Saturday, March 25, 2006

Emotional Day . . .
Been spending much time today with a sick feeling in my stomach. Many of you have seen the headlines about Mary Winkler - the preacher's wife who has confessed to killing her husband here is TN. I was shocked to hear the story yesterday, but didn't think much about it as it actually happened a little more than 100 miles away from here.
It wasn't until this morning when I saw more pictures and they showed Crieve Hall Church of Christ that I realized who she was. . .
When Noah was about a year old to 3 years old, he attended the preschool at Crieve Hall while I freelanced at an ad agency downtown. Mary, or "Miss Mary, as I knew her, was Noah's teacher his last year there. Her oldest daughter was in the class with him.
While she wasn't a family friend, or really even an acquaintance (I haven't seen her since his last day there), there is something about that small connection that makes it seem so real. You see so much on the news that it makes it hard sometimes to feel affected personally.
So many questions . . . my heart just goes out to everyone involved. I told Jared today that those girls lives changed forever in the course of one day. They lost a father and a mother in one pull on that trigger. . .
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16 comments:

chanel said...

Oh my goodness... I don't know what to say, I wasn't expecting to read such a story on your blog = wow! All you can do is pray about it. all the best - Chanel

Anonymous said...

We will keep that family in our prayers. Sad, sad story. I hope you get to feeling better. Hugs to you!

Anonymous said...

I am sorry you had even a small connection to this tragedy. I think that in a way we need to "turn off" when it comes to disheartening news stories. There are so many that if we focused to much on any of them I think we would all find it very hard to go on. In reality the number of tragedies would probably increase tremendously as a result. So it seems a very good thing that we can step back a bit to protect ourselves and others.

Anyway, I hope that the bad feelings wont stay with you too long and that all of your delightful blessings can help you to find whatever is needed to make it a even little better.

Anonymous said...

Things like this make me hug my kids a little tighter, tell my family and friends how much a love them a little more. My prayers are with those children and their family and all the families like yours that they have touched in any way.

Anonymous said...

That's so tragic...

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry.

Jana said...

Oh my, it's such a small world, isn't it?? That is so sad.

Amanda said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Amanda said...

Whoops...guess I know what the trash can does now!
Randy and I have really been talking a lot about this situation over the past few days also. Both of us just wonder what kind of tragic thoughts this woman must have had to do something like this. And yes we agree...look at how it will change those sweet little girls forever. Not that it would make the event different, but there just has to be more the story than we know now.

Anonymous said...

I heard this on the news, too...such a tragedy for the entire family. How sad for her children! I'm sure it was such a shocker for you to find out she was involved in your child's care a few years back! That's just too close to home! I sure hope you get to feeling better soon, Jenni...hugs!

kellicrowe said...

what an icky moment to realize that
between radio disney and cartoon network - i haven't heard a lot of info on it yet
just saw her picture
and thought
"she looks so nice"
kellicrowe

Sherri said...

This story has bothered me too. Wow, I can't believe you have met her. There has to be "more" to the story....what made her kill him? And it is horrible for those little girls...I have had those exact same thoughts...that the course of all of their lives took a drastic turn within a moment...and their own mother did it to them. I cringed when I saw how sweet they were and their ages, it is just so sad.

Hollye said...

I was in shock when I heard this on the news. When they said she was missing, I turned to Brian and said, "The wife did it." Just a "feeling" I got. I am just waiting for them to release her statement as to why she did it. Several of my mommy friends and I have been discussing why she did it and we have come up with a couple of ideas. I just hope that those beautiful little girls will be shielded as much as possible from what the media and the public is saying about the whole thing. My heart hurts for those little angels.

Deanna- yep Dee-na said...

i know it girl. just strange... and makes you want to know what in the world happened??! I mean she looks like she could be any of us here. my heart breaks for the kids... and i thought it interesting that she took them straight to HIS parents home. ?
I felt so awful that it happened for their church family... the community. wow. i'm still thinking about it too.

Anonymous said...

Jenni,

I know exactly what you mean. I knew her also. Not very well, but she used to attend the church I go to in Knoxville frequently. It took me awhile to piece it together.. I knew her as Carol Freeman. Others at my church knew her and her family too and my preacher went to the same college, and knew of Matthew. I am just in shock. She was a nice girl. Very pretty.

Davean

Anonymous said...

The Winkler tragedy is so heartbreaking. Sad for the girls and for Mary. We may never know what happened but our prayers are with the entire family. You will also be in our prayers.