Category Archives: Family History

Teaching a Class on Journal Writing

Posted on June 10, 2025 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

This evening I was invited to teach a Relief Society class on Journal Writing.  We held the class in our back yard and about 25 women came.  It was really fun to try to spark some motivation in others about … Continue reading →

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Discovering My Degen Family in Hölstein

Posted on February 26, 2025 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

Here is a post from my Mission Blog, that I want to include here.  This really was a mission miracle! Last night as I was going to bed, I got the most amazing message on FB Messenger from someone I … Continue reading →

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Work in the Leingarten Archives with Grossgartach Records

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

The City Hall in Leingarten is located right next to the Lorenzkirche, which is across the street from where Grandma Elsa and Grandpa Rudolf grew up. I’ve been communicating with the archivists here about my visit this week.  I’ve done … Continue reading →

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A Book of Mormon Lesson on Alma 36-38: RECORD KEEPING

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

Here are the notes from a lesson I taught this week in our Senior Missionary Book of Mormon class. ALMA 36-38 In the 3 chapters we are studying this week, there are 2 very important things going on.  One is … Continue reading →

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Bringing Families Together –The Bastert Family Reunion in Bielefeld

Posted on July 12, 2024 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

In the spring of 2005, I signed up for my 2nd German research class at BYU.  I’d completed a semester-long class in German paleography, where I learned to read the old German handwriting and documents.  Not knowing for sure what … Continue reading →

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Going to Meet Caleb and Some Days in Connecticut

Posted on May 5, 2024 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

I flew through Dublin to Hartford on April 24-25.  I had 2 very heavy carry on bags, filled with gifts and some Polish pottery.  On the way I read an interesting historical novel about the Grimm Brothers.  On 15 May … Continue reading →

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Welcome to our World, Caleb Lewis Johnson!

Posted on April 17, 2024 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

Here is our first look at our new grandson, Caleb Lewis Johnson, born just after midnight on 17 April 2024 in Connecticut.  He weighed in at 8 lbs, 2 oz and was 22 inches long.  He looks PERFECT to me!

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Family History Miracles at the Frankfurt Book Fair

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

We have just attended the largest Book Fair in the world, held here in Frankfurt.  More than 215,000 people from all over the world attended.  It was a grand event, made even more so because for the first time ever … Continue reading →

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A Sundance Writing Retreat

Posted on May 28, 2023 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

Sometimes we just need to break away to get our writing done.  We three are a small, but mighty writing group.  We try to meet weekly by zoom, but lately, life has been a little crazy for each of us, … Continue reading →

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A Writing Workshop With Donald Davis

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

This week I participated in a special writing workshop with Donald Davis, Master Storyteller.  I’ve said before, he is a National Treasure.  A small group of us met with him at Karen Ashton’s home to learn and talk about capturing … Continue reading →

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