Our Kick off at the Capitol went well, despite everything coming against us. There was unpredicted rain throughout the morning, but thankfully it was light and not a total wash out. My hubby, John, even pointed out a beautiful rainbow that morning before we left. Thanks honey :)
I had two phone interviews before we even left the house. We ended up getting a late start and even getting turned around due to construction. And since it was after 9 a.m. when I finished my interview with TV 6 News, I thought everything was set up and we could get started. My son, Jeremiah, opened the event with a song called "Hold My Heart" by Tenth Avenue North. He did an amazing job, I was so proud!
Then we had an opening prayer, followed by a moment of silence for the victims, then we were supposed to play "Tears in Heaven" but little did I know, John was still setting everything up. Our Emcee, Ron Hoshal, did a good job though and saved John from a most embarrassing situation as he went on to the next thing on the schedule. He also shared about how he and I raised over $10,000 for abused/needy pets for the local Humane Society.
One of our speakers, Kevin Epling, Co-Chair of Bully Police USA, later pointed out that even though our song couldn't play, with the rain coming down, we had literal "tears from heaven". He spoke on how we all needed to work together to bring about the change our kids need in the schools to protect them, through educating, raising awareness, and giving them the tools and prevention methods they need. I couldn't agree more!
I spoke on Change as well. About how we need to love and accept others, forgive our bullies, help our bullies, pray for our bullies, and that will bring about the healing and change that is needed.
There were a few quirks, like no video coverage, because no one set the camcorder up, and being physically attacked with my hip and leg giving me so much pain I could barely walk, let alone hobble that morning, but the message was powerful!
Still, I was a little disappointed by the turn out, as only a handful of people and a couple of news guys were there. It hurt me to think that we made all those calls to politicians, sent out hundreds of press releases, and yet, only a few people came that morning to listen and show their support, and we only sold three t-shirts.
But as we were getting ready for this event, John was pressing out the event t-shirts and trying to find the center of the logo for the back, and it came to my attention that the word "GO" was right in the center.
It was a message saying "GO". It doesn't matter who shows up, how many t-shirts we sell, how we feel, or who supports us. We're to be faithful to go, and let God do the rest.
And because we were faithful to go that morning, despite all the negative comments and lack of support, and low t-shirt sales, after the event, we had the chance to minister and pray with a young woman who came to us in tears who has been terribly abused. While we were praying with her, her two little girls were loving on Snickers. How awesome is that!
If we even touch one person, this Walk n Talk Across Michigan to Stop Abuse is well worth it.
Please show your support for this mission by lifting us up in prayer, considering a donation, and even getting an event t-shirt for you/your family, as all the money will go (for gas, food, lodging) to help us take this healing message to those who are abused and need it. We will be walking and talking through 15 major cities in Michigan over the next several weeks on the weekends offering one day healing events.
For more information on cities, dates, donation, sponsorship, etc, please log onto http://www.abusebites.com
Or write to: Abuse Bites, Walk n Talk, PO Box 1582, Owosso, MI 48867
Thank you for your continued support!
http://www.abusebites.com
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Help for Bullying in Michigan Walk n Talk to Stop Abuse of People & Pets
Have you been bullied or abused?
Maybe you're the bully or abuser?
Maybe you're just the innocent bystander, caught in the middle?
GOOD NEWS--There's help for everyone!!! Whether you're the victim, bystander, bully, or even a family member of someone who's struggling with these issues, you can conquer these bullying behaviors and be set free!
AbuseBites.com and our team of professionals want to help you. We were once victims too. But now we're survivors! We've been through all forms of abuse, (even our dogs) and we've come out on the other side.
So we're sharing our workshops, stories of survival, and offering healing completely FREE to all, in a family friendly environment, as we travel to various cities all over Michigan.
Aside from abuse awareness, education, safety and prevention methods, we offer an assortment of fun for the whole family with a few interactive games and an amazing trick presentation by our therapy dogs that's sure to captivate any crowd!
For more information on cities, dates, times, volunteering, or hosting an event, please log onto AbuseBites.com and click on our "Walk n Talk" link at the far right of the page.
