Posts Tagged ‘troops’

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Not now, I have a headache …

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

Throughout my life I have the term “not now, I have a headache” and it would get them out of doing whatever it was they didn’t want to do.  Jokingly I had friends tell me they would tell their boyfriends or husbands this, in order to get out of having sex with their loved one.  My response to them was “you are CRAZY … it is the best medicine for a headache”.  Now I am starting to wonder if that is what I am lacking in my life??  lol

After all, I have tried everything else.

This past Saturday I had to go to an Independent Medical Exam set up by Sedgewick (the insurance company who handles disability payments for my employer).  It was one of the more challenging doctors appointments for me, because the first hour was spent listening to the doctor mumble into a tape recorder as he read from documentation he had been provided from Sedgewick regarding my medical history since May.  There were many times I had to correct him because he simply could not read one note or another and just “assumed” what he was saying was accurate.  Don’t people listen to their parents?  “Never Assume anything .. it makes an ass out of you and me”.

Weighing in the balance of what this one doctor ‘thinks’ or determines is whether or not I will be approved for long term disability … and then I will probably have to begin a treatment plan that Sedgewick will most likely set up for me to follow.  The maze of doctors I have gone to since 10May when all of this began is something like a blind man probably feels in a crowded room … overwhelmed, anxious, and incredibly exhausted at the end of the day.

Honestly, I have been on my knees crying to God to “please show me what it is that you want me to learn right now”.  He knows I feel completely broken as a human being at the present moment.  The Spirit that lives inside of me is stronger than ever, but I have been stripped of all things that bring a human being comfort.  When I did not get my disability check in September and Amy & I were moving”me” across country, I was forced to ask people for help.  Knowing I could never pay them back, I simply had to ask people to donate money towards my medical & moving expenses.  That made me uncomfortable and angry with myself.

You see, I am nearly 50 years old (I know, that is a complete shocker to me, too!!! hehehe) and I should not “have to” ask anyone to help take care of me.  If you know anything about me, you know I am a giver.  It is a rare day when I will ask for help, but if I do, that means I really, really, really need it.  Usually when I have asked for help in the past, it was not for my benefit.  It as always for a cause (like supporting the troops or the orphans I support in South Africa, or some humanitarian effort I am aiding in assisting) and I didn’t feel bad about educating people or asking for their help.

But God wanted to teach me the valuable gift of allowing other people to be blessed.  You see, when we don’t open our hearts to allowing other people to “do” for us, we are shutting off their ability to feel that beautiful and amazing feeling inside of being able to make a difference.  A very dear friend of mine calls that “going MAD”.  Since I have always believed we each can make a difference, one person, one life, and one smile at a time … God also found a way for me to do that on a much bigger playing field than what I could ever imagine.

A year or two ago I met someone who changed my life.  His name is Gilbert Martin, and he lives in South Africa.  He has a heart of gold, has a vision to shift this world into being a better place, by uniting us all by our giving.  Time, money, and energy …. in every aspect of humanity.  Gilbert started a foundation called “Raise Your Hand and Open Your Heart”.  He asked me to be a trustee on the board, and I was deeply honored.  The foundation provides the umbrella for charities to sign up to obtain donations, get volunteers, and will provide aid on every continent in the world.  It didn’t take long for me to start calling Gilbert “my kindred spirit”.  He truly is a man after my own heart … only thing is he is gay and he has not got a single brother .  lol

During the past five and a half months suffering from the most tremendous pressure on my head that I have a tough time believing anyone else can imagine, I have spent alot of sleepless nights wondering how my voice can be heard through the vibrations of my own heartbeat.  The symptoms I contend with on a minute by minute basis are a high pitched ringing in my ears, the weight of an elephant on the top of my head and the base of my skull, my head feeling like it is in a vice and my eyes are going to pop out of theie sockets, tremendous nausea that makes me throw up … (the list goes on and on sometimes) keep me from living life as I would like.

However, my constant companion has been the internet where I could check my email, connect with family and friends on Facebook & Skype,  and talk with the troops I support on instant messenger … and where I recently spent some time working on a project for Raise Your Hand and Open Your Heart.  It gave me something to focus on, other than my own pain.  It reminded me of my purpose here on earth … to make a difference.  🙂

Some people have asked me where I have found strength in being shuffled from doctor to doctor, getting as many different diagnosis as humanly possible, or how I cope with the plethora of medications prescribed.  One thing is for certain, the Wounded Warriors & every single service member in the world inspire me.  It is them that I think of every time I have blood drawn or an IV put in my arm.  You will see photos from time to time, where I am holding Tigger.  He has become my mascot … as my way of showing support to our valiant heroes.  I think of the orphans and people who live in third world countries who do not even know where there next meal is coming from.  They don’t have anything to live by other than the hope of a better tomorrow.  How dare I complain that I am suffering financially from not being able to work, when there are people who do not even have a roof over their heads?  You could say I give myself a “reality check” every single day.

