The Gift of Today
NAPERVILLE - WHEATON - GLEN ELLYN - ELMHURST - GENEVA - ST. CHARLES - BARRINGTON - BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHER
Happy Sunday my friend!
This week officially marked the beginning of my busy season.
From now until the holidays, the calendar seems to take on a life of its own. Every senior is hoping to squeeze in their portrait session before school begins, and this week certainly reflected that. We photographed six senior sessions, a headshot session, and two Senior Model shoots. It was one of those weeks where I felt like I lived with a camera in my hands.
As if that wasn't enough excitement, I managed to break one of my lenses at the end of last week. It's currently enjoying a little vacation at the Canon Repair Center, which meant one session had to be postponed because there simply wasn't another lens that could accomplish what we had planned.
Busy seasons have a way of reminding you to be intentional. This week, that meant making sure there was still time for Mimi cuddles, little laughs, and tiny hands reaching for ours. Those moments are never wasted.
Mother Nature has also been keeping us on our toes. Between the constant rain and ever-changing forecast, preparing for outdoor sessions—and for the baby shower we're hosting this Sunday for Delaney's best friend, Alyssa—has required a fair amount of flexibility (and a lot of checking the weather app).
It's a full season. A wonderful season. And while I know the pace won't slow down for quite some time, I'm trying to remember to enjoy the beautiful chaos while I'm in it.
Some BTS of this crazy week.
Soft Focus: While He's Still Here
There are some kinds of grief that don’t wait for goodbye.
They arrive quietly, years before anyone else sees them. They settle into the corners of your heart, reminding you that time has a way of changing the people we love—and that no matter how tightly we hold on, none of us can stop it.
Over seven years ago, my dad was diagnosed with dementia.
It’s strange because for many years, if you met my dad, you might never have guessed he had dementia. He still woke up each morning and headed to Lifetime to work out. He bowled. He played golf. He laughed easily.
The progression has been incredibly slow, something our family has been deeply grateful for.
But over the past few months, we’ve begun to notice it changing.
When his beloved dog, Trouble, passed away this spring, something seemed to shift. They were inseparable, and losing his best friend felt like it awakened this terrible disease in ways we hadn’t seen before.
Nothing dramatic.
Just enough.
Enough to remind us that dementia never really pauses.
It simply waits.
Lately, I’ve caught myself doing something I don’t want to do.
Instead of fully living today, my mind keeps wandering to tomorrow.
I find myself wondering what next year will look like.
Or the year after that.
I catch myself grieving conversations we haven’t lost yet. Holidays we haven’t celebrated yet. Memories that, for now, are still being made.
It’s a heavy way to live.
Especially because today...
Today is still so beautiful.
When I think of my dad, I don’t think first about dementia.
I think about the dad who was the only father willing to spend a weekend at Girl Scout campouts.
The dad who unknowingly planted the seeds for my career by driving me all over with my camera as a little girl, encouraging me to photograph anything that caught my eye.
I can still picture us driving down quiet country roads, pulling over whenever I spotted an old church, a winding fence line, or a field of wildflowers. He never hurried me. He never questioned why I wanted to stop. He simply waited while I looked through my viewfinder, encouraging me to notice the world around me.
Neither of us could have known that those afternoons would become the foundation for my life’s work.
Looking back now, I realize he wasn’t just driving me from place to place.
He was teaching me how to see.
He was the grandpa who wasn’t afraid to get down on the floor and roughhouse with his grandchildren.
The one who always seemed to have enough energy for one more game, one more laugh, one more piggyback ride.
And now...
He’s the great-grandpa who still lights up when Ellis and Easton come into the room. The one who holds out his arms to simply hold them close.
Watching those moments unfold has become one of my greatest gifts.
The same hands that held mine as a little girl now reach for my grandsons.
The same gentle heart that encouraged my dreams now delights in the laughter of another generation.
Love, I’ve realized, doesn’t really change.
It simply finds new places to land.
I’ve spent much of this past year writing about paying attention.
About slowing down.
About noticing the beauty already in front of us.
It’s funny how life has a way of asking us to live the very lessons we’re trying to learn.
Because fear is sneaky.
It quietly steals today’s joy by convincing us to live in tomorrow’s uncertainty.
It whispers about all the moments we’ll eventually lose instead of all the moments we still have.
One of the unexpected gifts of living in a multigenerational home is that I don’t have to wait for holidays or special occasions to see my dad.
I simply walk into the kitchen.
Or step out onto the patio.
Sometimes we talk.
Sometimes we sit quietly together.
Sometimes one of the dogs runs through the house and we both stop whatever we’re doing just to watch.
Years ago, I probably would have thought very little about moments like those.
Now they feel sacred.
Maybe that’s what growing older teaches us.
That life isn’t built on the extraordinary moments.
It’s built on Tuesday afternoons.
Coffee shared around the kitchen table.
Stories you’ve heard more than once.
The familiar sound of someone’s laugh.
The comfort of simply being together.
The truth is, none of us know what’s coming.
Not with dementia.
Not with aging.
Not with life.
The future has never been promised to any of us.
All we have has always been today.
This morning, my dad went to the gym.
Tonight, we’ll probably find ourselves sitting on the patio together while the evening settles around us.
We will laugh.
Someone will tell a story.
Someone else will refill their glass.
Life will quietly continue, just as it always has.
Those are the moments I want to remember.
Not the fear.
Not the projections.
Not the grief that’s trying to arrive before it’s time.
Just this.
Just him.
Just today.
Because I’ve realized that one of the greatest gifts we can give the people we love is our full presence while they’re still here.
And today...
Today, my dad is still here.
So that’s where I’m choosing to be, too.
