Saturday morning greeted us with sunshine and blue sky. The temperature in Sedona was almost 70 degrees, so Bob and Noah set out for a mountain bike ride after cleaning the house. They drove to Cathedral Rock and biked all around the massive rock structure. They arrived home tired but content—a great way to spend a sunny January Saturday.
On Friday evening, Noah and Bob made a deep-dish pizza with layers of meat and cheese. It was a resounding success, and it will now become part of the pizza rotation. The leftovers were rather extensive, meaning there was no need to cook dinner Saturday night. Ask and Noah may share his secret pizza dough recipes - he has a few...
Monday, it was time to get back in the routine and begin work in earnest. Bob headed off to school on his bike, and Noah came down the stairs. This is the first day of Noah's last semester of high school. Graduation is in sight.
Lukas packed up all his gear, loaded everything, and we headed down the hill. Lukas kindly drove all the way. We made a few stops on the way, loading a dresser for a Flagstaff friend at IKEA, and enjoying a tasty frozen yogurt treat before it was time to unload and say goodbye. Since no one is allowed in the dorm, he had to make a few runs to get it all up to his third-floor room.
I was grateful for the distractions of phone calls with friends as I headed back home - the car much lighter, and my heart a bit heavier. Lukas will be missed, but we are confident this is where God has him. There is joy in the sadness.
Friday was Lukas' last day at home. We continued our Friday evening tradition of making pizza. Noah placed his pepperoni with exact measure, while Lukas' creation was deemed the best thin crust pizza yet. After dinner, now that all Lukas' projects were complete and the dining room cleared, we played Scrabble. Noah eeked out a last-minute win. Hearing that Elisabet won the Swedish Scrabble game and claiming the white wine was the secret ingredient, I will replace my red wine with white next time we play. Maybe that way, I am not last?
Never give up hope, Noah. Don't be too confident, Lukas!
Lukas always has several projects underway. Things are being soldered on his desk, programs being written on his computer, and new products made on the dining room table. He generously and happily cleans it off so that we can eat dinner there, but who has the heart to ask him? One of his last sewing projects was making new, thinner, and more comfortable masks. He graciously made a few for his Mama and brother while he was at the machine.
It is always sad to say goodbye. Our friends headed out early in the morning to fly back home. Lukas spent some time completing his light fixture, finalizing the layout. It is now ready to be transported back to his dorm room.