It is in the little things I do every day, that I find strength.  What keeps me going is my faith.  I believe I am exactly where God wants me to be, doing exactly what He wants me to be doing.  He is in control, and when I am meant to be healed …  He will make it so.  If I didn’t believe that, I think I would go insane right now.  He knows my heart, my desires, and my vision to save His creations … and that is why He needed me to STOP, move out of the way, so He could continue to make me into the person He wants me to be for His glory.

When the day comes that I finally meet my knight in shining armor (not some prick in tin foil, as Gilbert says … hahaha), I pretty much can guarantee I will never use the words “not now honey, I have a headache” … because once this elephant is gone off my head, I will be ready to take on the world at large.

Thank you so much to every single person who shows your love, support, and encouragement by being a part of my life.  This year has been a challenge of mammoth (pardon the pun!) proportions … but one thing is for sure … I am becoming more and more that person God intended me to be.  Do you think you could say a prayer that will be a person OUT OF PAIN sooner rather than later, please?

PS.  For more information about Raise Your Hand and Open Your Heart, please go to:  http://www.raiseyourhand.org.za/

Thanks!

Always,

Robin

“The Sky Angel”

PO Box 449

Mercer Island, WA 98040

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List of items needed for Combat Surgical Hospital in Afghanistan

Saturday, October 29th, 2011
Every year since the war began in Afghanistan, I have been supporting the Combat Surgical Hospital (CSH) by sending them care packages, cards, and letters of support.  Today I received this list of items “needed” for the hospital.  My hope is to get some of the items donated for their holiday care packages.  If you can help in ANY WAY, please send to:
Robin Schmidt
PO Box 449
Mercer Island, WA 98040
If you would rather send items directly to the CSH, please let me know.  Thanks a million!
Always,
Robin
“The Sky Angel”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CSH – List:
100 Pillows with Vinyl covering for infection control
200 pairs of flip flops….I added from older email…
200 pair of non skid hospital socks
25 small fans
200 pairs of sweat pants  med and large  Draw strings
200 pairs of loose fitting gym shorts   med and large  Draw strings
1000 boxes or round tubes of baby wipes
200 wash cloths new dark color
100 liquid body soap  any kind
200 tooth brushes and paste
20 portable DVD players   send a few movies as well
20 Portable DSi ans PSP with a few games
100 reams of printing paper    If everyone send one ream in a flat rate box that would be great and save on shipping costs.
200 Crystal lite lemonade and pink lemonade drink mixes
100 car air fresheners  or any non aerosol type
Holiday Decor all seasons
25 canisters of flavored coffee creamers
200 blankets
10 webcams
10 head sets with micro phones
20 power converters 110/120v  British to US
200 small carpets  2′ x 3′  dark in color would be best
Things I am adding   snacks….
Slim Jims and Jerky
Candy, vending machine snacks like Toms crackers and cookies.
Lil Debbie snacks  they are individually wrapped
If you work in a Hospital  we need your support bad… The pillows and socks are tough for others to find.

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List of items needed at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for our Wounded Warriors

Saturday, October 29th, 2011

Many of you have been asking me for a “needs” list for Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) / Wounded Warrior Medical Center.  This is a list just sent by my friend who works at the hospital.  Please help where you can.  Thanks!  Robin (“The Sky Angel”) October 2011

PS.  If you want to send the items to me and have me send them on to LRMC I can do that, or you can send them directly to my friend.  Please let me know.  Thanks again!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Wounded Warrior
Ministry Center

Pastoral Services
Division – Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

The Wounded Warrior Ministry Center (WWMC) is an entity within LRMC Pastoral Services that cares for the humanitarian needs of wounded and ill Service Members evacuated from the theaters of operation.  The WWMC provides items of comfort to “fill
holes” until the service member’s personal items can catch up with them in the military healthcare system.

The WWMC services more than 750 service members each month.  Since the WWMC is a non-funded humanitarian entity within the Department of Defense, we rely on the generous donations of fellow Americans and others, both substantive and monetary, to provide these items.
We truly appreciate the efforts of each and every person willing to share “hugs from home” and words of encouragement with those who have given so much for the cause of Freedom in our world!

