1 . I was 40, with two adorable children and a caring husband. And I’m enjoying a challenging but _________ career. Although this is “success”, sometimes I feel my heart asking if this is who I truly am.

The chaos of the family kitchen was _________: the noise of the kettle, pots and dishes, and the conversation _________ while I’m making breakfast. I escaped _________ to my bedroom. Only in silence do I bear the self that is _________ from the children and wonder who that person might be.

So, I journeyed, for the first time in a decade, without my husband or kids. I went with a friend to _________ in Iceland. I hoped the consideration of walking would help me better _________ who I wanted to be. For 6 days, I was absorbed in wild scenery and real weather. The mountains in Iceland rise black and tall into the heavens against the white snow. Looking outside at wild wind and rain and knowing there’s no decision to make _________ the soul. Climbing a mountain against sheets of rain and returning to a tent for a simple meal _________ me how little I actually needed and how strong I felt __________ uncomfortable.

I found __________ in Iceland, and time to consider “the me” outside career and kids as I shared stories with strangers with no __________ past and no expected future. When I stopped talking and just listened, I was surprised at how my __________ changed—I became more generous. I learned generosity can __________ more space and more warmth __________ when there may not seem enough to go around at first glance.

I came home to __________, chaos and love. I know the answer isn’t waiting out there on the top of a mountain or inside my head, however __________ I try to hear; and it isn’t in conversations with other seeking souls. The answer is in front of me with every step on my own life’s __________.

I’m not finding myself, but I’m creating myself. I need the storm as much as I need the quietness. __________ is built under a heavy load. I’m expecting to pick up all of my loads and travel __________.

5 . "Mum, can I invite my classmate Brett over to stay tomorrow night, please? It's Friday, and we don't have any _______.   Can I, please?" Mum was sitting at the kitchen table.   Dad was _______next to her, resting his head on his arms.   Mum could _______that James wanted so badly to have his friend over.

"I'm so sorry, James," she said.

"I'm never allowed to have friends come to the house? Why, Mum?" James asked sadly, almost in _______.

"I know it's _______for you," Mum said softly.   "But I'm just worried other people might think we're a little. . .   strange.   And then they would make fun of you. "

"No, they wouldn't, Mum," James protested.   "We're not _______at all.   We're just ordinary people. "

Mum sighed heavily.   "To tell you the truth, James, my neck has been so painful that it's given me a heavy _______.   And your poor father — he doesn't feel _______.   He really needs a rest. "

"I can help, Mum!" James said.   " _______I can make you and Dad feel better, can Brett come over? Please?"

"Well. . . " Mum began.

"Great! Thanks, Mum!" James almost shouted.   "Just sit there, don't move. " He rushed over to the kitchen drawer and ________what he needed — two spanners(扳手).   "Hang on, Mum," he said.   "This won't take a second. " After some ________, James was finished.   With a smile of ________on his face he said, "There! How does that feel?" "Oh, James," Mum said.   "That's much better! How did you do it?"

"Easy," James said ________.   "Dad had tightened your neck bolts(螺栓) too much! I just________them slightly! I learned that in robotic science at school. "

"What about your father? Can you ________him?" asked Mum.

"I'll try," James replied.   He ________up Dad's hair at the back of his neck, and plugged the electric wire into Dad's head.   Then he turned the ________on.   Dad opened his eyes and ________immediately.   "He just let his ________run too low, that's all," James said.   "Shall I tell Brett to come over straight after school tomorrow?"

"I guess so," replied Mum.   "Your friends will just have to ________that we are a very unusual family.   Thanks, son!"

6 . This past summer, I applied for my very first job at a small bakery in my neighborhood. I knew that if I were _______ there, I would learn how to use a cash register, prepare sandwiches, and _______ cake orders. I imagined that my biggest struggle would be _______ demanding New Yorkers, but I never thought that the act of tying a box would become both my biggest _______ and greatest teacher.

On my first day of work in late August, one of the employees quickly explained the _______. It seemed simple: wrap the string (绳子) around your hand, then wrap it three times around the box both ways, and fasten it. I _______ the message in my head, “three times, turn it, three times, tie it” until it became my prayer. After observing several employees, it was _______ that anyone tying the box could complete it in a matter of seconds. For weeks, I failed endlessly, only to watch the strong and small pieces of my pride unravel (散开) each time I tried.

