1 . Everyone celebrates his birthdays in different ways. A birthday is _________ to be a happy day. However, this year, it seemed like everybody had forgotten about mine.

When I _________ up in the morning, nobody came to wish me a happy birthday. In the kitchen, there was no special breakfast _________ for me. Not even a simple _________ or present was in sight. My parents did not seem to realize that I was _________ at being forgotten. My mother even sent me out to buy some vegetables for her.

I was _________ it all the way to the supermarket and back. As I opened the door, however, people jumped out from behind the furniture and yelled. “Surprise! Happy birthday!”

My whole family was there, including my grandparents and all my friends! The _________ dining table was now _________ with plates of fried chicken wings, meatballs, colourful jellies and fruit, and there was a pile of presents on one end of it. My mother carried out a large chocolate cake with ten candles on it, and everybody began to sing. I was excited and tried hard to hold my _________.

When the singing was over, I __________ out the candles with all my strength. My mother took the cake __________ to cut up and everybody came forward to give me their gifts. Then, we __________ the delicious snacks and fruit together. When most of the food was __________, my mother pulled out a large package that she had prepared for our games. We played a game named “Pass the Parcel” and my cousin, Alex, won (an) __________ toy. Then we played other games, which __________ with all of us laughing. After that, we went into the garden to play __________ activities.

By the time everybody left. I was absolutely exhausted. However, I couldn’t stop __________ from ear to ear. As I went to bed, I thought about how __________ it was to have such a birthday. That was one of the most __________ birthdays I ever had. That night, I fell asleep __________ not only by all my birthday presents but also love from my family and friends.

2 . Not everyone can afford a vacation to a tropical paradise or an adventurous destination. For many of us, staycations are what we can afford and they will _________ your health. Instead of focusing on what you aren’t doing, let’s focus on just how _________ staycations can really be.

A staycation is a vacation you take at or _________ your home. For my family, our staycations _________ include staying at home but taking fun day trips to places near us that we don’t _________ during our busy life.

Staycations are great because you don’t have to worry about packing too much. They’re a great way to avoid the _________ that goes along with travel. Since you have _________ to a kitchen stocked with real food, you don’t need to have meals at restaurants. But you can still go out and explore the area in which you live, _________ if you want along the way.

Staying at home may seem a bit _________ to some people, but you can gain more from it! When I __________ from my last couple of vacations, I felt like I needed another vacation! My last staycation, __________, left me feeling relaxed—just like a vacation should.

Staycations also allow you to __________ where you live just a little bit more. You may not visit local museums, parks, or other attractions that you consider to be for tourist. Be a __________ in your own town and see what’s around you to discover!

During your staycation, spend time with the people in your life who are __________ to you. Perhaps there are some friends you don’t get to see very often. A staycation do allow you to __________ with the most meaningful people in your life and that’s always good for you.

3 . “I have no idea what to get you this New Year,” my husband Larry said. I _________ with a knowing smile as the same _________ to me in finding him something. _________ we like remembering each other with gifts on holiday, we had reached the _________ in lives where we didn’t need more things. Actually, we were _________, clearing out and getting rid of unneeded stuff.

Then an online article was _________. It was about schools having to turn away some children from receiving _________ for they had no money to pay. And a thought _________ me. “Let’s each give money to the school for our presents,” I said _________ the article with Larry. “Great idea. It's also a __________ to pay it forward,—to offer our kindness and love,” Larry smiled.

When our children were small, Larry and I were __________, losing sources of income. During the hard time, we __________ to pay any bill. It wasn't easy for us to ask for help, as we’d been brought up on principles of __________. Someone then offered a hand.

Now that we were in much more __________ circumstances, we could give back. I visited our local elementary school, and explained we'd like to help children who couldn’t __________ their lunches. The receptionist looked first __________ and then pleased. She __________ me to the cafeteria to talk with the head there. The lady taking __________ accepted our gift of cash with thanks. “This will make a big __________ to so many children,she said.

__________ there weren't as many presents in our room, but it was one of our best New Years.