*This essay and more can be read on my Our Cozy Compound substack
WHAT I’M LOVING THIS WEEK
Inspiring Follow: @Gardenwellny
This week's inspiring follow is Kiera Faulkner Jekos of @gardenwellny.
Kiera is a garden designer who specializes in creating beautiful edible and pollinator-friendly gardens—spaces that are every bit as lovely as they are useful. Her philosophy is one I find myself drawn to: gardens should nourish both people and the world around them.
One of my favorite parts of following her is seeing what comes out of her garden and into her kitchen. She shares simple, harvest-inspired recipes using the vegetables, herbs, and flowers she's grown herself, making seasonal cooking feel approachable and joyful.
And if I'm being completely honest, I could probably listen to her talk all day. She has the calmest, most soothing voice that somehow makes everything feel a little less rushed. She comes across warm, genuine, and the kind of person who makes you want to head outside, gather a basket of vegetables, and cook something delicious.
If you love gardening, homegrown food, and finding beauty in the everyday, I think you'll enjoy following her as much as I do.
What I’m Loving: Wildflower Embroidered Linen Apron
I know an apron may seem like a simple thing, but every now and then you come across one that's simply too beautiful not to share.
This embroidered linen apron caught my eye immediately. The soft mossy green linen is timeless, but it's the delicate wildflower embroidery that completely won me over. It feels as though someone stitched a summer meadow right into the fabric.
I'm finding myself cooking more from the garden these days—gathering tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers, and flowers in the morning, then bringing them straight into the kitchen. Somehow, putting on a beautiful apron makes the whole ritual feel even more special.
It's a lovely reminder that everyday tasks don't have to be ordinary. Sometimes a thoughtfully made object can turn making dinner into something that feels just a little more intentional.
If you're someone who loves gardening, baking, flower arranging, or simply surrounding yourself with beautiful things, I have a feeling you'll love this one as much as I do.
Local-ish: Stonehouse Market
Every once in a while, you stumble upon a place that feels less like a store and more like an exhale.
That was my first impression of Stonehouse Market in downtown Wheaton.
Yes, you'll find beautifully curated home décor, vintage treasures, artisan-made goods, and gifts that make you want to redecorate an entire room. But what makes Stonehouse special isn't simply what they sell—it's how the space makes you feel.
It's the kind of place that invites you to linger.
To browse slowly with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. To sink into a comfortable chair. To wander without a shopping list. To appreciate beautiful craftsmanship and thoughtfully chosen pieces that tell a story rather than chase a trend.
It feels peaceful.
I also love that Stonehouse has become a gathering place for local communities. Throughout the year they host creative workshops, seasonal events, Mahjong classes and game nights, and other thoughtfully designed experiences that encourage us to step away from our busy schedules and reconnect—with creativity, with friends, and perhaps even with ourselves.
In a world that seems to celebrate doing more, Stonehouse quietly reminds us of the beauty of slowing down.
If you find yourself in downtown Wheaton, I think it's well worth wandering through the doors. You may leave with something beautiful for your home... or you may simply leave feeling a little more inspired than when you arrived.
126 N. Hale Street, Wheaton
Studio Happenings
Some photo sessions stay with you long after you've delivered the gallery.
This week, I had the joy of photographing the Sesko family. Jamie, Pete and their girls were incredibly generous in allowing us to use their beautiful horses during our recent Senior Model session, and as a small thank you, I wanted to gift them a family portrait session.
Everything about the evening felt magical. The light was soft, the horses seemed to know they were part of something special, and the girls looked as though they'd been modeling together for years. There was an ease to the entire session that simply can't be planned—it just happens when wonderful people come together.
As photographers, we often talk about preserving memories, but every so often we create photographs that feel like they belong in a family's history. The kind that will be framed, passed down, and revisited years from now.
I truly hope the Sesko family treasures these photographs for decades to come because I know this is one of those sessions that will stay in my heart forever.
WHAT I’M LOVING THIS WEEK
This is one of my favorite "I forgot to plan dinner" meals. It comes together in about 15 minutes, uses pantry staples, and somehow always hits the spot. It made two appearances at our house this week because life was full and my energy wasn't. I like to use Ramen Bae Protein Noodles so we still get a good dose of protein—because if social media has taught us anything lately, it's that apparently everything is about protein these days! Sometimes the simplest dinners really are the ones everyone looks forward to most.
Spicy Sesame Garlic Ramen
Serves: 4
Ingredients
For the Sauce
⅓ cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili paste (such as sambal oelek)
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoons water
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2 Tablespoons peanut butter (optional)
For the Noodles
2 packages ramen noodles (discard seasoning packets) I use Ramen Bae’s High Protein noodles
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
Chili crisp, for serving (optional)
Instructions
Cook the noodles. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the ramen noodles according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
Make the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, chili paste, rice vinegar, garlic, minced ginger, sesame oil, peanut butter if desired, and water until well combined.
Simmer the sauce. Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet and let it simmer for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it begins to thicken slightly.
Toss the noodles. Add the cooked ramen noodles to the skillet and toss until they're evenly coated and have absorbed the flavorful sauce.
Garnish and serve. Divide between bowls and top with sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and a spoonful of chili crisp if you'd like an extra kick.
A Few Delicious Additions
This ramen is wonderful on its own, but it's also delicious topped with:
Jammy soft-boiled eggs
Grilled chicken or steak
Sautéed mushrooms
Baby bok choy
Steamed broccoli
Edamame
Crispy tofu
It's one of those recipes that comes together in minutes but tastes like something you'd order from your favorite noodle shop. Perfect for those evenings when you want something comforting, satisfying, and just a little bit spicy.
with love and light,
Alicia Staley Johnson
of Alicia’s Photography
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