Thank You

When I started Amanda and Me, I sub-titled it Amanda "Braveheart" Warnock Cross - from her dad's point of view. She was still alive and we still had hope that she would recover. People were engaged with the blog from the very beginning. We all know she didn't make it, but she fought until the end. People continued to be engaged with the blog. We've shared stories of Amanda from other contributors and hope to share more. We want to say a sincere THANK YOU to all who've read, commented, shared and contributed. Your care for Amanda while alive and your memories now have been extremely comforting to her sisters, her mother and me.

It has almost been a month since she went to be with Jesus, and her loved ones are still grieving. Her mother, her sister's and I know without a doubt where she is and that she is happy. While she was far from perfect while in this life (as none of us are) she is closer now to perfection than ever and we know she will be made perfect in the Resurrection. Having said these things, I would still ask that you would continue to pray for those who still grieve her absence...

• Please continue to lift Cody in your prayers. He is still having a very hard time and needs your prayers for him in the present. Please pray that his decisions will honor Amanda's memory. Please pray for his future. Pray that it will be good. Pray that he will find love again. He's far too young to live life alone. He turned 22 just two days before the funeral. In Genesis 2:18 we read...The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." NIV. We know that Amanda, in her current state, would not want Cody to live his entire life without someone to love and marry and give Gina those grandbabies that would have literally killed Amanda to have. Please pray for a bright future for Cody.
• Please pray for Amanda's sisters Rachel and Jessica. They are VERY strong women, just like Amanda and their mother. Still, they loved her, they miss her and they need the comfort that only God can give them. Jessica was Amanda's closest confidant and friend. She and Amanda would talk for hours on the phone and tell each other things that they could only share with each other. Jessica knows more about who Amanda really was than anybody. Jessica's feelings at this time seem to be the most neglected or shall we say, taken for granted. As her twin, her bond is different than any of ours and she needs to be lifted up by our prayers. She is an excellent wife, an amazing mother, a loving daughter and a big part of her has gone ahead to Heaven. She really misses Amanda and while the rest of us were consoled and comforted by many people, she and her relationship have been the least understood. We need your prayers for her. Drop her a message on Facebook too, to let her know you care.
• Please continue to pray for Veronica. She worked so hard to care for Amanda for the best part of 22 years and worried while she was so far away, alone, in the cold ugly Seattle winter. Veronica really misses Amanda
• Pray for Cody's mom and dad. Guide them to guide him and his future, They are very close to Cody and love him very much.
• I want to thank you for your prayers, kind words and consideration. Thank you for loving my little girl and the rest of the Warnocks. While no man is an island, and I still need your prayers, I know that my Redeemer Lives and that Amanda is in His loving arms and that all things work together for good for those who love God. Amanda's death has brought out strength and courage that I did not know was there. I fear no evil, and will confront it when I see it. I think Amanda believed that strength was always there, though. It seemed like she read most people fairly well. When you pray for us, you are honoring Amanda, so again, thank you.

I will continue this blog until no one reads it any more. That is currently not a problem. We have had well over 8000 page views so far. I hope to feature stories about other CFers, and hope to use this blog to garner more donations for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundtion as they fight for a cure. Thank you to all who have donated as an outcome of Amanda going home. For those of you who mentioned Amanda while making your donation, we receive a letter from CFF and it warms our hearts to see your support for our cause. While we all grieve differently, this blog has been part of my therapy and recovery and I thank you for that. So it's good bye... until the next post. Again, thank you and may God bless each of you

Michael and Amanda...

Michael was a youth counselor at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin when Amanda was younger. Amanda was a big fan of Michael. He's a great guy, who really loved our daughter and cheered her up and on in dark times. We know he has been an inspiration to many people and continues to be. We thank God for the wonderful people, like Michael, that were brought into our lives because of this hideous disease. This is an image of Michael and Amanda, taken around that time. As an aside, Amanda's shirt designs are legendary. She entered the illustration competition twice and won twice. The shirt she is wearing is one of those designs. Michael commented on a recent post, and I wanted to share it with everyone...

"Thank you Jim.