Maybe you're the bully or abuser?
Maybe you're just the innocent bystander, caught in the middle?
GOOD NEWS--There's help for everyone!!! Whether you're the victim, bystander, bully, or even a family member of someone who's struggling with these issues, you can conquer these bullying behaviors and be set free!
AbuseBites.com and our team of professionals want to help you. We were once victims too. But now we're survivors! We've been through all forms of abuse, (even our dogs) and we've come out on the other side.
So we're sharing our workshops, stories of survival, and offering healing completely FREE to all, in a family friendly environment, as we travel to various cities all over Michigan.
Aside from abuse awareness, education, safety and prevention methods, we offer an assortment of fun for the whole family with a few interactive games and an amazing trick presentation by our therapy dogs that's sure to captivate any crowd!
For more information on cities, dates, times, volunteering, or hosting an event, please log onto AbuseBites.com and click on our "Walk n Talk" link at the far right of the page.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
When Life Is Plain Hard
My life for years to many seemed like a Cinderella fairy tale. Over the years I've had many women tell me how envious they were of my life, some have even joined our organization for a short time to get an inside glimpse of all this supposed glamour life I live. I'm an award-winning published author, speaker, certified pet therapist/dog trainer, and even a pastor. WOW!
What they don't know, unless they walk a day in my shoes, is that God has ALWAYS called me to do HARD!
As a young girl I didn't feel loved or important in my middle class family, so I ran to all the wrong things (drugs, men, topless dancing, etc). I even married an abusive alcoholic. (My choice, not God's. Again, because I was looking for love in all the wrong places.)
At 17, I accepted Jesus as my Savior, about the time my 1st husband nearly killed me. Yes, I escaped with my life and the clothes on my back. And when I met husband #2 I felt this urgency in my heart not to marry him, but he treated me good, opened the doors for me, told me I was beautiful, and he wasn't beating me around, so I shrugged off that tugging at my heart, and went ahead and married him. After 7 years I not only found out he had cheated on me, and was addicted to pornography, but he had turned his addiction onto our three children. (Again, it was my choice to marry the guy, and I believe with all my heart God tried to stop me from entering this marriage.)
At 26, this single mom of three, 7th grade drop out, decided she was going back to school, went onto college, and maintained a 4.0 and made the Dean's list. Then she went on to become an award-winning author, certified pet therapist/dog trainer, and even a pastor.
But what not many people really know is all the rejection and betrayal I faced, from everyone I loved and trusted, in the world, and even in the church for years and years.
When my 2nd husband kidnapped my kids, no one helped me get them back even though he'd molested them. Most of my family had even sided with him and my church became silent. Still I fought, and fought hard, and did the unthinkable to get them back in my custody. I had to go back with him for a short time and then take them to a shelter one day. It was hard, but I got them.
When I felt led to write, and began writing, I wasn't published for five long years. Rejection letters filled my mail box. Sometimes I wondered if I was really supposed to write, but I kept on, and finally I got accepted in one of the best magazines--Guideposts, which states is not for beginners. My writing career skyrocketed after that!
When my book came out (years later), everyone in the church thought it was too DIRTY for their kids to read, because I was a runaway who got into lots of trouble. I was kidnapped, beaten, raped, and forced into dancing and prostitution. So I was too dirty for the church, but since I was a Christian the world didn't want me either.
I was hurt and I didn't know it then, and maybe I never knew it until recently, but God has called me to do HARD. God has called my kids to do HARD, and our family to do HARD.
All four of my children had terrible obstacles they had to overcome, aside from being molested, they all have special needs, they were all abused, bullied, and faced great challenges. My daughter was labeled gay and nearly choked to death in school, my eldest son was a cutter (due to the abuse from his bio father) and had two nervous breakdowns, my youngest boy, Jeremiah, was bullied so badly he nearly committed suicide--he also nearly died from having grand mall seizures that developed in his late teens, and my son, Brian, was bullied all his life because he had Asperger's Syndrome and a rare heart condition. He was in and out of the hospital dealing with critical life threatening illnesses his whole life, yet he gave and helped others, forgave the bullies, and lived life to the fullest. Brian passed away last August, after being on the heart transplant list for five years. Yet the day after we buried him we marched in a parade in his honor to stop abuse, bullying and violence, and we've spoken at various workshops, and are now into our 5th Annual Easter Giveaway to help needy and abused families.