As I _______ to push half-tied cake boxes into plastic bags with embarrassment, I could not help but _______ what was wrong with me. ________ the weeks progressed, my skills slowly began to improve. Of course, there were days when I just wanted to throw all of the string in the trash and use tape (胶带) instead; this sense of defeat was never ________, but remarks like “Oh, you must be ________” from impatient customers made me angry and determined to try even harder.

Gradually I began to realize that I should not be ________ if it takes me longer to learn. I kept on, and I continued to tie boxes every weekend at work. Even though I occasionally fell back into desperation, I always rewrapped the string around my hand and ________ over because I learned that the most satisfying victories come from not ________.

8 . I’d planned to spend my weekend in the sun, enjoying flowers outdoors. But that was ____ the pair of disgusting crows (乌鸦) arrived. Out of nowhere, they had set up their base ____ in our backyard.

We first ______ our feathered enemies on Friday morning. It was early, and the sound the birds made ______ through our neighborhood. I figured they’d ______ soon. But, no. They were getting louder and probably ______ my neighbors nearly as much as us with the noise. I admit I got a little ______.

Then, on Sunday afternoon, I saw our dog Quatchi staring at something on the ground. I went to ______ and found a small coal-black bird in the grass. Its eyes were milky, and it stayed perfectly ______ as my dog walked towards it. Only when Quatchi ______ his nose to its head did it walk away. I ______ the dog inside and came back with my camera.

It never occurred to me that the young would be hanging out on the ground, growing and gaining ______ as its parents guarded it from above. The second I saw this little creature I ____ the crows.

To be honest, I’ve never been much of a bird person. And I wish they’d chosen another backyard. But I’m also ______ that I got to see this little bit of nature unfold up close. It’s pretty amazing.

The experience has also ______ my desire to create a beautiful backyard garden that attracts lots of bees, butterflies, and yes, birds. They are welcome here.

9 . When my daughter was in grade school, she brought home four tiny branches one day. They were small _________ given to the students to plant. None of them looked very strong, but with a _________ for the future, I planted them in our backyard. Over the years the _________ soil brought an end to three of them.

All that was _________ was a single evergreen. It never got very tall and _________ to one side. Then, I noticed that it was starting to _________. The lower branches were becoming brown. Only the top ones of the tree were still _________.

I did my best to _________ it by feeding it a lot of fertilizer (肥料), but it seemed hopeless. One morning I went out and looked at it again, _________ if it would be better to just cut it down. As I walked over to take a closer look at it, __________, I noticed something moving among the branches. It was a bird __________ building a nest (巢) in the topmost branches. I smiled and __________ that maybe this old tree had some life and usefulness left in it yet. It may not be healthy or pretty, but it was still giving a bird a __________.

This tree __________ me that all of our lives have a purpose. It doesn’t matter if we are young and strong, or old and sick. Until our last __________ we still have things to do: love for us to give, and joy for us to share. We can help to make this world a better and lovelier place.

10 . In January this year, a fire destroyed the building that housed Yossi Heiman’s Fish Market in Borough Park, Brooklyn: The _______ made Yossi Heiman have no place to operate his business and no ability to get _______ .

The merchant Shea Langsam owns a(n) _______ store, just few blocks away. One would have thought that sympathetic as he may be to his competitor’s bad luck, he would welcome this opportunity to _______ new customers and increase his business. _______ Shea did something truly excellent. When he learned of the fire, he _______ the phone and called Yossi Heiman. Not only did he _______ him but when he heard Yossi say he would need a facility and deliver _______ to his customers, he said, “Don’t worry! Why not _______ me in my store before your store could be rebuilt? As fellow community members we all should try to help each other. ” Shea did as he promised and Yossi ________ his losses.

The story is wonderful and it’s a(n) ________ of seeing fellow community members as part of one family, putting needs of others ________ their own needs. Businessmen usually want to make more money or grow their ________ but the story is ________ : It’s a truly sincere display of true faith and great kindness. Real faith means ________ others and having a heart of sympathy and mercy like Shea.