I remember Amanda from when she was a patient at the "old" Austin Children's Hospital, back when she was about 12 years old. She had such a fire and spunk that light up the room. She used to beat me at the board game "Clue" repeatedly. Her life is an inspiration to me too even though we didn't stay in touch. Her life is a testimony to true faith and unwavering morals. Yalls family always seemed very close. She accomplished her goals and showed us how to live and love. I am sorry she is gone, I am sorry for your loss, and I hope that her life can inspire the rest of us to never give up, no matter what."

Amanda loved Kandy

Cody said at one point that I should make a post about Amanda and her dog Kandy. This is that post, and it comes at a time when loss is being piled on top of loss for us, as Kandy was a huge part of our family for 10 years.

Amanda had been asking her mom for quite some time for an inside dog. Amanda wanted, needed a puppy she could love and raise and call her own. We could think of a multitude of reason for not wanting a dog in the house. Living in the country made us fearful of fleas. Puppies are messy and destructive. On and on. As usual though, Amanda prevailed. On November 1, 2001 we all piled in the old pickup truck (me on crutches from knee surgery) and headed to San Antonio to "look at" a couple of pups a lady had. That is when Kandy came into our lives. She was this dirty, scruffy, flea infested half rat terrier half Bichon puppy, would spent most of her days in the ladies back yard. She'd been born in July, so she was a few months old. We feel in love with her. All five of us. Amanda named her Kandy because she was this little puff ball that looked like cotton candy.

We brought her home that night. Veronica cleaned her up, and she was beautiful. Her potty training went very smooth. She tore up a few flip flops along the way, but proved to be an amazingly intelligent, fast learning part of the family. So much so that she traveled with us to see dear friends in Roswell, NM later that month, without incident. She became a major member of our family. Her legal name is Kandy Warnock (as the vet knows her).

Kandy was quite playful and loved to fetch tennis balls. I could throw her ball from one end of the house to the other and she would fetch it and bring it back to me and have me play for long measures of time. It never got old for her.

Amanda taught Kandy to do amazing tricks, and Kandy would get tired of those and "talk" back to Amanda, or whoever was making her perform for them.

Kandy loved her people and hated being separated from any of us. If there was a closed door with one of her people on the other side, she would whine until we gave in to her. She was also a very vocal dog, and would let out a scream almost, when ever any of us would return home from being away for even a short time.

When Amanda was away from home during one of her many hospitalizations, Kandy would sleep on the floor, halfway between the front door and Amanda's bedroom. That was the only time she would not sleep with Amanda or under Veronica and my bed. If she started a night under our bed, she would end up in Amanda's bed before the morning. She instinctively knew when Amanda was in the hospital. She was such a smart, amazing dog.

Amanda told Veronica that she wanted her to have Kandy. It seems that won't happen. Cody's parents promised to bring her back from Washington to be with her real family, but now they have decided to keep Kandy. We ask that you pray that we will get Kandy back, as Amanda wanted.

Strength...

According to one of the on-line dictionaries, strength can be defined as... moral power, firmness, or courage. Amanda was a very strong person. Amanda had the ability to strengthen those around her. We've found, through losing her, who among those she left behind are really strong, like Amanda would have wanted them to be. 


Amanda married, moved far from home, made a home for her and Cody, alone and sick, while her husband was deployed. That's strength coupled with courage and love. She WOULD NOT allow Cystic Fibrosis to stand in her way, and rarely even let people know she had CF. She hated enabling and refused to be enabled. Again, so strong.


Amanda would be very angry if her family, friends, loved ones stopped living and hid under a rock. It would hurt her to see us give up and not keep living. She would have wanted each of us to get up and go teach, or repair appliances, or go to school, or work at our jobs, or continue to book and shoot weddings. Amanda would want Cody to continue his Navy career. Amanda would want her brothers-in-law, who she loved deeply to continue their pursuits. She would have wanted her nieces and nephews to go on with their educations and to grow up to be productive adults. Strong people were her favorites. She didn't have much time for people who gave up. She fought until the very end.


To grieve the loss of a loved one and to cry is natural and not a sign of weakness. Giving up is. We are all grieving her death and missing her presence, but Amanda will kick our butts when we get to heaven if we wallow in our grief and give up. As hard as it can be at times, we need to be strong. Much of the strength we have, we have because of her. She left us this strength to be part of a lasting legacy in remembrance of her, and to show one minute of doubt and weakness would only serve to diminish that beautiful legacy.


