My Baby Is 18; Why Family Photos Matter More Each Year

My baby is 18.

As I attempted to get him moving and on his way to school yesterday, it was not lost on me that this would be the last birthday I would have to do that. How is it possible that I now have four adult children?

When the four of them were born within five years, this stage of life seemed so very far away, when truly it was just a blink. When you're a young mother, people tell you that all the time, and you politely listen, never completely understanding what they mean because you have yet to live it. Besides, you're just trying to keep your eyes open long enough to enjoy all the moments.

On one hand, it's unfortunate how realistic that warning turns out to be. Yet, what a tremendous blessing that they are doing exactly what we pray they will: growing up, living God-pleasing lives, and sharing their joy for the Lord and the numerous talents they have been given with others.

Turns out that what feels like just yesterday, was actually 17 years ago.

I will say, however, that it is unfortunate how much of that lifetime of having children at home seems like a blur. When they are infants and toddlers, it is so much fun, yet also slightly a matter of survival. Then they get older and become involved in sports and activities, and families continue in survival mode while practically living in a minivan between events. Four kids on four different teams is no joke!

Finding the balance is different for every family, but I dreamed of moving to the country so the kids could enjoy that lifestyle and learn responsibility before they became extremely busy with activities and high school. Thankfully, now 13 years later, I am happy to say that at least that plan worked.

I've always tried to be the mom who does it all: raise her kids without daycare, go on all the field trips, and somehow continue to both teach and run my own business. I'll be the first to admit that filling all of those roles at once hasn't gone nearly as well in real life as I dreamed it would. I'll always wish I had done some things differently, but praise God, these kids have grown into independent, highly functioning adults.

Of everything else I have done, or will do throughout however long my life here on earth may be, raising these four children is really the only thing that will ever matter most. I can't wait to see what else He has planned for them because they are already knocking it out of the park!

My oldest, Rylee, the married one, came home from North Dakota this weekend. When we all sat down for church on Sunday morning, it took every ounce of willpower I had not to cry tears of happiness! Even if we were only all together here at home for about 30 minutes that evening, it was such a tremendous blessing to have all of my children here.

A full driveway brings me so much joy!

We celebrated the birthday boy (I'm not ready to call him a man yet!) with an amazing meal. The conversation around the table was filled with laughter and, of course, scientific discussion, because that is just what happens when we're together.

It may not be a perfect photo, and some of my family may not love that it is on here, but we are all in it, and now I will always be able to remember we celebrated Bridger together this past Sunday.

I read something online today that referenced a study by Dr. Denise Park at the University of Texas at Dallas, which found that learning digital photography can be a powerful mental workout, improving memory and cognitive function in older adults. I can't tell you how much I love this!

As a photography teacher, of course, this makes me want to go ahead and teach everyone photography. As a mother who has gotten dumber with each pregnancy, and who also feels like perimenopause is taking the rest of my brain cells, this gives me hope! I've told our children all their lives that it's a good thing they're geniuses because I gave them part of my brain when I gave birth to them.

Even after I retire, as long as I can hold a camera, I will always take photographs. I just can't stop, because looking closely at the world around me brings me so much joy.

My kids still ask me why I take so many photographs, and my answer is always the same: so I can remember.

Despite the thousands upon thousands of photographs I've taken throughout their lives, there are still moments I wish I'd documented. Not necessarily the big milestones, but the seemingly insignificant things that make up our everyday lives. The expressions, the laughter, the chaos, and the little details that are so easy to forget as the years pass.

Photography may be good exercise for my brain, but those photographs also help preserve the memories that my brain can't possibly hold on to forever. And as I watch my children grow older, I find myself appreciating that gift more than ever.

Rylee has returned to North Dakota, midterm break is over, and we are all continuing to age, but I will never stop being grateful for the photographs that allow me to revisit the years that have passed. I can't bring back the days when four little kids filled our home with noise and chaos, but thanks to my photographs I can still see their faces, their personalities, and the little details I might otherwise have forgotten.

My brilliant son with the epic rocket that he built.

Yesterday, my baby turned 18. Tomorrow, there will be another milestone, another change, another reminder that time never stands still. And while I can't slow any of it down, I can continue to photograph the people and moments that make this life so incredibly beautiful.

Because someday, even the ordinary moments we're living right now will be the ones we wish we could experience just one more time.

2 Comments

Oct 22, 2026, 6:46:52 PM

Denice Woller - I love this all so much Ginny! Thank you for sharing. We will forever be grateful God provided this amazing farm to our family, and I love that we can also enjoy creating precious memories in the same space your family did!

Oct 22, 2026, 9:48:08 AM

Virginia Hanel - First of all, happy birthday to Bridger! I could identify with all that you wrote in your blog. It was so nostalgic seeing the photo of your family sitting around the table. I sat there so many times along with Harvey's big family. Sometimes, with spouses and children, another table had to be set up in order to seat everyone. My mother-in-law always had a large Lazy Susan in the center of the table with condiments so that we could spin it to reach whatever we needed for our meal. Our pastor recently had a series about "the table", of course centering on the Lord's table, but also pointing out how sitting at a table brings people together. So true. Thanks for "the trip" down memory lane.

My Baby Is 18: Why Family Photographs Matter More With Every Passing Year

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