We’ve all heard the adage that if a mom does her job well, she works herself out of said job, as she prepares her kids to grow up to be independent, productive members of society.

It hit me this afternoon that my jobless condition will be here before I know it. You see, the youngest of my children was found clipping her own nails. No longer does anyone in the house (barring the dog) need me to clip their nails.

Thankfully, I am still needed for a few things… for instance, most of the people in the house do not know how to drive a car, so they still need me to taxi them here and there. But it’s just a matter of time. I better go work on my resume.

Admittance to the Air Force Academy is a two-step process: a candidate must be nominated by a Congressman or Senator, as well as receive an appointment from the Academy.

Jake received a letter from Congressman Bill Foster a month ago informing him that he was nominated, and this past weekend there were two separate events celebrating this part of the process. First, Foster held a ceremony for all the candidates whom he nominated to all of the military academies.

While I was in attendance with Jake, Jim was in Princeton, IL with Derek for wrestling sectionals. We were dividing and conquering that weekend!

I couldn’t help but snap a picture showing the parent paparazzi in the foreground.

Jake, knowing Mr. Foster’s scientific background, was eager to talk with him about their similar one-time place of employment: FermiLab. They talked quarks and such.

The next day we attended a nominee brunch for all the candidates from northern Illinois who were nominated to the Air Force Academy.

The kids posed for a parent paparazzi moment.

Each candidate introduced themselves and picked a rose to bring to their mom. So sweet.

The brunch was particularly beneficial to Jake, as he was able to meet some current cadets and ask questions of them.

We won’t hear from the Air Force until late March or early April regarding his appointment. Until then, we continue to wait and pray for God’s direction!

At times it feels like this year has been a year of “lasts” for our firstborn. It is so bittersweet. He is preparing to turn the page to another chapter in his life… and unfortunately for me, I am a slow reader and like to savor certain pages. But alas, I cannot put down the book and stop the clock. Time keeps marching.

Has it already been eight and a half years since this picture was taken??…

He swam in his final swim meet last weekend and finished well.  It was the conference meet, thus the pool deck was packed with swimmers.

Throughout his swim career, backstroke has remained his favorite and strongest stroke.

He participated in a couple relays

and celebrated with some of the team.

He came up to the balcony to mingle with his fan club during a break.

Then, true to his “Adapt-a-Jake” nickname since he was a baby, he swiftly changed out of his swim suit and ran home to join the Science Olympiad team that was meeting at our house.

When Peter chooses to begin his schoolwork before feeding Molly breakfast:

She has a way of making her presence known.

What to do when the pond is melting in the backyard? Bring the skates into the city, where–thanks to artificial underground refrigeration–there’s ice no matter what the air temperature!

The kids worked off Mom’s delicious brunch by skating at Maggie Daley park, in the rain even.

We kicked off last weekend–which actually began Thursday evening–with Senior night for the swimmers. The seniors chose to wear sportcoats and sunglasses with their speedos.

This of course was just slightly outside of Jake’s modest comfort zone, but he was a good sport about it.

The following night was spent wrestling in Rockford at the Midnight Rumble tournament.

It is aptly named.

The team prayed together before the tournament began.

Derek struggled through the tournament, not only because of his tough opposition but also because this morning person does not do well with late nights.

After sleeping in a bit the next day, the boys took an impromptu trip with Jim to the new Top Golf just around the corner from our house.

It was like the Wide World of Sports all in one weekend!

This is the new word I learned a couple weeks ago as we celebrated my Grandpa’s 90th birthday. It means “a person who is from 90 to 99 years old.”

It was a good opportunity to give thanks for the undeserved favor God has shown on our family. Here’s grandpa in his youth.

He raised four daughters!

Thankfully, he had a sense of humor through it all, which often appears still today.

All the girls got together and planned a great party to celebrate his 90 years of life. My Aunt Jan came up from North Carolina with some of her kids and grandkids. It was fun to see them and reminisce about our childhood.

Aunt Chris and Ronnie. Only in God’s wisdom and perfect timing did Chris move to Michigan so that she may employ her nursing knowledge to regularly check in on Grandpa.

Aunt Ellen and her kids. Ellen catered the event through her new catering business. Best lasagna ever!

My mom and her brood.

Grandpa is steadfast in his faith in Jesus Christ and is finishing his life well. He has told of God’s mighty acts to his four children, ten grandchildren, and eighteen (and counting!) great-grandchildren.

Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come. (Psalm 71:18)

A couple scenes from the morning after the party: Peter and Hannah made breakfast for the Johanik/Giere clan.

And we played a rip-roaring game of Uno.

With all the boys in the family, any activity ends up in a wrestling match.