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.

Bullies, the Joke is On You!

I love to joke around and laugh more than anyone. But I realize now, that what I may view as funny, may be the brunt of someone else's pain. It took me some time to see that many of my jokes were hurtful insults to others.

If we look at comedians today like Larry the Cable Guy, Eddie Murphy, George Lopez, and many others, their stand up shows all have one thing in common--they're belittling or bullying someone to make others laugh. Don't get me wrong, these are some of my favorites. BUT while their jokes can be hysterically funny, not everyone is amused... no, rather abused.

Pranks are funny too. I've played pranks and practical jokes on nearly everyone I've known. Most of them pranks were harmless. But a prank that happened recently in West Branch Michigan to a high school student, Whitney Kropp, wasn't so innocent. No, her pranksters set out to embarrass, humiliate and chastise her in front of her whole school.

They nominated her for homecoming court as a practical joke. A teenage prank. Seemed innocent enough. They'd all get a good laugh.

Whitney learned of the prank and was horrifically humiliated and even wanted to end her precious life. Her pranksters probably thought they had the upper hand. What a joke!

BUT thankfully, her school, her city, and her entire community came together to support her and she defeated her bullies and won! She didn't retaliate, she simply stood up for herself, and she wore her crown proudly that night!

Now the whole world is supporting her!

In honor of National Anti-Bullying Month--October--My hearts cry is that every school, city, and community would stand together like this against all forms of bullying and set the innocent victims free.

Whitney Kropp is a SURVIVOR!

Bullies, the joke is on you!

Written by: Lisa Freeman, Motivational Bully Speaker in Michigan, CEO of Abuse Bites, Healing Projects Specialist Bully Police USA

Youth Anti-Bullying Rally Jackson, Missouri

We had an amazing time in Jackson, Missouri this week at the the Rock International Ministries Church! Thank you Pastor Derrick Beasley for inviting us to come. I had my "I Love Being Me" shirt on that I found at Penney's right before the trip--it was an amazing message on top of everything else!

We started the program off with a Youtube video of Jeremiah singing, since he was still in the hospital and couldn't be with us. 

Jeremiah is battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression related to bullying. Bullying is tragic, and can have tragic results. That's why we are passionate about going wherever the door opens to educate and bring about the safety and prevention that is needed to change hearts and save lives.

As you can see above, a nice group of kids and adults came out to the Anti-Bullying Rally. There was a conflicting event going on in the community for back to school, so sadly many kids missed out because they had to attend this other event or they would not have gotten the school supplies they needed. Still we had a great time!

We had so much fun interacting, playing games, and doing demonstrations. Below we are playing our peer pressure and self abuse games. Pastor Derrick is assisting in the first game. My hubby, John, was assisting in the second one.

But we also got serious--down to business--and watched a big CHANGE take place! This beautiful little girl that was labeled the bullying in one of our demonstrations, kept the tag on and labeled herself the "bully".

But at the end of the program she crumpled up the bully label and threw it away! 

I said, "What, you don't want to be a bully no more?" She said, "No!"

Nearly everyone came forward when we had our CHANGE CHALLENGE, only about 4-5 kids stayed in their seats. All the others wanted to make a change in their own lives and hearts so they could go out and be the change for others and stop abuse, bullying and violence!

Another great thing that happened, this was our SIGNING of the Memory Quilt. I'm so thrilled and honored that the FIRST HEART was signed by Pastor Derrick Beasley, a young man that grew up in our neighborhood, who has always been like a son to me, and now is a Youth Pastor at Rock International Ministries and is a fine preacher and teacher! He has such a love and passion for kids and is raising three children that aren't even his own, right now! I couldn't be more proud!

We were blessed so much with not only really nice hotel accommodations, but also took up a love offering, and even took us out for a delicious lunch. We met Pastor White and his lovely first lady. We were able to share our heart and our mission, and they are hoping to bring us back to do a community wide event with some schools! YAY!

Surviving Domestic Violence--I Survived, You Can Too!

Surviving Domestic Violence--I Survived, You Can Too!

