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

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

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.