Annie, a neighbor's daughter, is a sweet girl but just a bit shy. Her birthday's coming, but she felt lonely and was not happy. Her family is quite small and poor, so there wouldn't be any birthday visitors.

I wanted to send her a special gift to make her happy. I got an idea! I bought some balloons, streamers(彩带), birthday hats, and so on at a store.

    I took a small recorder(录音机) and asked three friends to sing Happy Birthday and send some birthday wishes to her. It was funny! When other people found out what we were doing, they added their voices, so it really sounded like we had a party going on!

    Then I put a card, some mini balloons and streamers in a beautiful box. When I arranged(布置) everything, it was like opening a mini birthday party!

    Finally, I added a pack of cupcakes and a box of birthday candles and then sent it to Annie.

    I got a call a few days later. Annie said her roommate and one of their neighbors in the dorm all liked the gift. She sounded so happy and I was so glad that she had some friends to share with her. And Annie told me it was the funniest birthday she can remember.

    One day， a Chinese student goes to study English in England. His family name is Sun. It is the1as the word "sun."

    England is a country with2It is often cloudy or misty(多雾的)，and it3again， so the days there4get much sunshine(阳光) all the year.

    When the Chinese student gets to London，a tall 5policeman with a long face 6his passport(护照) to check(检查) it. The policeman finds the Chinese name "sun" in the passport. He 7it is pronounced(发音) just like the 8word "sun". So he says to the Chinese student， "I see your name is Sun， you're wanted here. You bring sunshine9England， so we don't want you to10." They smile.

    Denny Crook was a famous photographer. He traveled all over the world, taking pictures for magazines and newspapers, and won many prizes.

    "I'll do anything to get a good photo," he often said. "I'll go anywhere at any time, even if it is1." And he told the2.He had photos of earthquakes, forest fires, floods and even wars. If something interesting happened, Denny went to photo it.

    He was a married man and his wife often asked him to take her with him, but he always3. "I'll travel for my work, not for 4," he told her." You won't enjoy yourself, and I won't have5to look after you. Sometimes there's not even anywhere to6, and I have to sleep outside. I often don't have a good7or a bath for days. You won't like it."

    "Denny, I'm not a child," his wife didn't8. "I can look after myself. Please take me with you the next time you go overseas."

    Denny did not say anything, but he9about it, and when he was asked to go to Africa he said to his wife, "You can come to Africa with me if you want to. I've got to take photos of wild10there. It should be interesting and not too uncomfortable."

    His wife was very11, and at first she had a very enjoyable time. Then Denny went off to12some lions to photo. His wife went with him, but before long they became separated（分开的）. She walked down one path while he walked down the other.

    Suddenly, Denny heard her13.He ran back and saw her running toward him. A huge lion was chasing her. Quickly Denny took his camera out of its case and14it at his wife and the lion. Then he shouted, "15, woman! I can't get you both in the picture! "

    I was invited to attend a presentation at the Kentucky School. That evening I found gratitude had amazing 1 to change our attitude and our life.

    The young musician Mr. Patrick was rolled onto the stage in his wheelchair and began to play the piano. His fingers danced across the keys as he 2 beautiful music. He then began to sing as he played, and it was wonderful. But what shocked me most was his magic smile.

    Patrick was born with no eyes and an illness in the legs, which3 him lame for life. However, as a child, he was 4 with artificial eyes and placed in a wheelchair. Before his first note, he discovered the piano. When his mom hit any note on the piano, and within one or two 5, he'd get it. By his second birthday, he was playing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". His father was overjoyed. "We might not play baseball, but we can play music together."

    When Patrick was at the University of Louisville, his father 6 classes with him. He was also a part of the 214-member marching band! He was a blind, wheelchair-bound trumpet player; and he and his father did it together. His father 7the night shift（夜班）in order to accompany his daytime band practice. Patrick says, "My dad's my hero."

    But even more than his unbelievable musical talent, it was Patrick's "attitude of gratitude" that touch my soul. On stage, between songs, he talked to the audience about his life and about how 8 he was with a great father. When his performance was over, Patrick and his father were on the stage together. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered for over five minutes.

    We all face misfortune in our lives.9 ， it's not the hardship but how we react to it that will determine the joy and happiness in our lives. During tough times, do we spend too much time feeling10 for ourselves, or can we, with gratitude, learn how to dance in the rain?

    Ashley was outspoken, fashionable, and the "Queen Bee" in my school.

    I looked up to her and idolized her. I listened to the music she listened to, wore the clothes she wore. I even took art class though I had really wanted to take theatre. I finally fitted in 1 group.

    One day, I skipped out of my last class a few minutes early to

2 seats for our group at the dining hall. Concentrating on my homework, I didn't notice they had sat down behind me. Before I could say a word, I realized what they were 3.

    I listened silently. "She's such a loser," one girl said.

    Another girl added, "Ashley, she 4 follows you, trying to copy you."

    "I wish she would leave us alone. We were in the same summer school and now she thinks we're best friends." The once familiar voice sounded so 5 and strange.

    I was mortified. My hands were shaking. I couldn't help crying 6. I felt heart—broken for the very first time. How did this happen? I 7 we were friends.

    I ran home. My mother just held me while I sobbed for hours. The advice she gave was so 8, and I had heard it a million times. "Just be yourself and people will like you for 9you are." This time it became so profound. Then and there I 10 to find myself back. That was exactly—what I did.

    Over the next month, I went through a lot of 11. I bought new clothes that I wanted to wear. I no longer went to art class 12 them, and took theatre. I began making new friends. I developed my own 13 and never again followed the crowd.

    I had an amazing school year. 14 I look back, I think it was the year when I discovered the person I was going to be. Despite the pain I felt that day, it was a 15 they had given me.