Domestic violence is running rampant all over the world. Right here in the USA alone, tragic stories bloody the headlines every day.  Many people ask why a woman would stay with a man who beats her? People often believe the myth that a woman who is beaten must like it or she’d leave. Read More

 

I was one of those women. Fear was the biggest reason I didn’t leave. That, along with the fact that he promised he would get help and change. He cried with real tears in his eyes. I believed him. But the alcohol he drank, made him even meaner. Anytime he drank, I’d end up black and blue. And so the cycle of domestic violence continued, until he almost killed me, and I barely escaped with my life. Read My Story

 

Sadly, things haven’t changed much. The FBI released a report saying that every 9 seconds a woman is physically abused by her husband. The report also states that women today stay with their abusers because of feelings of guilt, insecurity, fear for their children’s safety, as well as emotional and financial dependence. Read Article

 

The cycle of abuse will continue until you make the decision to stop it. Leaving, in most cases, is the only way out. After Singing Star, Rhianna, was attacked by Chris Brown in 2009, Oprah dedicated a one hour program to domestic violence. During the show, Rhianna’s message was, “If you go back with a man who hits you, it’s because you don’t think you’re worthy of being with a man who won’t. I’ve said it before, ‘Love doesn’t hurt, and if a man hits you once, he will hit you again.’” Read Article

 

This is so true of the abuse cycle. But how can women trust a judicial system that has failed countless women? Joe Biden wrote the Violence Against Women Act in 1994, which did some great things; helped prosecute abusers, gave aid to women for housing, and enabled a hot line for them to call in emergencies. However, Biden knows they must offer more and laws must get firmer when dealing with perpetrators. Or women like Sarah Rosio, a 24 year old Wisconsin woman, who was fatally stabbed because she couldn’t get a protection order, will continue to lose their lives. Read Article

 

Another case I read about, involves a young woman who was strangled to death in 2010. And the Wisconsin man who killed her, unbelievably was only placed on probation. In 2011 after this same man committed another violent act, they finally put him in prison. Read Article

 

What about the World Championship Boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr., who stalked and threatened his ex-girlfriend and kids? He only got a six months sentence, but was released after just two months so he could continue his fighting career! Some people get a slap on their hand, because of their position or status, basically telling them it’s okay to do it again.Read Article

 

Then we hear about former Queen of the Stone Age bassist, Nick Oliveri. Although he had seven felony counts against him, including drugs and domestic violence, he made a deal with prosecutors, dropping six felonies and a 15-year prison sentence to basically community service. Read Article 

 

A Wareham Official is being charged with domestic assault after punching a woman several times in the face and dragging her by the hair. Cops are even involved in domestic violence cases. No one is exempt. It happens in homes all around the country, at a rising rate every day.

 

Then we see things like supposed “mercy” killings. An Ohio man shot and killed his wife, who he claims was suffering in the hospital critical care unit. Read Article

 

Sadly, history keeps repeating over and over again.

 

A furious state attorney recently was angered that a prosecuting attorney let Melvin Perkins, a domestic assault perpetrator, slip through the system without being charged. Now two years later, this same man who had abused several women, is back in court, this time for stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death. Read Article

 

Children are even involved many times, and caught right in the middle of a terrible domestic war. One woman, holding her infant, was beaten and pushed down a flight of stairs. (Read Article) When kids are involved, they often repeat the violence they grew up in. One teen is spending 12 years in prison for a horrific act of domestic violence against a young woman.Read Article

 

Kids in violent homes usually abuse or make a vow to stop the abuse. A 14 year old Michigan boy is being called a hero, after wrestling a gun out of his drunken father’s hands, to protect his mother from being shot. Statistics tell us that most young boys and teens who murder, kill the man that has been abusing their mother.  No child or teen should have to be faced with such a tragedy. Read Article

 

Yet, as indicated previously, most kids, like their parents, are afraid to seek help. Although many victims of domestic violence will never contact a police officer or other victim help agency, the number one place they will turn is to their health care provider. Due to increased stress and tension in the home, many women are battling physical conditions like asthma, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Read Article

 

Even though this article featured the loopholes in the system, there is still a great deal of help available for those who need it. Our Abuse Bites program offers educational workshops to help victims of abuse cross over to becoming survivors. I was a victim once myself, but now I’m a survivor. I’m remarried, (just celebrated my 19^th Anniversary) I’m happy, healthy and have three beautiful, amazing grown kids, and three awesome dogs that we use for pet therapy. More Info

 

I’ve also listed several resources and related articles below to help women and children get the information they need to get safe and start a new life—abuse free!

 

National Domestic Violence Hotline
(800) 799-7233

 

What Causes Domestic Violence?

Understanding the Cycle of Battering

The Domestic Violence Act: Seven Years On

Domestic abuse charge follows familiar pattern

Stacey Moniz: Ending Domestic Violence on Maui

Accusing Your Partner of Infidelity Trigger for Domestic Abuse

ADVOCATE: Spotlight: Regina's Fight to Stop Domestic Violence

Get the Facts: The Facts on Domestic, Dating and Sexual Violence

SURVIVOR: Domestic Violence Survivor Shares Inspirational Story

Battling the effects of domestic violence in rural Alaska communities

New Research Focuses On Treatment for Perpetrators of Domestic Violence ...