On my vacation to Australia, I met a professor and historian who told me about an ancient Aborigines culture about aging. (This was also confirmed when reading “Mutant Message from Down Under” upon my return). They do not believe in celebrating birthdays, because people automatically get older. What happens to a person on the inside of their heart and mind is what is important. So, the ancients passed along the tradition of “getting better”.
At some point in the year, a person is allowed to call together a gathering of people to celebrate, when that person feels they have “gotten better”. This year, I am not celebrating the fact that I have grown older. Definitely wiser and more mature (except when I act like a child … hehe) and am on a path of enlightenment. For those of you who have asked what my New Years resolution is … it would be difficult to top last year.
2010 was my year to do something “extraordinary” every month. As I look back over the past year, I am smiling on the inside out, from having accomplished that task. There probably has never been a year where I crammed so much in 365 days than 2010. Take a walk with me, or a scroll …
January – Started off the year with a bang, by being featured as a hero in People Magazine
People Magazine, January 11, 2011
Spent quality time with friends I love like family in Arcata, California for my birthday & had a whole lot of help making fudge and Valentines for our Wounded Warriors
The Sky Angel's birthday trip to Kristina's 2010
Visited Wounded Warriors @ Landstuhl in Germany through Airline Ambassadors
LRMC Wounded Warriors ~ Germany, January 2010
February – Was part of a very special gift to one of my valiant heroes, as I provided a buddy pass, and escorted his fiance’ (she is from Ireland) to Ft. Polk, LA to visit before his second deployment to Afghanistan with the National Guard
Visiting with our troops before they deployed to Afghanistan
Was invited and attended a select pre-screening of the Gary Sinise & Lt. Dan Band documentary in Los Angeles
Also attended Reality Cares fundraiser in LA for Can-Do.org & helped promote awareness to Eric Klein’s humanitarian efforts
The Sky Angel with a great humanitarian, Eric Klein of can-do.org
March – attended Gary Sinise & Lt. Dan Band concert, where I got to meet “Lt. Dan’ (aka Mack Taylor from CSI NY) in person & talk to him briefly about “Operation Iraqi Children” & “Operation Gratitude” (took one of my Navy heroes to the concert, too!)
The Sky Angel just before the concert, New York City
Spent St. Patrick’s Day with my dear friend, Karen, in Charleston, SC
Went to Tijuana, Mexico to procure another TIGGER pinata for our troops overseas
This website was born (thank you so much to my webmaster and friend for helping throughout the year!!!)
Volunteered at an International Womens Day fund raiser in WA DC for Haiti relief efforts with Airline Ambassadors
Orphanage in Haiti ~ April 2010
Was in the hospital for 5 days with a kidney infection and some form of sepsis (infection of the blood) from a parasite I apparently had in my bladder from being in Haiti (who knew???). Spent extra days recuperating in Pennsylvania with friends.
Had a friend suggest that I start taking TIGGER with me everywhere and take pictures. Whenever our troops see TIGGER, it is my tribute them. 
Tigger pinata sent to National Guard unit in Afghanistan, 2010
Spent an afternoon in Baltimore, where I got to visit with one of my heroes who was home on R&R (Sgt. Carlos Castro)
Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary, Jan & Lerry!!
Accomplished my 10 year goal of seeing the last of the 7 Natural & 7 Man Made Wonders of the World, vacation in Australia and snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. (an AMAZING adventure!!! Thanks for joining me, Grunge!!)
10 years, 7 Man Made & 7 Natural Wonders of the World ... what's next? hehehe
Spoke at Center Street United Methodist Church in Portsmouth, Ohio to update them on my progress in supporting our troops & the importance of “Mail Call for Our Heroes” & did a book signing with Steve Flairty … then we all went to a heroes house for lunch! What an amazing group of people!!
Volunteered with co-workers in Cincinnati to help build a Habitat for Humanity house
October –Sent the TIGGER pinata procured in Mexico to Spc. AJ Kirkendall and his 101st Airborne Unit in Afghanistan
Had a very successful fund raiser in Hadlock, WA for Christmas Care Packages for our Valiant Heroes in Iraq & Afghanistan (thanks to “Angel 2” for orchestrating this & the folks @ Valley Tavern for each of your efforts!)
Valley Tavern Fundraiser, October 2010
Completed my own FAA recertification (I get to be a flight attendant for another year, YEAH!! 
)
Commandant Amos & his lovely wife, Bonnie - Bethesda, Oct 2010
November – sent 8 Christmas trees with decorations, and a whole lot of “surprise” care packages to 8 different units on the battlefields of Iraq & Afghanistan, including 190 calling cards from SPA WARE to enable them to call home for the holidays as part of “Mail Call for Our Heroes”
The Sky Angel stopped by Rockefeller Center on her way to "Stand Up For Heroes"
Bethesda Naval Medical Center, Maryland ~ December 2010
Some friendships last a lifetime ...
Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas ~ Christmas 2010
Hard to believe this was all accomplished between working full time, overcoming a major illness, writing to our troops once a week & sending them care packages monthly. Pretty impressive, if I do say so myself! 
However, I know I would never have the strength or tenacity if it weren’t for my faith and the Spirit inside of me!
What will 2011 bring??? … stay tuned, because this is going to be my year of “being better!” My commitment this year is to take time every month to honor and take care of myself and those people who mean the most to me. May we each have a year of compassion and passion.
Tags: Airline Ambassadors, donations, Haiti, hero, heroes, humanitarian, Robin Schmidt, soldiers, Supporting our Heroes, The Sky Angel, Travel, troops, volunteering, Wounded Warrior
My Dear Sweet Robin…
You are my HERO. You are an incredible woman. The things you have done in one short year, most people are not able to do in a lifetime!! You have accomplished seeing your dreams come true, supporting our troops tirelessly and the non stop giving of yourself, ie, the trip to Haiti and the illness that followed. I am in awe of you. I am so very very proud to call you my family. I love you dear Robin. If I can accomplish even 1 thing on my “bucket list”, it is to do something wonderfully fun with you and our other cousins!!!
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey there Robin! What a YEAR!! Wonderful!!
Would love to visit sometime soon!
Blessings to you,
Sue
509-222-9362
There are not enough words wo express how grateful our troops and their families are for you support. You have went above and beyond anything I have ever seen. You are always there for the troops and go to the end of the world to make things happen for them, and get them the things they desperatley need. It’s one of the most amazing things I have ever seen in my 18 years of being a military spouse. Thank you Robin for you giving and loving heart. You are a very special person who has made a difference in EVERYTHING you have done.
Tracie, thank you so much for your kind words. You touch me deeply with your beautiful, gentle soul, and I am so very thankful God brought you into my life to become my friend. You and Matthew are such wonderful examples to the rest of the world, and I personally thank you for the sacrifices you have made to be a Marine family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, Lisa. You may never realize how much it means to know I have made a difference in someone elses life. Thank you for allowing me to touch yours so profoundly.