Below is a list of items Service Members typically request and take from the Wounded Warrior Ministry Center.

This list will be updated periodically. 

  • Winter Coats
  • Phone Cards – United States Domestic Only With No Expiration Date – 120
    Minutes
  • Black 30 Inch Duffel Bags (No Logos)
  • Men’sShoes – Size 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5 & 12
  • Bath Towels
  • Blankets (In Preparation For Winter Transport)
  • Long Sleeve T-Shirts/Shirts L-M-S-XL(In This Order)
  • Men’s Boxers L-XL-M-S (In This Order)
  • Men’s Slippers (Slip-On Non-Slip) Sizes 8-14
  • Men’s T-Shirts L-M-S (Not White Undershirts)
  • Sweat Pants L-M-S
  • Travel Pillows
  • iTunes® Cards
  • iPod Shuffles®
  • Nail Clippers
  • Men’s & Women’s Deodorant
  • Lip Balm/Chapstick®
  • Travel Size Shaving Cream
  • Travel Size Foot Powder (Ex: Gold Bond®)
  • Brushes (Not Combs)
  • Men’s Pajama Pants Sizes L-M-S-XXL-XL (In This Order)
  • Hand-Held Electronic Games
  • Healthy Snack Bars, Chocolate, And Candy
  • DVDs (No Extreme Violence Or Nudity – No VHS Tapes)

DO NOT send used items

Monetary donations to the WWMC fund for Warrior Programming, high-demand and seasonal items are acceptable (please make payable to: Landstuhl Regional Medical Center CTOF)

Thank you again for your assistance! Working together, we can make a huge difference in the lives and recuperation of our Heroes! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

WoundedWarriorMinistryCenter@yahoo.com

Updated 29 October 2011

 

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A letter that brings me tears of joy and gratitude …

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Last night I was unable to sleep a wink.  Yesterday I had an occipital spinal block & the pain in my head was as intense as the ringing in my ears.  For a good part of the night, I literally prayed these words “God, although I am not able to fly right now, can you please give me some kind of sign that I am still doing what you want me to be doing?  Just some little hint that I am right where you want me to be.”  You will never believe how He responded.

~~

Currently I am sitting at a Starbucks waiting for my doctors appointment, reading emails & responding to them.  For the past five minutes I have literally been blessed beyond measure and have such a flow of tears running down my face that all the other customers have left and the staff keeps asking me if I am ok.  But I just read this email and I can’t help but be filled with heart felt emotion … so much so, that I have to share it with you.

~

You see, I write to our troops every single week.  Sometimes it is just a postcard.  Sometimes I wonder if my letters matter.  But then I get something like this, and it just makes me see God smile.  I know He smiles at me daily, but sometimes I have blinders on.  Today I am stripped of all senses and my eyes are wide open.  You may need tissues like I did, before you read further.  Thank you for your support and encouragement, and please remember if you want to adopt your own service member to go to http://adoptahero.us/ .

Dear Robin Schmidt,

 

I read the following article about your good works supporting our troops while you have been a Delta Flight Attendant.  It was in a newsletter that I receive from one of the local Marine Corps League supporters in the Northern California area where I live.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/flight-attendant-serves-drinks-journals-soldiers/story?id=8872103

As a Veteran serving during the Vietnam War era (1966-1970), I remember the great treatment we service men received from the flight attendants on the planes we flew on going back home to the U.S.  Your article also reminded me of a female (an old girlfriend) friend of guy who became one of my  buddies that I had made while serving at a remote base in the Southern Philippines.  His ex-girlfriend became my pen pal who supported me while I was in the Philippines and Vietnam.  Her perfumed letters and words of encouragement and of everyday life back home helped me through those emotional times being single, 20/21, living in strange new lands where people had different lifestyles, weather climates and a war going on and missing home and my family.

You are an amazing lady.  Thank you for your support of our troops.  I wish you happiness and all the best that life can offer you.  “Thank You” to Delta Airlines for allowing you to do what you do.

Sincerely,

Marty De Venuta

Air Force Vet

Delta Skymiles Customer

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Mail Call for our Heroes 2011

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

Santa Marcus ... with all those care packages ...