Veronica and I were her mom and dad for 22 years. We knew her BETTER than any one. In her honor, we will use every ounce of strength that Amanda has given us over those 22 years, to continue to be the people she knew we are. Many of our friends have surrounded us with their love and care. They've wrapped us in their prayers, they've flooded us with their sincere condolences. As her closest friends, as her loving parents, her card playing, camping, wedding shooting, drinking buddies, it would be easy and even accepted by those friends for us to show weakness. Amanda would say, unequivocally... BULLSHIT! Were we to give up, I can almost hear her exact words - "Mom, Dad stop it! Get your heads out of your asses and BE STRONG!" We will choose to do just that! 

If you were a friend or loved one of Amanda, please honor her memory by being strong. She gave you much of that strength.

Rachel and Amanda...

This post written by Rachel, Amanda's big sister. Be sure to check out the pictures at the end...

My sister has always been my biggest encourager.  She always had faith in me, even when I couldn’t, saying to me ‘Rachel I love you, I believe in you.’  That’s all it took.  Even coming from my baby sister I would hang on her every word.  Amanda was beyond thoughtful, I was always secretly trying to be as brave and strong as her.  The memories abound, one of the first ones came to me while I was looking at pictures the day Amanda passed.  I was in my living room when my daughter Gwendalyn came up to me.  She looked at me, smiled.  Gwen said, “Mommy sad?”.  I replied, “Yes mommy sad, I miss aunt Momo.”.   My sweet daughter smiled again and in such clear words said to me, “Mommy, Momo home with Jesus.  Momo happy. Mommy happy too. “ .  I was astounded.  I had not said anything to her about what had happened, Gwen had only turned two a short month ago.  How could my sweet girl just happen to put those words together?   Those words?  I know it was another way for me to find comfort.  I just could not believe my ears.

So I began to think of the special bond Amanda had with each one of her nieces and nephews.  Amanda was the cool aunt that brought them treats, would play the games with the kids and when it was time to change a diaper she would hand them back to their mom in real cool aunt fashion.  Gwenny took to aunt Momo immediately.  When I had Gwen, I ended up having to have an emergency c-section after being induced.  It wasn’t what I had pictured at all, but was all worth it when I laid eyes on my sweet girl.  One thing that did happen was Gwen’s name.  Her full name is Gwendalyn Elizabeth Nelson.  Jacob and I had struggled with girl names, we did know that we wanted to name our first daughter after my sister.  I wanted my daughter to be like her.  To me brave, kind, loving, honorable, adventurous, and  blessing to all who meet her.  We decided that it would be weird to use Amanda’s first name so we used her middle name as Gwen’s, Elizabeth. 

Amanda lived in another state at the time and told me she wouldn’t be able to come to meet Gwen for another two months.  I cried and cried.  Here I named my daughter after you and you can’t come!  My little sister wanted to fight.  Ha.  As I waited at home for my parents to come over, who pops through my front door to wrap her arms around me from the backside of my couch?  My sweet beautiful sister,  it ment the world to me to have her there.  I found out later that Amanda had planned the whole thing, she wouldn’t even tell Jessica because she knew Jessica would tell me and ruin the surprise.  To watch Amanda with Gwenny was magical.  Manda was so unsure, but Gwenny she just knew… it’s aunt Momo… she just gazed at her unable to move her stare from those blue eyes. 

My sister is my hero, she is the strongest person I have ever known.  I was so blessed to have her as my sister.  I wouldn’t be the sister, wife, mother, friend or teacher I am today without her.  When I want to give up I look to her.  When I want to second guess something or just go for it, I choose to just go for it and live.  She inspires me to fight for what I know is right.  Through her I have been taught what real compassion is, to care more about others than yourself.  To love like crazy so that no one will ever look back and question if they were loved by me. 

Amanda was the picture of living.  Not letting this awful disease bring her sweet soul down.  She was determined from the beginning to succeed.  I rejoice in my baby sister going home.  She means the world to me and always will.  My daughter will know her.  She will be shown what an amazing woman her aunt was and who I wish for her to be like.  I miss you sister… I really really miss you. 

