When I opened my phone to clear out storage recently, I noticed something funny: thousands upon thousands of photos of the same few things through the years. My family. My home. Pretty dinners. The garden at sunset. Aspirational screenshots of crafts or games or decor ideas captured in a moment of inspiration, but never to be revisited. Funny moments that delighted me, but didn’t necessarily photograph well. Tiny moments that would have disappeared into memory if I hadn't stopped long enough to capture them.

It reminded me of the verse in Matthew 6:21: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

If you want to know where someone’s heart lies, their camera rolls will tell the story.

This issue is filled with people who have found something worth treasuring deeply. Dog lovers whose phone storage is undoubtedly overflowing with blurry shots of muddy paws and canine mischief. Collectors who have spent years gathering and preserving pieces of history, and creators who have dedicated their free time to honing a skill. A farmer and a beekeeper, each patiently tending tiny forms of life that, with enough care and time, yield abundant harvests. And travelers finally visiting that place that has long been in their minds.

Their stories may seem different, but they all have something in common: devotion to the thing that brings their hearts joy. They remind us that life isn't measured only by milestones but by the things we choose to notice and nurture every day.

Community magazines like P&P are a little like photo albums. We preserve the people, passions, and places that make our town unique before time carries them away. Years from now, I hope someone flips through these pages and smiles the same way we do when scrolling through old pictures on our phones.

Because where our treasure is, our hearts follow. And judging by the stories in this issue, Zachary's heart is full.

Thank you for letting Porch & Parish help preserve what matters to Zachary right here and now. 

-Jen, Founder/Editor