Since 2002 I have been ‘adopting’ troops who are on deployment in Iraq, Afghanistan, & other parts of the globe.  The service members have explained to me over and over again, the importance of receiving mail to help them cope with the time away from their loved ones back home.  In an effort to uplift spirits and boost morale over the holidays, “The Sky Angel” is doing my fourth annual “Mail Call for Our Heroes”.

My goal: To raise $4,000 for 45 AT&T Calling Cards (for our 1/6 “HARD” Marines), along with 4 Christmas trees with all the decorations for the 4 valiant heroes I am currently supporting in Iraq and Afghanistan (including the Combat Surgical Hospital in Afghanistan).  The money raised will also include the cost of postage to get the items to our deployed troops.  🙂 If you want to send calling cards to me, they must be AT&T and they must be for at least 500 minutes.

The second aspect of this project, is to collect 2,000 individual cards, letters, or notes so each service member in each unit I am supporting will have a piece of mail to open over the holidays.  It would be wonderful for you to express your thoughts to any of the service members in these units, so they feel a little less lonely as they serve our country far away from their loved ones.  Please get your childrens schools, girl/boy scouts, senior citizens homes, churches, social clubs, and families involved!

To be a part of this special project for our heroes away from home, please send donations (checks should be payable to Robin Schmidt) to the address below.  If you would like to use a credit card or make a donation online, you can do so via PayPal to the email address of supportourheroes@live.com (or clicking on the donate button at the top of the http://alwayssupportourheroes.com/ ) .

Last year the troops were ecstatic with how much I was able to send because of the generosity of everyone who got involved.  It was absolutely AMAZING to see how you all rallied with me at the last minute to take care of our 3/5 Marines.  Adopting the 1/6 “Hard” Marines is an extension of that commitment; one I do not take lightly.

After collecting enough money for the calling cards and decorations, I will “screen”  all the hand made cards & letters to make sure they are appropriate for our troops in harms way, or our Wounded Warriors.  My hope is to be able to visit with some of the Wounded at Bethesda, and Brooke Army Medical Center, like I did last year.  Actually as fate would have it, I was on a layover in Austin, TX Christmas day and delivered Christmas cards to the Wounded at BAMC.  It was probably one of the best Christmas’ I have ever had.  These Wounded Warriors need to be told face to face they are remembered, prayed for, and not broken.  I see them as whole individuals, who have sacrificed tremendously for our safety and freedoms.  Any extra cards will be hand delivered or mailed to those locations or sent to the Combat Surgical Hospital in Afghanistan.

Santa Sgt. Tim Gallagher delivering smiles to Task Force Dirigo ~ Dec 2009

It seems a little early to talk about the holidays; but I need to act on it quickly so the cards are received in Afghanistan before Thanksgiving and Christmas come to pass. It currently takes 3 to 4 weeks for some of the mail to get to one of the units in Afghanistan, which already puts time constraints on this project.  Yesterday I was actually told by one of the soldiers I support, that I have to have anything I am sending to her, mailed before 31October.  So please jump on this ASAP!  🙂

In order to get the holiday cards to Sgt. Hadzic and his 1/6 “Hard” Marine unit, the deadline for this project will be 11 November 2011. Perfect date to have everything to me by!  11/11/11 (Veteran’s Day).

If each of us takes action … we can change the world … one  life, one person at a time.

Thanks so much for helping make a difference for our valiant heroes and being a part of “Mail Call for Our Heroes 2011” !!  **If you have any other items you want me to include in the care packages, you can send them to the address below as well! (if you need a street address other than a PO Box, please let me know). Thanks again!**

Robin Schmidt

PO Box 449

Mercer Island, WA 98040

Angel

Always, Robin
“The Sky Angel”

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A Gift of Love …

Sunday, February 13th, 2011

Devil Dogs of the 3/5 Marines ~ Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan

Have you ever received a gift that made your heart melt? One that every time you saw it, you got a lump in your throat?  Every time you tried to tell someone about it, you were filled with such emotion, your voice quivered and tears rolled down your cheeks?  Recently I received such a gift, but I continue to be at a loss for words.  Maybe it is just best  if I let the person who sent me the gift, explain...

