If you have ever felt frustrated in life or unhappy with your circumstances, stop. Consider Amber Lynn Rhodes, age 17, who passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on March 11, 2015. She inspired all who knew her by the manner in which she faced life daily with a prevailing spirit of happiness, enthusiasm, and eternal hope, no matter the circumstances that surrounded her. Amber was born on May 6, 1997, in Brevard to parents Stacey Lynn and Jason Rhodes. In all manners, it was a typical upbringing. As a little girl, her favorite pastime was dressing up. She had a closet full of dress up clothes and would play for hours on end dressing up, taking care of her stuffed animals, and playing school with them. Amber was always a caregiver. Her life-long dream was to someday become a school teacher, get married and have babies of her own. Knowing the young woman she grew up to be, she would have been an amazing mom. It was simple and ordinary things in life that made Amber happy. She treasured her family and friends. She loved her parents and adored her big brother, Garrett. She loved Kitara, the family's St. Bernard. As young children, she and her brother would be found each morning with their sippy cups in-hand, laying on the floor using Kitara as a pillow while watching cartoons. And from the day that the family cat, Audi, was found abandoned as a kitten, Amber doted on him and cared for him daily. Up until the very end, he returned her love by spending every day always close by her side. Amber loved art and drawing. She had an amazing natural gift. She never had a single art lesson during her life, but yet she could look at anything and draw it, as some of you know who have seen her beautiful drawings. She was a morning person. Oh, how she loved mornings... up bright and early and always smiling! And, how she filled our family's home with laughter. Whether watching episodes from one of her favorite TV shows "The Office," or a Disney movie, or giggling at a shirtless Tyler Lauchner in the "Twilight" movies, her laughter made our world right. When Amber was diagnosed in 2012 with her brain tumor, we were devastated. How would our happy girl handle this? To our amazement, she showed us that she was the very definition of strength and courage, never whining or complaining about any of it. Every step of the way, she smiled and chose to live each day intently happy, even on days when she was struggling. Even more so, after her diagnosis Amber became a true champion for cancer awareness. In two years, she raised over $16,000 for Make a Wish Foundation and in 2015 she was named the Honorary Chairperson for the American Cancer Society Transylvania County Relay for Life. She tirelessly gave interviews to help raise money and awareness to fight cancer and she became particularly sensitive to other Transylvania County students fighting their own cancer battles. Give, give, give. That's all she knew to do. We stayed at the Ronald McDonald house at Duke during her radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Every day, no matter how she felt, Amber would make rounds asking all of the other patients how they were feeling and sharing that she hoped their day got better, never once complaining about her own health. Another time at a hospital, she came upon a mom in the hallway standing outside a room, crying. Amber stopped to comfort her, and asked if she could give her a hug (which she did). Life for Amber was always about focusing love on other people. During one stretch of treatment, we met a man at Duke Hospital who became Amber's godfather for all intents and purposes. He told Amber he wanted to gift her with whatever she wished or wanted. She couldn't think of a thing she needed and so gave the generous gift to her high school. Brevard High School received $20,000, in Amber's honor, allowing them to finish the theatre lighting system. It is with the deepest sorrow that we pen these final words to share the lessons our sweet Amber taught us during her life. She's no longer with us, but her spirit lives on reminding us daily of exactly how to live our lives to the fullest. Thank you, Amber, for your wisdom and for showing us how to live a life well-intended: Stand up tall and be strong in the face of fear. Keep smiling (no matter what). Be enthusiastic and cheerful in all things that engage you. Seek out the good in people and in all circumstances. Carry a good attitude, as it will put others around you at ease. Don't judge others. Respect people's dignity. Be compassionate. Don't carry grudges. Give generously of your attention and time. Money means nothing. Family means everything. And, happiness is a choice. Above all else, choose happiness. Amber is survived by her parents, Stacey Lynn and Jason Allen Rhodes; her brothers, Garrett AnderSon Rhodes and Hawk D'Onofrio; grandfather Richard Huston Rhodes, of Brevard; grandmother Loreen Rae AnderSon, of Brevard; great grandparents Leona and Clayton Dowell; grandparents John and Sharon Houston; her Uncle Todd and Aunt Tracey; Elliott Rhodes; Huston Rhodes; Stacey's brothers and sister, Monty Houston, Rick Houston, Regina Tremko, and oodles of cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends and family too numerous to list but not forgotten. The family wishes to thank all of those who cared for Amber over the last several months, and friends who helped. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made on Amber's behalf to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central & Western North Carolina, 1131 Harding Place, Charlotte NC 28204, (704) 339-0334 or (877) 677-9474, nc.wish.org, email: info@nc.wish.org. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 17 at 6 p.m. at the Brevard High School Auditorium with visitation following directly after the service. Please join us in wearing pink or any bright cheerful colors to the services, as we know that this would make our sweet Amber smile (as she never liked dark "funeral" colors)