【推荐1】Parents, the most selfless people on Earth are the biggest reason for your existence. However, we often _______ to appreciate their efforts. And by the time we realize this, it’s   _________ late. So, don’t wait for any _________ day to say sweet things to your parents and tell them how _________ you’re for whatever they’ve done for you.

First, _________ you often forget to call your parents and _________ them how much you miss them, they may often feel you’re not making any _________ to stay in touch with them.

Second, you should hug them. You can’t possibly _________ whatever they’ve done for you, but this small gesture will _________ make them feel special.

Third, let your emotions out in time, because you __________ know, there might not be a tomorrow to express your ________. We all have been mean to our __________ at times, and have said things that __________ them deeply. If so, all you can do is apologize from the bottom of your __________.

Finally, __________ them know that they’re the real superheroes in your life. You can never __________ them enough. They’ve always been your __________ to move forward. They taught you all the small and big things about life. They always __________you to work hard and become a successful person in life. Even though you may have __________ in a race or failed in an exam, they are still your number one __________. So, express yourself before your parents before it’s too late.

【推荐2】It always seemed like having traditions was a good thing. They create _______that will last a lifetime. So when our children David and Darla were preschoolers, we set up a family Christmas tradition. It was our tree-decorating party and it would be complete with eggnog and pfeffernűsse cookies.

The kids were excited as we pulled the freshly _______ tree into the house. It smelled so good. We would turn on the Christmas songs _______the tree decoration began.

Our hearts seemed to _______ to the merriment of the Christmas songs. The kids’ eyes twinkled with excitement. It was a heartwarming evening. When finished, we would sit drinking the eggnog and snacking on pfeffernűsse cookies as we _______ the beauty of the Christmas tree.

Years later when my daughter Darla was home from college she offered to help decorate the tree. I was so _______. Before we knew it, the tree decoration was finished. It was a beautiful tree and its _______ smell filled the room. As we had every year before, I brought out the eggnog and the pfeffernűsse cookies for our traditional celebration.

Then during the laughter Darla suddenly got very _______ and said she had something to tell me. From her hesitation and body _______I learned that she was fearing it. She sat down next to me. Then very ________and caringly Darla looked me in the eye and said “Mom I’ve ________ liked pfeffernűsse cookies.”

Then I ________ the importance of what she had just said. Why didn’t she ever tell me? All those childhood years rather than ________ Mom’s feelings and spoil Mom’s tradition, she had stood the cookies silently. From a child’s heart year after year she had given me the gift of ________!

My daughter taught me life’s very important ________: The best gifts aren’t always found under the Christmas tree.

【推荐3】When my son joined the high-school wrestling team last fall during COVID-19, my 83-year-old dad asked me to inquire if they needed an assistant coach. “He wrestled in university, ” I told the coach. I left out his _________.

A few days before the first practice, I e-mailed the coach to tell him my son’s _________ was 83, and in good health. I was _________. What if he didn’t_________ the team? I also pointed out that his hearing aids had sat _________ for five years. He just didn’t like wearing them.

At the first practice, Dad met the coach and told him he would do anything he was needed, even _________ the mats(垫子). When he and my son returned, they were both overjoyed. Dad made the team, but “God, I_________ I could hear the coach!” he said. One day, he realized he forgot his hearing aids as I dropped him and my son _________ for their practice. So we _________ for them.

In his free time, Dad borrowed Wrestling for Dummies from the library. He read up on different__________ and the scoring system. “They are a lot different from my __________ days. I must update them. ” he told me. He thought the coach and the kids in the club were __________ and kind. One of the__________ after each practice approached him and said, “Thank you for being here.”

COVID-19 has not allowed me to watch any of the __________. I relied on my father to give me the play-by-play of what is __________ in the wrestling room. I’m proud to be a wrestling daughter.

【推荐1】My nephew’s 10-year-old son came for a visit one hot July weekend. I persuaded him to ________ inside and joined him in a game. After playing for an hour, I suggested that we relax for a while. I ________ my favorite chair to let my neck relax. He left the room and I was catching a few enjoyable ________ of peace.

“Look, Alice,” he said excitedly as he ________ over to the chair where I was sitting. “I found a kite. Could we go outside and ________ it?” Looking out of a nearby window, I noticed it was still outside. “I’m sorry. Tripper,” I said, sad to see his ________ expression. “The wind is not blowing today. The kite won’t fly.”

The ________ 10-year-old boy replied, “I think it’s windy enough. I can get it to fly,” he answered ________ he hurried out to the back door.

He ran and forth, as ________ as his ten-year-old legs would carry him, looking back ________ at the kite behind. After about ten minutes of unsuccessful trying, he came back in.

I asked, “How did it ________?” “Fine,” he said, not wanting to admit（承认） the failure. “I got it to fly some.” However, I heard him say secretly, “I guess I’ll have to wait for the ________.”

At that moment I heard another voice speak to my ________, “Alice, sometimes you are just like. You want to do it your way ________ waiting for the wind.”

And the voice was right. We usually want to use our own efforts to ________ what we want to do. We must learn how to make use of “the wind” in the first place!

【推荐2】One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried ______ for hours as the farmer tried to figure out ______ to do. Finally he decided the animal was ______ and the well needed to be ______ up anyway, so it just wasn't ______ it to rescue the donkey.

He invited all his ______ to come over and help him. They all grabbed (握起)a shovel (铁铲)and began to shovel ______ into the well. At first, the donkey ______ what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's ______, he was quiet.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked ______ the well and was ______ at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that ______ his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would ______ it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors ______ to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take another ______ up. Pretty soon, everyone was surprised as the donkey stepped up over the ______ of the well and ran off.

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The best way of ______ out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our ______ is a stepping-stone. We can get out of the deepest ______ just by not stopping, never ______! Shake it off and take a step upward!

【推荐3】Not many 17-year-old girls know how to solder（焊）copper pipes together or light a pilot light. These are_____I’ve learned as an assistant to my______in his plumbing（管道）business.

My summer job deals with_______that constantly arise physical and mental discomfort, and the work______an attitude of determination and patience that I frequently struggle to adopt.

Each morning, I______myself into large-thick men’s jeans most girls would______to wear and climb into the plumber truck. As my classmates begin their_____babysitting, or selling groceries, my dad and I carry_____toolboxes and work in the dark basements. I often get ______in messy storage boxes looking for the water meter. Nothing around is beautiful or tidy.

Sometimes I______why I stand the dust and sweat when I could be in my air-conditioned house doing summer homework. Yet as much as I_______the mess of plumbing. I look down upon myself for being so easily annoyed by disorder.______, the world was built by people willing to get their hands_______.

Five such summers have______me that the messy parts of people’s houses______the messy parts of their lives. As I learn to_____the mess, I also learn to handle the_____and contradictions in my adolescence. Life is a process of accepting_______and learning to put it in order. Plumbing work is no different. You can see it in each newly soldered group of copper pipes. And when customers express______, I understand that, in a small way, we bring______to their lives.