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing FWD, Operation Enduring Freedom t-shirt

Dear Robin,

I will not lie to you and tell you that our time here was pleasant, however I would like to thank you for making our time here a little better with each care package we would receive.  I was extremely grateful to have been introduced to you, as I was always motivated to receive something from you, a care package from one of your friends, an email, the fudge and cookies, and those post cards, (I loved those!) and knowing that there was someone out there so giving, so caring, and willing to give
so much of her own time for me and more importantly my Marines, really gave me strength.
As well when I would tell my Marines about you, it would bring up their motivation (along with the treats), which is why they wanted you to have a unit T-shirt.  I flew a United States Flag for you, Robin, over our Camp here in Southern Afghanistan, where so many of us have paid the ultimate sacrifice.  I wanted you to have it being you are for sure one of the people we would gladly sacrifice for, you are a Great American and a wonderful person.
I will never be able to Thank you enough!
Master Sergeant Marcus R. Dawson USMC

 

Flags over Camp Leatherneck

 

My words continue to be caught up in the deep felt emotion I feel from this gift.  Believe it or not, I really am at a loss for the right words.  But I felt the need to write this blog not only to share the sentiment Marcus provided, but an extended “Thank You” to each of you who continue to help me to make a difference for Darkhorse & The Devil Dogs, and all of our valiant heroes.

 

United States Marine Corp Certificate

 


Marcus, it has been an absolute honor to support you and your Marines.  Thank you for the sacrifices you each continue to make daily for my freedoms.  When the time comes for you to come home, please know I look forward to the opportunity to salute each of you in person.  Thank you so very much for touching my life in such a profound manner, and helping me to see ‘what I do matters’.  Every time I look at your amazing gift, I feel as though God is smiling.  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.  You each continue to remain in my thoughts and prayers …

Always,

Robin

 

The Sky Angel, and TIGGER, too! 🙂

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Feb & March Care packages to our Valiant Heroes …

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

Someone was caught sneeking around for GREEN items for our valiant heroes ... hehehe

✬★✬ Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and I am happy to report the packages I sent with all of our heartfelt cards of love and appreciation are beginning to arrive on the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan!  For those of you who have asked if you could help in March or April ~~ these are special requests directly from our troops: nuts, packaged tuna, chocolate covered raisins, Maxim, Muscle and Fitness, Muscle & Body, MMA News, funny movies,  the books “Lone Survivor” by Marcus Luttrell, “Three Cups of Tea“, “Stones into Schools” (both by Greg Mortenson) Photography magazines & Magazines about dogs.♥  The cut off date is 14Feb for me to receive these items for St. Patrick’s Day care packages … Any items not rec’d by 14Feb will be included in March care packages. ♥ (Last week I baked 28 dozen cookies for the 6 heroes & their units I am supporting, along with the Combat Surgical Hospital in Afghanistan. Earlier today I was found purchasing a bunch of GREEN fun to include with the requested items for March … so any of the items underlined above that you can help with would be greatly appreciated!)  … keep reading though … more ideas are in the following paragraphs!  Rolling on the floor laughing

Care package contents from Feb 2010 (last year)

✬★✬… Anybody out there live in New Orleans or going to Mardi Gras? … if so, I have a really special request for March  … can you get some beads, masks, hats, and green/purple boas, or anything FUN you can send me to include to our valiant heroes in March care packages???  My theme is Mardi Gras and Easter all in one! Thanks a million!!✬★✬

Another blog will be written for specific items requested for Easter after I get the Feb care packages sent, but for now, please remember .. the cut off for March care packages is 14March. ♥

Pillows & Easter Baskets to our troops, March 2010

Of course, to cut down on your costs, if you want to just send me a check, money order, gift card to WalMart, Big Lots, Costco, that would be fantastic .. or you simply click on the “donate” button in the upper right corner of my website : http://alwayssupportourheroes.com/

Another way you could help is shipping costs. If you can send an AmEx gift card or if the post office offers  gift cards, that would be MAGIFICENT!

My website (http://alwayssupportourheroes.com/ )  has recently been updated with links on how to “adopt a hero”, along with the most up-to-date details on  “how to ship” packages and “what to send” to our valiant heroes.  Please refer to the website BEFORE emailing me.  As the year progresses, I am committed  to focusing on my health, organizing my life, working full time job … and of course quality time with family & friends every month, as part of “Being Better”. Winking smile

The Sky Angel is always looking up ... hehehe

✬★✬For those of you who want to be involved with the very special journal project I am working on for the 3/5 Lima (Darkhorse) Marines, please click on this blog http://www.alwayssupportourheroes.com/WordPress/?p=443 for details.  ✬★✬

♥ Since my ultimate goal is to get every service member “adopted” for their deployment, if you can adopt your own service member or rally your friends to do this as a project together, you can sign up at: http://adoptahero.us/ … that would be AWESOME. ♥My address is:

Robin Schmidt

PO Box 122037

Covington, KY 41012-2037

Thanks everyone for your patience, understanding, and compassion!  May God bless America and the valiant heroes who protect our every day freedoms!  (and I promise I will keep the blog updated as much as possible with relevant information, as it always seems I am “up to something” … so stay tuned to http://www.alwayssupportourheroes.com/WordPress/ )  ♥

PS. Red heart For those of you on Facebook, PLEASE change your profile picture to a Superhero as a virtual Valentine to our Veteran’s and Active Military Personnel.   They need our support and this is a way to show them, without it costing a penny!   It is so great to see the support of my innovative idea & I cannot thank you enough for participating!  Please be sure to repost why you are changing your photo and ask your friends to do the same. Red heart

Always,

Angel

Robin

aka “The Sky Angel”


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A special gift for our 3/5 Darkhorse Marines … won’t you be a part of it???

Monday, February 7th, 2011

 
 

One of my heroes, reading his journals ...

As you may or may not know, one of the things I do for our troops is journals.  On my domestic flights I make an announcement asking passengers to “write words of encouragement, prayers, draw pictures, tell jokes or anything they would want to read if they were away from their loved ones for any length of time”.  This is what made me “famous” by most peoples standards.  Ironically, the journals  are just a small portion of what I do for our valiant heroes on a regular basis.  Some of the troops I have supported have never gotten a journal.  Those who have love them, but I am thankful there are those troops who realize the value of a care package, the sentiment of a letter, and the prayers I send up daily are also just as important.  Getting others involved in supporting our troops is my goal, so none of them will ever feel alone on the battlefield, or when they come home.  

 

That being said, every service member I have ever done the journals for has cherished them.  They have said “it is difficult for me to keep them in my hands, because my buddies always want to see what people have written”.  One of my heroes told me the journals meant more to him after he got home.  He still reads them three years later “as a way to deal with the fact that I was away from my son when he was 3 years old and I missed out on so many ‘firsts’ “.  Often times they tear pages of the journals out and carry a page with them on a mission.  Words from a complete stranger give hope.  Let that resonate for a moment and you know why the journals will always be special to myself and anyone who does them for our troops.  They are a beautiful way to rally people together ~~ and remind folks we have wars going on in two countries, and troops who need our support.   

 

As I was walking around the city of Brotherly love on my layover earlier, I was thinking about the 3/5 Darkhorse Marines I was asked to “adopt” in November 2010.  Reviewing stories that have been shared with me since writing that first email, and contemplating the beautiful gift they sent, that I got on my birthday.  (If I have not told you about that, look for an upcoming post about one of the most precious gifts I have ever received in all my days of existence.)   All of the sudden, as I took each step, an idea popped into my head.  An awesome idea, if I do say so myself.  hehehe  

You see, I am flying international trips right now, and cannot do the journals for our troops for various reasons.    I’ve been working extra hard to support this particular unit because of the vast amount of casualties.  That is why in mid January I came up with the innovative idea to ask Facebookers to change their profile picture to a Superhero in honor of our Veterans and Active Military who put their lives on the line every singe day for our every day freedoms.  (Please ask those people you know on Facebook to do this through 14Feb, as it is the only Valentine some of our troops will get!  Share with those you know who are deployed, so they know we are sending them this Virtual Valentine!  )

However, I want something tangible for these specific Marines.  Something to honor the sacrifices their battle buddies have endured, and to remember those who have given their lives to serve our nation.   

So this is what I am going to do.  As of today, I am going to ask you to write me letters (hand written or typed), send a card, photograph, anything you want me to put in a journal specifically for the 3/5 Darkhorse Marines.  What I plan to do with the items you send me, is make a journal for this unit.  The idea is spawned from what Hannahkohl did for our Wounded Warriors for Christmas, what I have done on the airplane for our troops for years now, and of course ~~ wanting them to have a keepsake like no other.   

General Amos & The Sky Angel ~ Bethesda, Oct 2010

Any cards or letters need to be on 5×7 paper or smaller if possible.  Although I have rec’d some items on 8 1/2 x 11 paper and will make them work, the smaller items will enable me to fit more of your words in the 20 page scrapbook I am making for this project.

It has been an honor to me to have been asked to support this unit, to boost morale over the holidays, when many of them were feeling the sadness of what was going on around them.  These are some of the bravest men you will ever come across.  The only ones I have ever met, are those who were in the hospitals at Bethesda, Walter Reed, or Brooke Army Medical.  Recently I was asked to attend a Memorial Service for the Fallen when the unit returns home from Afghanistan.  That is when I plan to give this particular gift to the 1stSgt I have been supporting.  Take time today to help me with this project for our 3/5 Darkhorse Marines … it is the least we can do for any one of them, and since I am not the most artistic person in the world … I need all the help I can get!   

Please help me … share your thoughts.  Email me :  supportourheroes@live.com  .. on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TheSkyAngel or send a card , letter, or photograph (Please NO POSTCARDS as there is no way to present them so the front & back can be read) that you want me to include in the scrapbook to:  

Robin Schmidt  

PO Box 122037  

Covington, KY 41012-2037  

THE DEADLINE FOR ME TO RECEIVE YOUR ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE JOURNAL I AM MAKING IS 17th MARCH, 2011, 8AM.

Help me make this project special … because it is all about the honorable and valiant sacrifices these complete strangers have made for each and every one of us .. and that is why I call them HEROES.   

PS.  In my photos you often will see Tigger.  One of my heroes asked me to take photos of Tigger in my travels, as a way to honor our troops. So that is why you see him with me … all over the globe.  whooo whooo whoo  

The Sky Angel wore her tshirt in honor of the Marines she is supporting .. and gave Tigger to a little boy with leukemia. What an AMAZING day!!

Thank you to all of our valiant heroes serving our Nation and bringing the world hope!   

Always,  

Robin 

AKA … The Sky Angel

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~ “Being Better” in 2011 ~

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

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

April – volunteered in Haiti for a week helping my friend, Eric Klein at CAN-DO.org and was deeply touched by the tenacity of the human spirit
 

 

Orphanage in Haiti ~ April 2010

May – attended a graduation at Embry Riddle University in Prescott, AZ, where we witnessed students being sworn in as Officers to the US Armed Forces.  (it was awesome!!)
 
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. Red heart

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)

 June – Was in the right place at the right time to give one of the heroes I had been supporting, Sgt Jonathan Kirkendall a ride from the airport to meet up with his beautiful family when he as home on leave. (it was the first time we had ever met!)

Attended a heroes wedding in Portland, Oregon (Ed was the first recipient of a TIGGER pinata when he was deployed to Afghanistan with the National Guard)
 
 
Spent time visiting my parents best friends (& my adopted family) for their 50th Wedding anniversary (love you, Jan & Lerry!!) 

 

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary, Jan & Lerry!!

July – featured as one of the heroes in “Kentucky’s Everyday Heroes 2” by Steve Flairty (what a huge compliment!!  Thank you so much, Steve!!)
 
Flew to Philadelphia and helped a dear friend study to get her FAA recertification, after she was out of work for 8 months due to illness.  
 
Visited with a couple of heroes while on a layover in Columbia, SC (Ft. Gordon)
 
 
August – attended 30 year high school reunion in Bothell, WA
 

 
 
September – helped throw a 40th birthday party for my dear friend,Tracy, in Laughlin, NV
 
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!! Smile)

Visited Wounded Warriors at Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Maryland
 

 

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”

Attended “Stand Up For Heroes” with Rafael & Angie in NYC thanks to Bob Woodruff and the kind folks at Remind.org
 

 

The Sky Angel stopped by Rockefeller Center on her way to "Stand Up For Heroes"

December – Visited Wounded Warriors at Bethesda, and attended a Christmas Party at Walter Reed Medical Center, hosted by Operation Home Front
 

Bethesda Naval Medical Center, Maryland ~ December 2010

 

Early Christmas in Seattle with family & a small group of friends

Some friendships last a lifetime ...

Sent out the remaining goodies I had collected for the troops for the holidays (their special requests and personal gifts)

Visited with a hero who returned from Iraq in June 2009 & met his lovely girlfriend in Fort Hood, Texas on Christmas eve …

Spent Christmas day visiting our Wounded Warriors and their families at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas

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!  Winking smile 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.

That all being said, if you want to make a difference in someones life and don’t know how, please click on http://adoptahero.us/ and adopt a service member through their deployment today. Winking smile
Angel
Always,
The Sky Angel

  
Robin Schmidt
PO Box 122037
Covington, KY 41012-2037 
 

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It’s all about PERSPECTIVE ….

