The power of pictures

Last weekend the Spouse ran an update on our computer that changed the way all of our photos and videos from the past ten years are stored. At first the change was a little alarming, but now that I’m learning how to sort through them I’m warming up to it. I’m also realizing that while I take thousands of pictures, I never actually organize and/or print them off. Oh, technology… how I love/loathe you.


We’re still having issues with bedtime anxieties, so the past few weeks have been a bit exhausting. But, looking back over pictures from the past decade reminds me how far we’ve come. I see the pictures of these tiny people and think about how they’ve grown, and I know we have so much for which to be thankful. I see photos from seven or eight years ago and remember how sleep deprived we were then, or how worried we were about this or that issue in that season. And, I think… only grace has gotten us this far. The problems we’re dealing with this week and this month… this too shall pass, and we’ll enter another chapter with new joys and new challenges soon enough. I’ve always been a visual person, but I think it might be universally true that there’s something restorative about looking at old pictures. These little glimpses back in time are tangible reminders of the gifts we’ve been given and the very moments that have shaped and grown us.

Sorting through hundreds of photos has also been a reminder of the mysterious ways in which God works when he creates children, even siblings, with unique temperaments and personalities. I’m not sure our three girls could be any more different.

From early on, the 2nd Grader has always been fairly jovial.

From infancy, the Toddler has been more serious and sensitive.

Sure, I see the ducks. What’s all the hype about?

That same spring we went to the Birmingham Zoo. Not surprisingly, the 2nd Grader thought it was great fun. And, as usual, the Toddler thought…

Oh, wow. A slow-moving train that circles the zoo. I can hardly stand the excitement.

This humidity is unbearable.

She was also less than impressed with Dollywood on her first visit. 

Oh, the embarrassment. I pray no one sees me on this thing.

The personality differences were even noticeable on more routine outings, like checkups at the doctor’s office. The oldest loved {still loves!} the doctor. 

But, this one does not.  

In 2011 the Toddler came along and introduced our family to a whole new personality. She was winking from day one. 

Also, from day one she was watching her older two sisters. It was quite a lot to take in. 

The picture below was taken during her first spring. Every time we put her in the Bumbo seat outside she acted like she was riding a bull at the rodeo. The hand came up and from all appearances it was a very wild ride. 

Photo evidence from 2011-2013 continued to suggest that the Kindergartener was still our most serious child. 

But, the Toddler can strike some serious poses herself. 

Help me. I can’t breathe.  

By far, these are her favorite expressions, though. 

I can say with certainty that our photo stream, as I’m sure yours is as well, is a window into the personalities it has captured these past few years. Every picture tells a story. And sometimes it’s fun, maybe even healthy, to go back and relive those stories. 

For sure, whether it’s in old albums with faded pages, or fancy scrapbooks, or even stored digitally on a hard drive somewhere never to be printed, pictures of your people are treasures.

For the record, the Kindergartener does {and always has}, on occasion, let loose and smile. The challenge of capturing those occasions just makes them all the more special when we do.