My in-laws, Fritz and Gerda Hubrich

This is a book that Ralph's parents gave us for Christmas. It documents the experiences of the East German Latter-Day Saints during, and following World War 2. Once I start reading, I can hardly set it down. Their pain and suffering is beyond description. For Ralph's family, his mother and grandmother were left alone with the little children, and Fritz was gone for four years fighting in the war, and they had no idea if he was dead or alive. Russian soldiers took over their home, and they struggled to survive. The women were not safe. Everyone was hungry, and they had no shelter. On an especially difficult day, Gerda decided that it was time to take their lives, and end it all, as so many others had done. They went to a little lake where she explained to her children that they would be going home to be with Heavenly Father and would have no more pain and sorrow. Ralph's grandmother interveined, and stated that the Lord had protected them this long, and He would continue to do so. It was only two days later when Fritz came home to them. He had suffered many trials himself. He had been shot at, and had to dig his own grave twice. Once he escaped into a lake, where he was shot at, and nearly drowned from staying under water so long, and another time, he was let go to be with other prisoners of war. Their struggles were far from over, even after the war ended. The work of rebuilding was HARD and food was scarce. My father in law was like no other when it came to finding ways to provide. The things they ate, and how they struggled to survive, would require a book in itself.

I admire them for their faithfulness, for their love of God, and for pressing forward to help themselves and others. Fritz was the Branch president at that time. They are a great example to all of our family, in many ways. I admire all of those from Ralph's family, and I am proud of my own Pioneer heritage ....the struggles were different, but no less difficult. I feel so lucky to have had so many who gave so much, that I might live in peace and comfort here in America. I am worried for the future of America, and hope that this generation can rise to the occasion and preserve the freedoms that we still enjoy.
Here are two photos of Fritz, and Gerda and their children. The photo on the left is of the back yard of their apartment. You can see there is a thriving garden there...Fritz has always been a great gardener. The one on the right is the two of them with sons, Ralph, in Fritz's arms, and Dieter, in the baby carriage.
Here they are today. This was taken last week when we celebrated their birthdays. Gerda was 92 on March 8th and Fritz turned 98 on the 14th of March.
Here are their four children and spouses. Dieter, passed away in 1973.

Feeling better

I have been ill for a couple of weeks. It was working up for longer than that with just not feeling well, since before Christmas. Finally, more and more symptoms and fever took me to the doctor on Feb 24. A diagnosis of Diverticulitis once again, the second time within a few months. I went home for bed rest and liquid diet, but the next day more serious symptoms occurred which took me to the ER for a CT scan, and evaluation. The findings from that scan indicate that surgery is no longer an option. I will be seeing a surgeon on Monday to schedule surgery in the near future.
To make matters worse, I contacted a virus, which has just been miserable. The antibiotics make me nauseated, and dizzy, with a headache. I burned my mouth because my Pero was too hot, and so I have really been through the mill. I still have a mouth full of canker sores, even a week later. I have not quite finished the meds, still coughing a lot, but all that is sooo much better than where I was, so today I am grateful for returning health. This is the first day I have been up for most of the day and doing a few little things. I even got the camera out and caught some cute pics of Ralph with our granddaughter, Rory. They made a snowman. I went out on the porch and snapped a few shots with a zoom lens. I LOVE doing my photo a day blog and am happy to be back in the saddle, so to speak. Here are a few pics from today: