Sent to the team & coaches on October 7th, 2001

i want to wish you all the very best this year. i also want to thank the coaches for everything that they have done for david and i. i will make it to as many games as possible to cheer you on. i hope that you all can make it to another round of the states. you all are in my thoughts and prayers. i wish you all a great season and the very best in all that you do!!!

love
amber

TRIBUTE TO AMBER DAWN MERRIL

Team manager 1999-2000

On Oct. 26th, 2001 a very special human being walked up to the gates of heaven to be with God. Heaven is something wonderful that no one has seen or touched, people can only imagine the beauty and love that it holds. I certainly don’t know what heaven’s beauty and love is like but i do know that Amber Merril had both love and beauty showing not only on her face but in her heart. Anyone who knew Amber was a very lucky person. I remember times before basketball games when I would be nervous about the game and Amber would look at me and just smile. When she smiled at me I felt the love from her heart move through my body and everything seemed a lot easier. The nervousness that I carried with me all went away. The same thing happened after games when I would be upset. Amber had the ability to shine when everything else seemed so dark. Her love for friends and family was so great that I don’t have the words to explain it. She always made everyone around her feel like they were her best friend. Those kinds of feelings don’t just come from a regular person, they come from someone that has an unbelievable love for life and a love for people.

‘’Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.’’
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

While reading through my bible tonight I came across this verse about love. As soon as I read it, I thought of Amber. I thought of the things that she used to do for me and for the people that she cared about. Amber always went out of her way to help people when they needed help and she was always there for them. This verse is always going to hold a special place in my heart because to me Amber is the definition of love. We all have our ways of mourning the death of a loved one, and that is something that someone must do to help them through this tough time. Even though this is a hard time we all must do as Amber would want us to do and we all must do what Amber’s love always did......we must persevere!

Amber, I love you and I will see you in heaven when I get there. This basketball season is dedicated to you. While you are looking down upon the team this year, I ask that you do me a little favor so i can play good..........smile for me!

Love,
Ronnie Lee Shaver, MHS Class of 2002