This week's featured story comes from The Willowbee Tree collection.
It's called "Ready to Swim."

It is back to school time for Piper and Clancy, the two older Willowbee children. Clancy is sad about leaving kindergarten and worried about what first grade will bring. The willow tree seems to understand this and takes the Willowbees to an island in the American south where an alligator, a white ibis and several ghost crabs show them something miraculous: the moment when a little loggerhead turtle makes the difficult and courageous journey to the sea.

If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. 

Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series!

For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website:
www.sparklestories.com

Questions?  Ideas?  Requests?
Email us!  info@sparklestories.com
Enjoy!

"Ready to Swim" from The Willowbee Tree collection

Is it possible to stay “in love”? YES! It is possible to love and be in love for the life of a marriage! If you doubt it, or if you’re in a place where you question your own love for your spouse, we encourage you to tune in to this episode. Sometimes, couples feel like they lose love, and fall away from the loving feelings they entered the marriage with at its start. This doesn’t mean you married the wrong person and it doesn’t mean the relationship is over. It simply means that you’re experiencing L I F E and you just need to find your way back to the “first love” you experienced! Tune in now to “In Love”! 

Ep. 164 - In Love

[Intro]
[Verse 1]

I came to live this dream alone
A stranger lost in city stone
No voice to greet me when I'm home
Just silence echoing the tone

[Verse 2]

No mother’s laugh, no father’s eyes
No hands to hold me when I cry
The lights are bright, but I feel dim
I miss the world I came from then

[Chorus]

No one waiting at the door
No warm arms like there were before
I fight the dark with tired hands
No one here who understands
No soft place where I can fall
Just empty space and concrete walls
They said I'd grow, I'd find my wings
But I just lost familiar things

[Verse 3]

I fake a smile, I play it cool
But lonely nights still feel so cruel
No smell of bread, no morning calls
Just subway trains and endless malls

[Bridge]

I left to make a name, a life
But lost my warmth, my fire, my light
This city shines, but not for me
I long for love, not victory

[Final Chorus]

No one waiting at the door
No voices like there were before
I’m tired of proving I’m okay
I want someone to beg me stay
No soft hug to say "You're right"
Just sleepless thoughts and city nights
And though I tried, I'm not that strong
This place was never where I belong

Lost to feel Home

Tomorrow's Gonna Be Alright

Church leaders should be leading and equipping all Church members to be ministers.

Joined - Part 3 - Grahame Atkins

Sanford & Everyson Canvas

Smooth atmospheric and positive, minimalistic electronic music. (Stem files available.)

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Encounter

On today's podcast-only show, Niko and Catherine join Bishop John for the weekly Gospel reflection. You'll also get the latest news and events from around the diocese.  &nbsp;  Special thanks to Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes for making this show possible.

8/23/25 - Weekly Gospel and News

ricardito_home

This album takes you through the seasons of life. Emotion, love, lost and peace.

THE FATHER YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE

😎rodzina jest najwazniejsza 
😎nutka z przekazem
😎karabiny no i noze
🎰walcz do konca

𝒯𝐸𝑅𝒜𝒵 𝑅𝒪𝒟𝒵𝐼𝒩𝒜 /𝓌 𝒢𝓇𝓊𝒷𝓎 𝐻𝒲𝒟𝒫

The poem this song is based on was written for my wife, Lt. Col. Debbie Sterling.  Written from the heart during Operation Desert Storm, LONELY is a tribute to the sacrifice, faith, and enduring love shared between a deployed wife and mother and the family waiting at home.

The song captures the raw emotions of distance—days that feel empty, nights that seem longer—and the unshakable bond that keeps love alive across thousands of miles. With every verse, LONELY reminds us that true love is stronger than fear, distance, or time apart.

Finally got around to rewriting it into a song this year (2025) as a tribute to my lovely wife.

🎵 A message of hope, resilience, and devotion for every military family.

Lonely

Soundtrack to Annie Barrera's directorial debut: "A Moment at The Park." A silent, short film that showcases a variety of characters of all ages enjoying their time, in a many different ways, at a park.

Different genres of music were assigned to different characters or groups of characters, highlighting their energies and personalities. The jazz and indie themes that merge into a duet represent the primary characters-- an old man and a young lady who meet and share time together on a park bench.

Short film written and directed by Annie Barrera (2015)

Original Soundtrack written by Richard Daskas & Matt Jain.