The road for our family has not been easy, or even glamorous as some might think. NO, the truth is God has called us to do HARD! Most of the time I don't get any money to speak and I give my books away to those who need them. And the only money that comes into our organization is the money we raise or put there ourselves. So even when everyone has turned on us, when tragedy has hit us from all sides, and we've had to stand for days, months, and years, and felt totally alone, like total outcasts, I know that even though we didn't have physical people to be right with us and walk us through these dark valleys, God has always been there. He had our backs, even in the HARD.
I know we're not the only ones who have been called to do HARD. But I just want to encourage anyone out there who is, people may let you down a million/trillion times, but God will never fail you or forsake you. I know I can't do HARD without him-- or even Easy for that matter.
God is the glue that has held this mom, this marriage, this family, and this ministry together. Even though we're broken over and over again, we cling to the hope that one day, we will be with Him, and He will wipe every tear from our eyes. He never promised that it would be easy, but he did promise that even through the HARD, he'd be with us!
My heart cries out for the many families now who are poor and abused, who are doing HARD and need our help. We help these families throughout the year, but especially at Easter. Please check out our website and prayerfully consider a gift you can give. No gift is too small. Every penny helps fight poverty and abuse. I thank you in advance for giving the best gift you can! God bless each of you even in the HARD! www.abusebites.com (click on Easter link on right).
To Donate via mail, make checks/mo Payable to: Abuse Bites, Easter Giveaway, PO BOX 1582, Owosso, MI 48867. All donations are 100% tax deductible and go to help needy and abused families (including pets!)
Sincerely,
Lisa Freeman, CEO Abuse Bites
What they don't know, unless they walk a day in my shoes, is that God has ALWAYS called me to do HARD!
As a young girl I didn't feel loved or important in my middle class family, so I ran to all the wrong things (drugs, men, topless dancing, etc). I even married an abusive alcoholic. (My choice, not God's. Again, because I was looking for love in all the wrong places.)
At 17, I accepted Jesus as my Savior, about the time my 1st husband nearly killed me. Yes, I escaped with my life and the clothes on my back. And when I met husband #2 I felt this urgency in my heart not to marry him, but he treated me good, opened the doors for me, told me I was beautiful, and he wasn't beating me around, so I shrugged off that tugging at my heart, and went ahead and married him. After 7 years I not only found out he had cheated on me, and was addicted to pornography, but he had turned his addiction onto our three children. (Again, it was my choice to marry the guy, and I believe with all my heart God tried to stop me from entering this marriage.)
At 26, this single mom of three, 7th grade drop out, decided she was going back to school, went onto college, and maintained a 4.0 and made the Dean's list. Then she went on to become an award-winning author, certified pet therapist/dog trainer, and even a pastor.
But what not many people really know is all the rejection and betrayal I faced, from everyone I loved and trusted, in the world, and even in the church for years and years.
When my 2nd husband kidnapped my kids, no one helped me get them back even though he'd molested them. Most of my family had even sided with him and my church became silent. Still I fought, and fought hard, and did the unthinkable to get them back in my custody. I had to go back with him for a short time and then take them to a shelter one day. It was hard, but I got them.
When I felt led to write, and began writing, I wasn't published for five long years. Rejection letters filled my mail box. Sometimes I wondered if I was really supposed to write, but I kept on, and finally I got accepted in one of the best magazines--Guideposts, which states is not for beginners. My writing career skyrocketed after that!
When my book came out (years later), everyone in the church thought it was too DIRTY for their kids to read, because I was a runaway who got into lots of trouble. I was kidnapped, beaten, raped, and forced into dancing and prostitution. So I was too dirty for the church, but since I was a Christian the world didn't want me either.
I was hurt and I didn't know it then, and maybe I never knew it until recently, but God has called me to do HARD. God has called my kids to do HARD, and our family to do HARD.
