Kristin by the crematorium at Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Numerous corpses were incinerated simultaneously, until the liberation on April 11, 1945. When Kevin's Dad Willard entered Buchenwald that day, stench filled the air as the crematorium was in active use. Those American soldiers never forget that stench.

MERRY_CHRISTMAS

What beautiful holiday wreathes. God's gift of a Son to be our personal Savior, for our sin.

Suzanne shares my middle name. This Holocaust Victim is not forgotten. Her hopes and dreams were destroyed by evil.

A soup bowl and silverware used by a holocaust victim. Each day's food was a bowl of thin soup, piece of bread width of a thumb, and a slab of butter equal to 3 sticks of gum. Out of this, they were expected to work hard (to avoid summary execution) and to keep warm (colder longer winters with latitude north of Faulkton, and no heat!). This photo is a tribute to each victim's suffering: 

NEVER AGAIN!

Preview of next posting

Today me went to the Buchenwald Concentration Camp in northern Germany. It was both  a grim and a personal experience. Kevin's father Willard liberated Buchenwald on April 11, 1945. I will post a few of the pictures soon. 

Daily life in Germany

Ramstein  AFB's commissary is the busiest grocery store I have ever seen. With the dollar going go against the Euro (this week anyway!), military personnel are shopping on base. Plus, it is hard to shop for foods they are accustomed to in Germany's civilian grocery stores. Kristin is walking toward the camera.

Patriotic Milk at Ramstein's commissary. USAFE headquarters is at Ramstein.

The German toilet has a square seat. To flush, you must push on the metal device on the wall. It uses less water than we do, but is quite effective.

Outside of our bedroom is a light switch and outlet combination. You get undressed for bed, then feel you must get dressed again to reach into the hallway to turn off the light! 

The refrigerator is behind the "cabinet" door.  The freezer is below and consists of several drawers.  The pantry on the right of the refrigerator pulls out.

German Refrigerators are hidden by what appear to be kitchen cabinet doors. This is Ryan and Kristin's kitchen.

The cheese pretzels from the local bakery are Kevin's favorite breakfast in Germany. He regrets that he will no longer see these delicacies in the USA.

Michael David is shopping with Mom and Nana in downtown Kaiserslautern.

We're in Germany!

Sharon looking out the deep protected window of Sickingen Castle in Landstuhl, Germany. No arrows can get back here!

Ryan and Kristin with Michael David in the front yard of the Sickingen Castle - Landstuhl & Ramstein, Germany are in the background. Michael is cold. We have been in Germany 3 days, and they have had snow for 3 days. Perhaps we should be celebrating Christmas instead of Thanksgiving.

Kevin & Sharon looking over Landstuhl and Ramstein, Germany. This is the front yard view of the Sickingen Castle. The yellow color between the top of our heads is a McDonald's sign - such a mismatch for the quaint architecture of these old German towns.

Welcome to our castle!

Kevin & Sharon in front of the Sickingen Castle at Landstuhl, Germany. built in 1160.

10 month old Michael David Tanner plays with his Nana at his church.

Sharon in front of old church in Kaiserslautern, Germany.  Preparations for the Christmas Bazaar are being done in the background.

Kristin is showing me the ruins of an ancient Roman wall in Kaiserslautern, Germany near her home.

Kristin in her hillside wooded yard. The first snow has fallen since they came to Germany 1 1/2 years ago. We are starting a walk in her town of Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Our first day in Germany included a tour of Ryan's office at Ramstein AFB. 

Thanks to Ryan and his family for serving our nation.

The Shower is Done!

Our master shower was well worth the wait. We wouldn't change a thing in our entire master bedroom - master bathroom remodel. Haven't seen it yet? Time for a visit!