Son Tom, a Waterfowl Specialist with the DNR, and his wife Lynn have 40 acres of their own at Erhard, Minnesota, which is near Fergus Falls.  Their children are Michael and Jenny.
Daughter Becky and husband Dave Eggers, a Facilities Director, live in South Minneapolis.  They have a son, Jacob.
Son Dan, the Police Chief for Eden Prairie, and wife Camilla live in Minne-tonka.  Their children are Peter, Amy, and Sophia.
Some of the grandchildren are partly responsible for one of Jim's unusual hobbies.  Granddaughter Jenny Carlson was a participant in the Junior World Championships for sled dog racing in the Pyrenees Mountains along the French-Spanish border.  Jenny became enamored with sledding after watching a movie about dog sledding called "Iron Will." 
Grandson Peter Carlson is active in skijoring, a sport whereby the participant is pulled on skis by one or two dogs.  Peter races in Canon Falls, Hibbing, Duluth, Wisconsin, and other areas.
Grandfather Jim subsequently became interested in constructing intricate miniature sleds ... and also miniature stave churches to scale.
He explained, "This type of church construction goes back to almost pre-Viking days, back to the year 1100.  There is a stave church in Moorhead called the Hopperstad Church.  I looked at it and said to myself, 'I think I could make one of these.'"
And so he did, at a scale of 1:40.  The carpentry gene of his Swedish dad seems to have been regenerated.  "Sometimes I worked only one hour a day on that church; sometimes more than that.  I couldn't count the time, but after about six months I had completed it."
One of Jim's masterpiece stave churches is displayed in a church museum at Willmar.
In addition to constructing mini-atures, Jim has been involved in a Virtual History Class for quite a few years, a project that caught his eye through the American Legion magazine.  Through that class, Jim answers questions from high school students about World War II and his years as a Marine. 
Jim's experience as a Marine was indelibly marked on his soul and in his character.  Stated Barbara, "He makes me stand whenever they play the Marine Corps Hymn."
On Christmas Day the entire Carlson family will gather at their Rolling Bluff home to "open stockings," in Barbara's words.  "There will be 14 of us for brunch," she said.  "My sons take care of brunch with a honey-baked ham and eggs and homemade hash-browns.  My daughter makes all these fancy cookies; they're a work of art. If there's snow outside, we'll go sliding.  Jim makes BBQ ribs for the evening dinner."
Stated a proud and loving husband, "Barbara works like crazy for family gatherings.  She's a talented housekeeper and great cook."  His blushing bride laughed but pleaded, "Please don't say anymore."  Still, he added, "She is also a woman of great faith."

The above story came to pass, in part, through a child vulnerable, innocent, and poor, who entered a new world unable to speak the language except in whimpers and signs.  It came to be a new birth for Elsa and the beginning of good things for generations to come.
The mother's story became the son's story.  In many ways, it is the story of all humankind, and it is even God's story.