All four of my children had terrible obstacles they had to overcome, aside from being molested, they all have special needs, they were all abused, bullied, and faced great challenges. My daughter was labeled gay and nearly choked to death in school, my eldest son was a cutter (due to the abuse from his bio father) and had two nervous breakdowns, my youngest boy, Jeremiah, was bullied so badly he nearly committed suicide--he also nearly died from having grand mall seizures that developed in his late teens, and my son, Brian, was bullied all his life because he had Asperger's Syndrome and a rare heart condition. He was in and out of the hospital dealing with critical life threatening illnesses his whole life, yet he gave and helped others, forgave the bullies, and lived life to the fullest. Brian passed away last August, after being on the heart transplant list for five years. Yet the day after we buried him we marched in a parade in his honor to stop abuse, bullying and violence, and we've spoken at various workshops, and are now into our 5th Annual Easter Giveaway to help needy and abused families.
The road for our family has not been easy, or even glamorous as some might think. NO, the truth is God has called us to do HARD! Most of the time I don't get any money to speak and I give my books away to those who need them. And the only money that comes into our organization is the money we raise or put there ourselves. So even when everyone has turned on us, when tragedy has hit us from all sides, and we've had to stand for days, months, and years, and felt totally alone, like total outcasts, I know that even though we didn't have physical people to be right with us and walk us through these dark valleys, God has always been there. He had our backs, even in the HARD.
I know we're not the only ones who have been called to do HARD. But I just want to encourage anyone out there who is, people may let you down a million/trillion times, but God will never fail you or forsake you. I know I can't do HARD without him-- or even Easy for that matter.
God is the glue that has held this mom, this marriage, this family, and this ministry together. Even though we're broken over and over again, we cling to the hope that one day, we will be with Him, and He will wipe every tear from our eyes. He never promised that it would be easy, but he did promise that even through the HARD, he'd be with us!
My heart cries out for the many families now who are poor and abused, who are doing HARD and need our help. We help these families throughout the year, but especially at Easter. Please check out our website and prayerfully consider a gift you can give. No gift is too small. Every penny helps fight poverty and abuse. I thank you in advance for giving the best gift you can! God bless each of you even in the HARD! www.abusebites.com (click on Easter link on right).
To Donate via mail, make checks/mo Payable to: Abuse Bites, Easter Giveaway, PO BOX 1582, Owosso, MI 48867. All donations are 100% tax deductible and go to help needy and abused families (including pets!)
Sincerely,
Lisa Freeman, CEO Abuse Bites
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Don't Bury Your Child's Dreams
Even though my son, Brian, had a rare heart condition and Asperger's Syndrome. I never dreamed the day would come when he would die. He was so healthy at the end, although on the heart transplant list for five years, I was certain he'd outlive me and his father.
Losing a child is sad. But losing a child who has suffered so much physically and mentally due to being bullied is another terrible tragedy. He lived and died forgiving his bullies. He was working in our program "Abuse Bites" right up to the end to educate others to stop bullying, abuse, and violence. His lifelong dream and goal had been to travel around the USA with us in an RV to take this important message to others.
It's only been a month since he passed away.
As I sat on the couch missing him and reading his obituary last night, I reread this touching poem on the inside: A Time will come when my life will cease, But when that time comes, I ask that you will remember these things:
*Bury my body, but don't bury my beliefs.
*Bury my heart but don't bury my love.
*Bury my eyes, but not my vision.
*Bury my feet, but not the path of my life.
*Bury my hands but don't bury my diligent efforts.
*Bury my shoulders but not the concern I carried.
*Bury my voice, but not my message.
*Bury my mind, but don't bury my dreams.
*Bury me, but don't bury my life.
*If you must bury something, let it be my faults and my weaknesses, But let my life continue in you!
In my son, Brian's honor, his beliefs, love, vision, path, efforts, concern he carried for others, his message and life, will continue on through us to go out on that mission he always wanted to. Please help us in our efforts (see CHANGE for BRIAN) to go on this mission. We will have to quit our jobs, we will need to raise enough money for an RV, and to feed us and our dogs and supply the gas to travel.
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