Laura and Amanda...

Mr. Warnock,

First of all please accept my deepest sympathy and condolences for the loss of your daughter. I was informed of her passing today by another USS Stennis spouse. I didn't recognize the name but I googled her non the less so that I could learn more about the girl that brought my friend to tears when she told me that she was gone. I found your blog and quickly realized that I did know her, not in name but in face. You see I met Amanda last year at the NEX in Washington. I was a frazzled mother in the checkout line with a 2 year old and she was the sweet young lady playing peek-a-boo with my son. She could tell that I was having a rough time with him throwing an absolute fit and she just wanted to make him smile so that I could have a moment of peace.

I'm horrible at remembering names but I never seem to forget a face. I'll never forget her's that day when she tried to help a stranger with a sad little boy. For days later my son asked if we could go see the lady with the pretty hair at the store. We never saw her again but tonight when I saw her picture he climbed in my lap, and a year later he said "Look Mommy it's Pretty Hair Lady"

I hope my memory could bring you some joy. You raised a remarkable young woman that could touch someone's life with a simple smile. Thank you.

All our prayers,

Laura Benner

Alicia and Amanda...

I know this isn't going to help ease the pain while dealing with the loss of Amanda, but I just wanted to tell you that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I didn't know Amanda for very long or even very well, but in the short time that she was in Washington I could just tell that we would have became amazing friends in time. Every time that we hung out she was ALWAYS talking about her family! She loved you guys more than words can say and I'm sure you know that. She was such an inspirational woman. I remember texting her time and time again asking when she was coming back here because I couldnt wait to hang out with her again! Looking back, I'm so glad she stayed with you as long as she did! I'm sure it meant the world to her to spend so much time with you before her passing. The one thing I regret is not going to see Amanda while she was in the hospital. Last time I had talked to her she was getting better, I had no idea it had taken a turn for the worst. If there is anything I can do please do not hesitate to ask! Amanda will always be in my heart!

Cody returns to Washington...

Cody is returning to Silverdale, WA this weekend. He and his parents will be driving there from Texas. It's a long drive. We know, we drove it when Amanda was first hospitalized. Please pray for the Cross' as they drive such a great distance. Also, pray for his brother Kent, his lovely wife and beautiful baby boy as they fly back to Turkey over the next two days.

Veronica and I visited Amanda's grave yesterday afternoon. Veronica has gone each day since Amanda was buried. We were there for a little while, when Cody, his mom and dad and his brother Kent, his wife and cute, sweet baby boy showed up. We think Amanda may have orchestrated it all. We were able to spend some great time together there and then went to one of Amanda's favorite restaurants (TexMex of course) in the area and have dinner with each other. It was perfect.

Cody had spent the night before at our house. I had an obligation on Friday morning, so I went to bed around midnight, but Cody and Veronica stayed up for about 3 more hours and cried together and talked and lived, loved and learned. I know Amanda set that up, too.

We love Cody and hurt for him. His loss, at such a young age, must be devastating. We ask everyone who knows Cody to express your love for him too, whether as a comment to this post or on Facebook. We also ask that all of you pray for him. It will be hard for him to return home alone, without Amanda by his side. We know she is watching over all her loved ones, especially Cody. Please pray that through this dark time he will feel God's love and comfort and continue the good work he started when he joined the Navy to support his wife. Please pray for Cody. Amanda loved him SO MUCH. We do too.

I Miss Amanda...

It has been two weeks tomorrow since Amanda passed from earth to Heaven. I really miss her. All the relatives and friends that stayed with us during this time have returned to their homes. God knows we still need support and He has provided in only the way God can. Don and Kathy left this morning and shortly after, Cody came by and shared lunch with us. We spent a few wonderful hours together, mostly remembering Amanda. Later on, Paul invited us to dinner at his and Jessica's wonderful home in Kyle, the next town south of here. To top it all off, my lovely cousin in TN messaged me on Facebook to express her love for us. She, if anyone, knows loss, having lost both parents prematurely to a house fire, as well as 3 siblings, who died way too young. I can't even imagine her pain. She'll be sainted one day, and deservedly so.