A Moment at The Park

My lil uncle is just like me,
Main differences is that he's just 3
My lil uncle is so small
Taught him last week how to throw a ball
My uncle is younger than me
Still doesn`t even know how to pee
Helped little jit to tie his shoes
Went to his play, was really moved

Little toddler, oh so small
Came right from my grandaddys balls
Guess younger chicks like older dudes
Cuz Unc was born in 2022
Unc don`t even know his abc`s
Cuz lil unc is only 3
Never knew grandaddy was such a freak
Lil unc is gon turn 4 next week

My little uncs the sweetest thing
Granpa always crackin younger tings
My uncle needs a booster seat
Left in the car with too much heat
My uncle has started to teeth
Chewin on fucking everything
My uncle quit baby food
Eats solid chunks like a normal dude

Little toddler, oh so small
Came right from my grandaddys balls
Guess younger chicks like older dudes
Cuz Unc was born in 2022
Unc don`t even know his abc`s
Cuz lil unc is only 3
Never knew grandaddy was such a freak
Lil unc is gon turn 4 next week

Watching unc grow, the saddest thing 
Lost his childhood innocence
Old enough to do his own things
But he's still lil unc in a sense
Got married and has a kid
Old enough to buy his clothes
Knew i hadn`t seen him in a bit
Crazy how much one just grows
My lil cousin was just born
In the year 2041
New emotions, feeling torn
Lil unc found the song I've sung

Little toddler, oh so small
Came right from my grandaddys balls
Guess younger chicks like older dudes
Cuz Unc was born in 2022
Unc don`t even know his abc`s
Cuz lil unc is only 3
Never knew grandaddy was such a freak
Lil unc is gon turn 4 next week

Little toddler, oh so small
Came right from my grandaddys balls
Guess younger chicks like older dudes
Cuz Unc was born in 2022
Unc don`t even know his abc`s
Cuz lil unc is only 3
Never knew grandaddy was such a freak
Lil unc is gon turn 4 next week

Lil Uncle

Estrogen cream for the face is one of the most talked-about menopause skin care trends, and Chalene Johnson has been using it for a full year. After first sharing her 90-day results, she’s back with the 1-year update. Did it really improve her skin? Is it safe, and who should avoid it? Chalene also reveals five other affordable, non-surgical treatments that boosted her skin’s glow and texture. If you’ve ever felt like you “aged overnight” in perimenopause or menopause, this episode gives you the real results and practical tips you need. Watch this episode on YouTube this Sunday!!  &nbsp; 💥 Related Links  💪🏼 Book Your Age Well Appointment with MIDI For Estrogen Cream  💪🏼Try Organifi Collagen 👉 🌞OneSkin Tinted SPF 👉   &nbsp; 🤓 What You’ll Learn  Chalene’s 1-year estrogen cream results Who should and shouldn’t try it Five affordable, non-surgical skin treatments The lifestyle shift that made the biggest difference  &nbsp; 🎯Join Chalene on Patreon for 7 Days FREE&nbsp; 👉  &nbsp; Camp Be More 2026!! Is Open for Registration!  &nbsp; 💥 Head to  and use code 50CHALENE to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping &nbsp; 🤓Related Episodes: Estrogen Cream Changed My Face In 90 Days CRAZY RESULTS!  Watch: Listen:   I Tested Every Red Light Therapy Device So You Don't Have To...  Watch:  Listen:   What Happens to Your Body When You Quit Drinking Alcohol  Watch:  Listen:   I Tested 100 Anti-Aging Supplements - These 7 ACTUALLY WORK!  Watch:  Listen:   Doctor Reveals MUST TAKE Supplements /Skincare to Reduce Wrinkles  Watch:  Listen:   &nbsp; 🧐 Research  Facial Appearance Improvement of Estrogen Deficient Females    Skin Rejuvenation in Women using Menopausal Hormone Therapy    Estrogen cream for wrinkles    No hormonal side effects    Benefits + no risk for cancer patients      The Impact of Oral Collagen Supplementation on Joint Function, Muscle Recovery, and Musculoskeletal Health in Athletes  &nbsp;    &nbsp; We would love to hear from you! Leave your questions or messages for Chalene  &nbsp; To advertise on our podcast, please reach out to thechaleneshow@gmail.com and mention The Chalene Show &nbsp;  &nbsp; Connect with me on your fav social platform:  Instagram: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Facebook: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; TikTok:  X:

5 Things I Used for 1 Year to Improve My Skin and Reduce Wrinkles  - 1222

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Happy Family

Guide to Falling off the Map, A			
Written by Zanni Arnot
Narrated by Kelly Pantaleoni and Benn Welford	

Outgoing Vinnie Smith has her NYC future planned with her best friend Lilah. Meanwhile, her childhood friend Roo Carpenter is barely getting by, having dropped out of high school to work a shady job and support his mom.

But when Vinnie's world starts falling apart - plagued by severe headaches, rejected as drama captain, and betrayed by Lilah - she decides to fix Roo's life instead. They hit the road across inland Australia in her mom's old Kombi, reliving their past adventures.

As they travel, Vinnie's unresolved grief over her mom resurfaces, her health deteriorates, and unexpected, intense feelings for Roo begin to threaten their friendship. Can they navigate their emotions and find a way forward, or will everything they've ever known come crashing down?

Print Edition Published by Scholastic Inc. Text Copyright 2025 by Zanni Arnot. Production Copyright 2025 by Scholastic Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Formats Available:
Digital Trade		979-8-2250-0181-0		$24.99
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A Guide To Falling Off The Map - Audiobook Clip

Last Resort, The						
Written by Erin Entrada Kelly
Narrated by Joy Regullano

Twelve-year-old Lila has two goals for the summer:
1. Win back the friends who ditched her for being "too dramatic"
2. Stop being so dramatic

But then Lila's estranged Grandpa Clem dies, throwing a wrench in her plans. Now she'll have to spend the summer in Ohio while her parents decide what to do with Grandpa Clem's creepy Victorian Inn. It's supremely unfair. How can she show off the "new and improved" Lila from so far away?

