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

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.

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.

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

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.