Sunday, December 19th, 2010

The holidays seem to bring out the best and the worst in people.  Personally, I have experienced the absolute joy of how it feels to give a gift to someone that had very deep meaning.  Earlier this year I made a wedding gift for a soldier who I supported a few years back, and his lovely bride.  Hopefully I will never forget the amazing way that gift made them feel in receiving it, or in me giving it.   Every stitch of that blanket was made with prayers for their marriage to sustain the tests of time and for the safety of our brave heroes who continue to serve our Nation all over the world.  Few gifts can probably ever mean as much to me as that one.  One would probably ask, who it meant more to … the giver, or the receivers?

Honoring a hero and his wife ....

That question should be asked of all gifts given this holiday season.  There have been times when I was less mature and more selfish, and I didn’t really appreciate what someone had given me.  When I began adopting service members years ago, I stopped exchanging traditional gifts with most people, and began making my closest friends and family a calendar from my travels.  To me, it is the best gift I can give, because they can see where I have been and it always evokes stories they would otherwise probably not know to ask.  The gift means something to them (well, I hope it does anyway .. haha).  If nothing else, they have great pictures to look at all year long and a calendar to boot.  (hehe)  …. and on those rare occasions when I do give someone a gift, it truly is one I believe they will value and appreciate.  Something so simple as a “Proud Coin” can make all the difference in the world, from what I am told.  🙂

There are other times, where we have to look deeper inside to see the reason why someone gives the gift they do.  Maybe they have little money, so they make something they think you will like.  Maybe it looks dorky and you don’t see any purpose in it, but ask yourself if it could have a bigger meaning to the person who gave it to you.  Could it be possible it was in hopes it would make you happy inside, even if that wasn’t your reaction?

Sometimes we spend money on gifts, when we are not looking at the whole picture.  This reminds me of my second visit to South Africa.  The year before I had been taken to Soweto and met a bunch of children who were seeking donations for uniforms so they could attend school. (at the time I thought it a bit odd that one of the poorest places on earth would require children to have enough money to purchase uniforms, let alone charge for them to go to school).  For a few months I saved money and sent it to the school in a box full of clothes, toiletries, paper, and crayons so hopefully one child would be able to have that uniform.

The children each have on clothes brought by The Sky Angel from "Amerika" ...

When I went back the following year, that little boy was so excited to thank me.  He said “Miss Robin, it was so very nice of you to send money for this uniform so I could go to school.  It means so much to me to be able to study so I can make a better life for my family.  I hate to ask this, but is there any way you could buy me a pair of shoes, so I won’t have to walk on cut glass in order to get to school?”  Those words have stuck with me for various reasons … one simply is because at the time, I never about the shoes before that moment in time.

There will be gifts we receive in life that we simply do not want or need.  Accept them with gratitude, because sometimes it’s not about us.  Sometimes it is about the person giving the gift.  In reality, maybe my blanket doesn’t mean as much to Ed and Krista as it did to me to make it for them.   Maybe it means more to them.  But gifts are given as a token of our love and admiration for the receiver.  If you have lost perspective on the reason you are purchasing that gift, or why you are receiving the one you have gotten, maybe you should opt not to exchange gifts at all.

And if you receive a gift you simply do not want or cannot use, do me a favor?  Send it to me.  I promise I will put it into the hands of someone who will appreciate it more than words can begin to express.  Whether it be to a service member serving on battlegrounds on the other side of the world,  an orphan at a school in Johannesburg, or a family who will not have Christmas this year because their parents lost their jobs this past year and don’t even know where their next meal is coming from. 

May you experience the Reason for the Season through the gift of salvation this Christmas, for in that I found a reason for living my life with purpose.  Through my faith, I found forgiveness, and that I was and am accepted exactly as I am.  Having those gifts and being able to share them with you, is the best present I will ever be able to share … the gift of accepting people where they are, and being an example I hope you would want to follow.

As I bring this blog post to an end, I truly wish you and yours the most precious of holiday seasons and hope you have the joy of knowing you are a gift to every person you meet.  Set aside your differences and make things right with those you care about the most … life is short, do it while you can.   Look deeply inside yourself for PERSPECTIVE before you judge someone elses actions, and most of all .. I wish for you to experience the pure joy in giving AND receiving, gifts that deeply touch you … like an afghan that took months to make, or my lesson from a school kid thousands of miles away, about shoes.

The Sky Angel and Tigger, Christmas 2010

As a final note, please take a moment to light a candle, and say a prayer, send up positive thoughts and good juju to our valiant heroes serving so far away from home this holiday season and throughout the year.

Ho Ho Ho,

The Sky Angel

Please send all unwanted gifts (especially shoes! hehehe) to:

Robin Schmidt

PO Box 122037

Covington, KY 41012-2037

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