Maryam Elgoni shares a recording of her mother, Howayda Farah, reciting the Islamic prayer for travel. Maryam listens to her mother recite the prayer every time she travels. Every word carries protection and love, and each breath is a reminder of the quiet power of a mother’s love.Have a message you keep? Email us at [email protected].

For Sarah Deck, the sounds of “Don’t Stop” by the band WookieFoot, played on the bagpipes at Shangri-La Festival, are more than music. It’s laughter drifting across campfires, the hum of voices that feel like home, and the rhythm of friendships that have lasted for years. Each note carries a memory of joy, belonging, and the reminder that some songs never really end.Have a message you keep? Email us at [email protected].

Amy Hobbs, a photographer and owner of Storefront Studios, shares a voicemail from her gran, Marilyn Calvert, who was a true Southern belle born on a cotton patch in Holly Pond, AL. Amy's voice waivers and carries the weight of grief as she remembers her joyful, opinionated, and wonderfully persnickety gran. For Amy, hearing her gran's voice is a powerful reminder of love wrapped in honesty, humor, and care.Have a message you keep? Email us at [email protected].

Newly elected Iowa Senator Catelin Drey shares a recording of the bedtime conversation she had with her daughter on the evening after she was sworn into office. We hear the quiet rhythm of goodnights, the lull of a noise machine, and a loving conversation between mother and daughter that reminds us that even in moments of history, love and connection anchor us the most.Have a message you keep? Email us at [email protected].

Anne Westra, Communications & Public Engagement Specialist for the City of Sioux City, shares a birthday message from her grandmother, Josephine Myers. Though the words are brief, they hold a lifetime of love and wisdom. Josephine was Anne’s model for how to live—with warmth, grace and strength—and Anne strives every day to reflect her grandmother’s example. Have a message you keep? Email us at [email protected].

Jennifer McCune, Accounting Specialist Instructor at WITCC, shares a voicemail from her father, Greg Nelson. He was never afraid to make the big asks, to celebrate life’s highlights, and to turn ordinary moments into laughter. For Jennifer, this message is a reminder of love, humor, and presence that can’t be replaced.Have a message you keep? Email us at [email protected].

Peggy La, owner of Yummi Blox and Hong Kong Supermarket in Sioux City, shares a recording of Hong Cuc Nguyen, a matriarch of the Siouxland Asian community who left behind a legacy of culture, community, and connection.Have a message you keep? Email us at [email protected].

Chef Michael Gasaway, Program Coordinator of the Culinary program at WITCC, shares a voicemail from his daughter Carli as a five-year-old with something important to tell her dad. In the blink of an eye, those childhood voices give way to an empty nest and three grown daughters. For Chef Gasaway, being a father has been the greatest gift, and a role that continues to shape him in ways he never could have predicted.Have a message you keep? Email us at [email protected].

Bret Hayworth, Reporter at Siouxland Public Media, shares a voicemail from a lifelong friend who calls to check in, a reminder that sometimes the smallest gestures say the most.Have a message you keep? Email us at [email protected].

For Holly DeGrote, Title III Project Manager at WITCC, every birthday came with a gift she could count on: a call from her grandfather. In this episode, Holly shares one of those messages, the kind of simple ritual that becomes priceless once it’s gone.Have a message you keep? Email us at [email protected].