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!

3rd Annual CHANGE Benefit to Stop BULLYING A Success!

Fighting abuse, bullying and violence can be a very long, lonely road at times. Many times the advocate can still take the brunt of bullying to try to push through prejudice barriers and strongholds. This hasn't been an easy battle for me, but it has been rewarding to see the CHANGED HEARTS & SAVED LIVES!

Yesterday, we celebrated the Abuse Bites 3rd Annual CHANGE Benefit! Although not a lot of people came out, due to another awesome event in town being planned for the same day and time, it was a success!

Success can be measured in a variety of ways, not just how many people came to our event or how much money was raised. I was a 7th grade middle school drop out, abused runaway, who was kidnapped, beaten, raped, forced into human trafficking, and nearly killed many times. Later I suffered through two horrifically abusive marriages (one physical, the other sexual and psychological).

BUT, after all that, at the age of 26 God healed me, delivered me, restored me, and called me to be a warrior. That's the day I STARTED FIGHTING THIS WAR ON ABUSE, BULLYING AND VIOLENCE. I've overcome many obstacles in my path such as post traumatic stress syndrome, panic and agoraphobia. Then I went onto college, graduated with a degree in Christian Ministry, became an award winning author, certified pet therapist and dog trainer, founded two non-profits, raised over $20,000 for needy and abused people and pets, And I'm not finished yet!

Although these have been great successes, the biggest success is knowing that when we go into the schools and communities to do our CHANGE workshops, that more than 85% of the students and even adults stand and come forth, deciding to make a change in their own lives, and knowing they can be the CHANGE for others!

Abuse, Bullying and Violence is all about making a CHANGE in our own lives, to impact others. Won't you stand with us today and be that CHANGE?

Now a word of thanks to all the angels who helped bring this about!

 Special thanks goes out to our Volunteers like Ashley Thornton (below), who is so passionate to help, that even though she had a sprained ankle, she showed up and gave it her all! Thanks Ashley! We love and appreciate you!

Special Thanks to Thomas Dignan!

A great man of our community, Thomas Dignan, even found time in his busy schedule to come out and support us. Why? Because he's passionate about changing hearts and saving lives and stopping bullying!

Thank you Thom! You've got my vote!

Adults and kids alike received awesome prices thanks to our awesome sponsors. 

Thank you Bob Evans...

Thanks Plush Pup...

Our children guests thank DONNA'S REFLECTIONS...

Everyone loved the Prime Time Pizza & Bread!

and we thank GiGi's for the Drinks!

Of course we give special thanks to The 401 South Restaurant 

for their Delicious Cookies!

And kudos to the other great sponsors like Big John Steak & Onion, Maurices, Treasures, Jumbo's, Gilbert's True Value, Janelle's Family Restaurant, Mancinos, Crave Bakery, Wendy's, Burger King, Capitol Bowl, and Crave! 

and to the Glo Kids Team for the Carnival & Face Painting!

Together we are all CHANGING hearts and saving lives! 

Stopping Bullying & Abuse In Saginaw Michigan

Doors are opening to STOP BULLYING in Saginaw, Michigan.

For five years I've tried to do work in my own community here in Owosso. And I've done some awesome things. And I do hope to do some more awesome things in the future.

But lately I've been noticing how God is leading us to Saginaw. Earlier in the week I was invited to attend an awesome Conference in Saginaw today by a sweet lady, May Watson, who works with Drug Education, Prevention & Youth Services with the United Way. They go into the public schools to raise awareness, prevention, and education to help kids make better choices. She said they've been praying about an anti-bullying program!

I just met May Saturday at the Saginaw Worship in the Park celebration on Ojibuway Island. Talk about divine appointments! Her and her husband are like angels, fluttering around to connect organizations together so we can work together, change hearts, save lives, and Stop Abuse! Awesome!

Not only did I have a blast meeting, talking with, and having a booth in the park next to May, but today she introduced me to some wonderful people at the Conference.

Already the YMCA has contacted us and has asked us to come and share our message/program with their staff. How awesome!

If you'd like us to share the scoop on bullying, prevention, safety, education, awareness, or a healing workshop, please let us know! We'd be so happy to serve your school, church, work place, or community.

Our workshops are FREE, we just ask that our gas be compensated.

AbuseBites.com