary about this event.

We played some fun interactive games!

These Kids Learned How to FIGHT BACK to Stop Bullying!

Then I had the privilege of sharing "The Change Of Heart Program" in memory of my precious son, Brian. And I could not believe the results! People were coming up to me, one by one, telling me what a difference my speech made in their lives. WOW!

This young man came up after and confessed he had been a bully until the 8th grade, but had since asked forgiveness from his victims. He also explained that he often spent the night at his cousins house when he was younger and they would bully him and his brother, so he thought he had to fight like them to be cool. I gave him a hug and thanked him for sharing.

Another young man had a shirt on that said "I love Haters" and he was so loving, but said to me, "I shouldn't have worn this shirt probably to something like this." I said, "I love your shirt, and I love Haters too! With people like you and I they will learn to be Lovers!" And he gave me a hug! He works with the Reach program to help troubled youth.

A woman came up and thanked me. She said her husband wasn't going to attend the event at all, but at the last minute changed his mind. Later he told her, "I think I was meant to here this lady speak, it really touched my heart." This man had been bullied and abused his entire life!

Several others thanked me as well and were really happy about what we're doing.

But the grand finale and best part is when Jeremiah sang, "We Are The Body" by Casting Crowns. It's the first time in quite awhile he's sang in front of a crowd. 

Just to think, a month ago Jeremiah nearly committed suicide, but God spared him and is using him once again to change hearts and save lives! This is one proud mamma, excited about taking this message forth!

Thanks Ryan Loree, Team Revelation, and The Bridge Church for allowing us this great opportunity to present at your 1st Rocking the Violence Out of Flint Benefit! May we do even more awesome things together next year!

Written by: Lisa Freeman, CEO of AbuseBites.com, offering healing anti-bullying workshops to schools, workplaces, and communities. More Info