Veronica and I visited her grave today. Veronica has gone every day since her death. Me, not as much, but it intrigues me to know that other friends have gone to visit her too. Thank you, especially to her whiskey drinking friend. I know she appreciates it and is probably Jonsing for a few shots, considering the lack thereof where she is... ;-)

Yes, I really miss Amanda, but it seems that Amanda has arranged for me/us to be comforted in ways that surpass understanding. She is very persistent, and I know she is in God's ear for us. I also know He is smiling over this child of God with only the smile a father projects regarding a child He loves.

Resurrection Day 2012

Today we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is comforting to know that even while we miss Amanda's presence here on earth, she is with Jesus, celebrating who He IS in a whole new way. We are so thankful to know that she is saved and in Heaven. Thank you Jesus for loving us enough to die for our sins. Thank you for making payment for a price we could never pay ourselves. Thank you for who you ARE and thank you that you've provided a way for Amanda to be with you eternally. Thank you for providing us a way to see Amanda and all our loved ones again. Thank you for saving us.

Amanda's Eulogy...

This is the eulogy that was read at Amanda's memorial service. We hope it helps people to know Amanda a little better...

I said so long to a good friend a week ago today. Not forever, but for a little while. Amanda was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a confidant, a friend and a child of God. She was my sister in Christ. Amanda was stronger than most people and faced adversity with a calm, cool, collective demeanor than is rare in society today. She did not run from pain, but faced it head on. She called it “sucking it up”. Most of all, Amanda was a pistol. There was no stopping her. She did what she was going to do and most often did it better than most. She would not let illness stand in her way.

See was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at 4 months of age. That was a hard pill for me to swallow. What I knew about CF was from Public Service Announcements from the 1960's. It is rare that anything makes me weak in the knees, but finding out that one of my precious daughters had a chronic and often terminal illness did just that. It blindsided Veronica and me, but our answer was to fight it to the best of our ability, and reley on God for the rest of the fight and strength we needed. He provided as He always does.

Amanda asked me at around 8 years old, how she could live with Jesus forever. I explained the plan of salvation to her and we prayed the sinners prayer together. From that day on, Amanda was not only my daughter, she was my sister in Christ. She had one of the most amazingly strong faiths I've ever known. In spite of this crushing disease, she never blamed God. Questioned, maybe. Blame, no way. Amanda LOVED the Lord. This gives us great comfort as we know we will see her again. I'll never forget the long talks we've had about Jesus and religion and faith. Her concern was for others, both temporaly and eternally. She really cared about others, almost to a fault. Her life and that huge smile projected her faith in Christ to others.

As a wife, Amanda was a Proverbs 31 woman. If you'd like to know about what kind of wife she was, then read the whole chapter.

Verses 30 and 31 sum up Amanda pretty well. We read:

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31Honor her for all that her hands have done,and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Amanda loved her husband Cody. In spite of her illness, she always tried to make a nice home, keep the books and do any task that Cody asked her to. She was willing to work outside the home to help achieve their goals and plans. She was an amazing wife.

Amanda loved her family. She and her sisters could fight and be mad at each other and have their little tiffs, but if anyone messed with a Warnock, they were messing with her. She loved her Scottish heritage and proudly wore her Rampant Lion tatoo from the Royal Flag of Scotland. She is a proud descendant of The Bruce, King James Stewart, and The Earl of Argyle and Alexander Hamilton. She wore that heritage on her sleeve, so to speak.

We were so incredibly blessed to have Amanda spend the end of last summer and fall with us, while Cody was deployed. We did so many things together and enjoyed every minute of it. We were like the Three Musketeers. Amanda told us of her desire to be a videographer and shoot music videos of country stars. Her dream was to live in Nashville and be a successful producer. She shot her first music video this last fall for an up and coming artist named Zac Young. If Amanda had a goal, she made it a reality. When most people dream, Amanda just plain did. She revealed to us during that time, that we were her best friends. We teared up over such an honor.

Amanda's life was a beautiful testimony. One of faith and love. One of courage and strength. We would all do good to follow her example. In a world hungry for heroes, I didn't have to look far. Amanda WAS my hero.

