Loss

I havent written on here lately because as most of you know there was a tragic loss in our family.  It began with a phone call last Wednesday when I was told that my mom and stepdad were in an accident.  Plane trip to TN straight to Vanderbilt where I stayed with mom at the hospital until we laid my stepdad to rest on Wednesday of this week.  The week has been a blur of emotions, loss, numbness, shock and lots of prayers. 
As I write this I think about how strong my mom was during this process, how her faith helped her at times when she wanted to fall to her knees, how my stepdads kids got through this and they (the kids and mom) leaned on each other. I think about if I were in their shoes would I been able to be so strong and the answer is flat out NO.  I returned home late Wednesday night to be with my kids, husband and get ready for Christmas but my heart stayed in TN with my mom.  I feel empty right now but its nothing compared to what my mom is probably feeling.  After this week I will never be the same again.  After what Ive seen, what the family has been through, after my heart aches I will forever be changed.  All the nonsense that I let effect me seems so small now, all the worries about is my house clean enough for company, do I look ok, am I being the best little miss sussie homemaker, none of that matters now.  All that matters is that you should love your family as if its your last day, you should forgive and forget (thats a tough one for me but Im working on it), and thank God for what you have not what you dont have.  Im thankful that my stepdad was kind, sweet, loving, faithful to my mom, a great Donnie Pops to my kids, treated my mom as if she was a gift from God(and she is), and loved us as his own.  Donnie I will think about you all the time and Im thankful for the kind of man you were to me and my family.  Thank you for helping me tell Preston about what happened as well.... I know you had a part in it from up above.

In Celebration of a life well lived


BOWER, Donnie Lee: Age 53 of Burns, TN passed away Sunday December 19, 2010. He was born in Roanoke, VA, September 28, 1957 to Phyllis Denlinger and the late Orville T. Bower. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Susan Bower; children, Jeremy (Katie) Bower, Candace Bower, Jennifer (Mark) Earnest, Heather (Lowel) Bolin, Christopher (Amanda) Pyle; siblings, Michael (Glenna) Bower, Wayne (Angie) Bower, Dale (Cindy) Bower and Lisa Bowman; 4 grandchildren with a 5th, Diego Bower, expected in January. Donnie will forever be remembered by his family and friends as an honest family man who loved the Lord and was affectionately known as "Donnie Pops" by his grandchildren, and many beloved nieces and nephews. Donnie attended Bellevue Community Church in Nashville, TN and Chatham Baptist Church in Chatham, VA. His family and friends will gather for funeral services to celebrate his life on Wednesday December 22, 2010 at 10AM at Dalewood Baptist Church in Nashville, TN. His family will receive friends from 5-8PM on Tuesday December 21, 2010 at Spring Hill Funeral Home and on Wednesday from 9-10AM at Dalewood. Interment will follow services on Wednesday at Historic Spring Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers lasting memorials may be made to the Gideon's International P.O. Box 140800 Nashville, TN 37214-0800 or by visiting www.gideons.org Arrangements by: SPRING HILL FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY 5110 Gallatin Road at Briley Parkway, Nashville, TN 37216 (615)865-1101 online condolences at www.springhillfh.com



Donnie Lee Bower

September 28, 1957 - December 19, 2010

Nick Name :Donnie Pops

Place of Birth : Roanoke, Virginia

Passed Away At : Nashville, Tennessee

Occupation :Century Flooring

Hobbies :God and Family