Days 46-47 A visit with Karen and Paul in Egan, MN

[Kalon] From Wheaton we drove to the  Minneapolis area (Eagan in particular) and to Karen's niece's home.  We have seen Karen (named after her aunt, my wife) and her husband Paul from time to time, but never at their home in Minneapolis.

The two Karens

I headed off to a nearby park for some hiking while the Karen's talked.  It was a lovely park with multiple lakes and trails for hikers, skiers, bikers and a beach for swimming.

 

 

Then a nice dinner with Karen and Paul and their middle daughter Jillian.  The next day we drove to a more urban lake/park and walked around the lake.

And the day and our visit ended with an Italian dinner with Karen and Paul's oldest daughter Erica.

[Karen] It was like coming home to arrive at Paul and Karen Christensen's. We arrived mid-afternoon and Karen welcomed us into her house and gave each of us a room. I chose Erica's bedroom (nearest to the bathroom) and left Adriana's for Kalon as I was somewhat intimidated by negotiating a hallway with quite aerial views. Their house is two stories with a master suite, and three bedrooms and a bath on the second floor and a large modern kitchen with eating area overlooking a large green garden area as well as several decks. As you enter the house you have a good sized parlor which Karen uses for her quilting, sewing and office. Across from that is a dining room and you pass a powder room as you head into the kitchen. Between the kitchen and Karen's office and sewing area is a large comfortable living room with a high ceiling reaching up to the 2nd floor. I know that Paul also has an office somewhere in there but can't quite remember how it fits in. He does love to sit in a hanging swing chair outside on the front porch and work on his computer when weather permits. Karen was cooking dinner and baking bread as we unpacked and I joined her and probably was a big nuisance with all my questions. Jillian was home when we arrived but had to leave for work that evening. She handles  costuming for a local theater - making sure everything is clean and in good repair. She also designs costumes. We had wonderful pork boneless chops with home made rhubarb sauce. YUMMY! I have not had rhubarb in years... and intend to remedy that! It was great to catch up with their lives. I love it when Karen comes to Santa Barbara and is able to stay with us. I often remark that she is the daughter I never had and I am grateful that my sister Marie doesn't mind when I steal a little time with her. Karen and Paul are active members in their church with Paul serving on the board of elders and Karen working with young  mothers and children. She always has a new baby quilt in the works in bright colors sure to end up well loved into toddlerhood. It was good to spend time with Erica and Jillian and see how these two have blossomed into wonderful young women. We have seen  a little of Adriana as she has been attending a college on Arizona and came to Westmont College up the road from us for a soccer match. We hated to leave the Christensen's but had to continue the trek west in order to reach home which is increasingly sounding like heaven! Has my itchy foot actually stopped itching???!!!