Many of us are looking for answers as to why Amanda was taken from us at such a young age. While I can't give you those answers I can put fourth my theory. In Psalms 139 verses 13 and 14 we read: 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. God knew that Amanda's spirit was larger than life and could only reside in the body her mother and I pro-created for her for a short time. James 4:14 tells us: Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. While Amanda was more like a Texas tornado than a mist, the verse is still true. We should take comfort in knowing that as we approach a holiday we call Easter, with it's bunnies that lay eggs and other fables, Amanda is spending Passover and the Feast of First Fruits with our resurrected Savior in Heaven and she is having the time of her life with the true vine, the true blood and the true bread that was given once for us all. We all have the same opportunity that Amanda has been afforded by acknowledging Jesus as our Lord and Savior, Amen. May God bless all that hear this message.

Alexis and Amanda...

Amanda and Alexis

Bowling, sushi, grilled pork chops, chili, jalapeno poppers, whiskey, rum, beer, margaritas, girl’s night out, snow day drinks, that giant hummer of hers (!), Kandy and Frida, drunken late night political/religious/societal/music/dogs conversations, carharts, slip ons, TEXAS, cosmos, mangos and more Texas. I met Amanda in 2010, but didn’t really begin to know her until 2012 and if there’s anything that I’d take back about the two of us it would be that I didn’t try to know her sooner.

                When Amanda came back from Texas I was just coming back from home where I had to leave my daughter in the care of family while I prepared for my ship’s upcoming underways. My house was empty and hers was only four houses down so it was just perfect. I think I spent more time in January and beginning February at her house than mine. Amanda had a contagious spark like no other. I would come over after a bad day at work and completely forget about it. She kept my mind off my daughter and my mind on what I had in front of me. She taught me to…I don’t want to sound cliché but she taught me to be a better person. She taught me to laugh ‘cause most of the time it’s the only thing we can do. She taught me to look forward and never back. She taught me so much more than I can’t even recognize now. She taught me that Texas is amazing and I really should visit. We were so opposite on so many subjects but I think it only made us a better match. I will forever cherish these last two months with her. I had a dream on St Patrick’s Day that I had received a text from Amanda saying that she was home and healthy and sorry that she had missed St Patty’s day with me and I woke up thinking it was true. I thought it was a sign that things were going to get better and in a way they did, just not the way I wanted.

I still have a bottle of Gentleman’s Jack that I bought for when she got back home and I haven’t been able to drink it, but I think I’ll have a drink tonight with her. There better be whiskey in Heaven!!

Amanda, I hope you know how much you impacted me this year. I love you, girl! You’re such an amazing person and I can’t wait to see you again someday.

Love, Alexis

Much love to you and your family, it has to take some amazing people to make such an amazing girl.

Christie and Amanda...

I met Amanda about 7 months before my husband left for bootcamp on the NavyforMoms website. She was my go to girl, she seemed to always have the answers to all my questions. She was so helpful that I actually decided to move to the same apartment complex as her and Cody. Amanda helped me out more then I think she will ever know. Between giving me advise on my move to Illinois, telling me what lane to stay in while driving to bootcamp graduation to beat the most traffic and making Cody wake up at 6am on his days off to have him sign out my husband so I could spend the day with him Amanda was always there for me from the very beginning of our friendship. 

Throughout our time together in Illinois we bought our brother and sister kittens Rowley and Kona together,went shopping, spent everyday during the summer at the pool or 6 flags ate dinner together at least 3 days a week,and went on hour long car rides to places Amanda just wanted to check out she was such and adventurer. 

Even though Amanda and I followed our husbands to different duty stations we still stayed in contact with each other. Amanda touched my heart and inspired me in ways I can't even express. She was always there for me, and even though we were both in the same situation living away from family in a strange state Amanda always made the best out of the situation and made it a point to make me feel at home with her and Cody. I love you Amanda and I am so grateful that I had you as a friend even if it was only for a short time. 

Christie Cook

Leah and Amanda...