Even worse, strange things keep happening. En route to Ohio, the family gets into a scary car accident. No one's hurt, but the remainder of the trip is... odd. At every rest stop, Lila sees people in weird old-fashioned clothes. People no one else can see or hear...

Lila convinces herself it's just her overactive imagination until the day of the funeral when she spots an old man sitting in her grandfather's favorite chair. She does a double take -- it's him, Grandpa Clem. He tells Lila that he didn't die of a heart attack: he was murdered. Possibly by someone who wants to control the inn. Because it's not a normal bed & breakfast: it's a portal between the land of the living and the realm of the dead. A hotel for ghosts passing onto the afterlife.

With the help of her skeptical brother, Caleb, and their new ghost-obsessed neighbor, Teddy, Lila -- the girl who's vowed to be less dramatic -- must uncover her grandfather's killer AND stop the evil spirits desperate to make their way back into the human world.

Print Edition Published by Scholastic Inc. Text Copyright 2025 by Erin Entrada Kelly. Production Copyright 2025 by Scholastic Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Formats Available:
Digital Trade		979-8-2250-0074-5		$20.99
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The Last Resort - Audiobook Clip

We are NOIR GRIS GRIS, a music band of Fred STZ (composer) and Kipanga Cha Radi (lead vocal), passionate about pop music, world music and rock. Our music reflects the world before our eyes—its shades of beauty, pain, tenderness, and cruelty. We believe in music without borders, open to all influences from around the world. Join us for a unique and authentic musical journey!

Sparkle Stories Original Audio Series.  Creating fresh audio each week for children around the world.

www.ricardito.net

A Miami–based DJ and music curator. Inspired by my time in London, New York and South Florida, I blend organic, deep and hypnotic sounds into sets that move bodies into another dimension. I’ve ignited sunset beach and boat parties on Biscayne Bay and brought my grooves to Love Burn’s Sky Bar, Lunarcrats, Banana Hammocks and Gay Village. I also craft custom mixes inspired by friends, moments and places, all to connect people through rhythm, spark joy, evoke love and uplift spirits long after the last beat.

https://soundcloud.com/djofulssveinn-208739295

Writing and Producing because of God's grace.  My sole purpose is to spread God's love, joy, and hope.  If one song touches one life...I have accomplished my goal.  I hope you find comfort in listening to some of these songs...mostly country and bluegrass gospel, but I do go off the reservation once in a while.  Hope you enjoy and God Bless!

Lynne Publishing is a music label representing a library of high-quality, carefully developed and curated production music, available to license for use in your own media.We develop our own music with contracted professional composers, both young and exciting talents and experienced film- and TV composers.

All our music is available for easy licensing for use in media creations, such as videos, films, games, TV, online, social media, corporate use, etc. To obtain a Master Synchronization license for any of music, contact us via www.LynnePublishing.com

What music you get on this channel: 
★ 1.  FREE music WITHOUT any COPYRIGHT CLAIMS! Monetize your videos! (CC-BY license) bit.ly/FreeMusicHere

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This catalogue features free and royalty-free production music in many different genres including:

Acoustic Music, Ambient Music, Action Music, Children's Music, Cinematic Music, Corporate Music, Dance Music, Easy Listening Music, Electronic Music, Experimental Music, Funk Music, Holiday Music,  Inspirational Music, Pop Music, Punk Music,  Rock Music, Driving Music, Uplifting Music, Upbeat Music, Indie Music, Ukulele Music, Piano Music, Epic Music, Trailer Music, Commercial Music Cheerful Music, Happy Music, Christmas Music

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix is committed to helping the faithful encounter the living Christ through conversion, communion and solidarity. Led by the Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, more than 1.1 million Catholics make this diverse, vibrant and faith-filled diocese their home.

Joshua Mollohan’s music is more than sound—it’s a call to purpose. Fusing powerful lyrics with raw emotion, his songs are anthems for the underdog, the overcomer, and anyone fighting to own their God-given gifts.

At the heart of his music is love—real love. The kind built through trials, held together by faith, and strengthened through the bonds of family and true friendship. Whether he's reflecting on pain, celebrating redemption, or honoring the people who stood by him when life got heavy, Joshua’s sound is deeply personal and soulfully universal.

Every verse carries a message: You were made for more. Blending elements of hip-hop, soul, country, and spoken word, Joshua doesn’t just perform—he pours. From personal pain to public praise, his music walks through struggle, transformation, and the journey of becoming something greater.

Grounded by his faith and fueled by the love of those closest to him, Joshua writes songs that uplift, challenge, and connect. His music is for anyone who’s ever been doubted, broken, or silenced—and it reminds them they’re never alone. That family matters. That friends can be anchors. That love—real love—never fails.

This is music for the bold. Music for the broken.
Music for the ones who refuse to settle.
Music for those who love hard and live full.

New tracks tagged #FAMILY