"I had only known Amanda a few months before my husband left on
his first deployment.  She showed up on my doorstep the evening after
he left, with a bag full of chocolate and a hug. That's when I first
realized that I had found myself a real friend.
    I woke up to a phone call from her one morning... "Hey, get
dressed! We are going to meet Justin Moore!" She picked me up in her
big ole hummer. We waited in a surprisingly short line to get
autographs and take pictures with Justin Moore. We quickly discovered
that he is way shorter in person than he appears in his music videos.
  She always had something fun and exciting in mind to keep us busy.
Whether it was hanging out on my couch, going out to eat, or going to
a concert, Amanda knew how to keep my mind off deployment. I could
never thank her enough for that. But, I really hope she knew how much
it meant to me.
    Wherever you are, Amanda, I hope you know how many people love you
and are missing you.  You were truely beautiful inside and out."



-Leah Van Huyck

Michelle and Amanda...

Although I didn't know Amanda for very long, she made a huge impact on my life. She and I met in August of last year right after the deployment started. After she went back to Texas for a while, she and I fell out of touch but as soon as she got back we started spending almost every day together. I never got to tell her, but she made the end of the deployment so much easier for me to go through and I honestly feel as though we pulled each other through the very end. I'm so grateful that I got to meet her and that I was able to get as close to her as I did in that short time. My favorite memory of Amanda was probably the day she and I went fishing out at Kitsap Lake. I'd been wanting to go for a while and as soon as I mentioned it she was ridiculously excited to go. She and I just sat on the pier, told jokes, laughed, and just enjoyed the other's company. We spent the entire day out there and made plans to go back but with this rainy Washington weather, we never got the chance. It didn't matter whether we were watching movies together, having coffee, riding around in the Hummer, or just sharing a meal together, she always had a great outlook and a smile on her face that made it impossible to be upset around her. I'm so blessed to have had Amanda as a friend because she was an absolutely amazing person.

--Michelle Reece

Preparations...

I will not be posting for the next few days as we prepare for Amanda's memorial service. I will  resume my tribute to her life as soon as possible. It is my hope that others will be able to guest post and / or share their memories of Amanda. I would LOVE to feature those memories here.

If you have a memory of Amanda or tribute you'd like to share, please email me at jimdwarnock@gmail.com . I will copy and paste your email verbatim on this blog, so if you have typos or misspelled words, they will not be corrected. I want everything to be as real as your memories are.

Thank you so much for being Amanda's friends.

Amanda loved JROTC...

Amanda loved life and all it had to bring. She refused to let Cystic Fibrosis stand in her way. One of her favorite pursuits was the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps at Jack C. Hays the high school she graduated from in 2008. She loved it so much that she participated for all four years of high school. She excelled in rank and performance to be one of the top officers in the command by her senior year. Amanda may have become a Marine had they allowed CF'ers to be in the Corps.

Veronica, Amanda's mom, would always travel with the company when they went on competition trips and other trips. Veronica wanted to be close at hand, in case Amanda needed her. Veronica loves Amanda so much. So if it meant staying in a crappy hotel, putting up with rowdy teens, eating bad food and getting stung by wasps to the point that her eye was swollen shut, Veronica was always there. It was worth every minute to her.

Amanda was such an amazing marksman (as skill I'd like to believe she learned from shooting old Barbies with our crappy little BB gun back on the homestead). Amanda could be running a fever that would devastate most of us and still whip the pants of any of the boys when it came to marksman competition. She was also on the color guard and commanded it for a time.

We looked forward to the Marine Corps Ball each year. That was a big night out for the three of us. The boys would line up to dance with our angel. You could say she was the bell of the ball.

We were so happy that she chose JROTC. She met some of the best friends of her life because of her involvement in the program. She surrounded herself with some of the best and brightest young men and young women we'd ever met. Her friends were of such a high level of character and integrity, and we feel blessed by their friendship with our girl. The adult leadership of the company were some of the finest men we've ever known and we are thankful to them for the love and care that they extended to Amanda. Thank you Major Hamil and Gunny Magare. Fair winds and following seas. We thank God for you.

The picture above was taken by Gunny Magare, who was a dear friend and gave Amanda a guiding light and hope during a dark time in her life. A true leader and a true friend. He captured her in her element. That smile is what everyone would see when they saw Amanda. What a fitting tribute to who she is.

Please help us fight Cystic Fibrosis by donating to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Just follow the link below...
http://www.cff.org/GetInvolved/ManyWaysToGive/MakeADonation/