My husband Jeff and I moved into our new home in Scottsbluff last year just before Christmas. I did not have the1or energy to carry out my traditional Christmas decorating and baking activities. What was the point, anyway? It was going to be a 2istmas after all.

   3, the neighborly nature of west Nebraska residents started to trickle (陆续来临) in.

    There was a4on the door one evening. It was Jeff's new colleague, John Smith, and his wife, Phyllis. The Smiths had stopped by to5us to town with a loaf of homemade bread. They pointed out a6on the porch (门廊). Apparently the doorbell wasn't working in the cold snowy weather and we had7a visit from the Browns, our across-the-street neighbors, who brought us a Christmas card and more Christmas cookies.

  The8feelings brought by these thoughtful gestures lasted longer than the food.

  As Jeff and I were clearing pre-Christmas9from our driveway, Ernie Guzman came over from next door to 10us to dig out.

  Then, we received an invitation to11 a Christmas Eve meal with our neighbors, Ernie and Nancy Sommer, and their12 —a 90-year-old lady, who also had no family in the immediate area with whom to spend the holiday.

  Our Christmas Eve was quite merry, thanks to our13. Our Christmas morning14 was special, thanks to the Smiths' gift of bread. I was so15for these gestures of welcome, especially during the holidays.

  This year, we were again unable to be with our families for Christmas. The 16and work schedules just made things too difficult.17  that sense of Christmas isolation (孤立) all too well, we decided to try to round up some other folks who were18in the holidays.

  Lonely people are all around us, but most of us 19notice them. Just take a look around you. Sometimes, the smallest20gesture can make a world of difference.

    The boys had been shopping all morning and still weren't done. I1standing in the store.

    Just nine days before 2 Caitlin's house had burned to the ground. But Caitlin and her family all3 escaped.

    All the family 4 was what they were wearing and each other. The school was replacing their books and uniforms and now, two days after the 5all the girls in Caitlin's class were taking her shopping for clothes and shoes. The boys were shopping for6 like scarves, socks and hair ties, all the things they don't even 7

    After another hour, I had finished my8 and had helped the boys 9everything they wanted to get for Caitlin.

    When we got home, my brother brought everything he had10 for Caitlin to my room to make sure I thought she'd 11 everything before he12 them.

"I think she'll love everything," I said, and he smiled his big smile. I hugged him13 he tried to push me away. I was so14of him at that moment. He loves giving and making others 15 He's an honest kid who sees only the good in the world. I used to wonder how he could 16 see the good when there was so much bad, but now I 17why there is so much good18 him.

    He selflessly gave up all his 19for Caitlin. He had, through this act of a pure heart, got the true20 of Christmas.

    It was raining outside and I was preparing my breakfast at home. 1, a bottle of orange juice slid (滑) from my hand and fell to the floor. Glass and juice 2 everywhere. I looked at the 3. Then my eyes were filled with tears. They came from a(n) 4 acceptance that “Today is just not my day”.

    It was a bad day for me 5 things had to be done. I drove into town. In the few minutes it took to the bank, I made a 6. Though I had a bad day, I would be 7 not to pass it to anyone else. I would be happy and 8.

    Standing in line, I was silently talking to myself. For the 9 time that day my eyes were filled with tears as I 10 how disconnected (隔离的) I felt from others. Then a 11 drew my attention. “Young lady,” she was saying.

    I 12 and saw the bank teller, an old lady with a gentle smile. Her eyes showed 13 as she softly said, “I don't 14 what is happening inside of you, but please believe me when I tell you that everything will be okay.”

    And then she did something quite 15. My hands were resting on the counter and she placed her hands 16 on top of mine. The 17 was quick but electric. And in that moment my world changed.

    In the moment of her touch my self-doubt 18. I found understanding and acceptance. I knew that 19 was being passed through the heart of this old lady directly into my heart. Then I 20.

    Jenna, a popular girl from Westwood Middle School, had graduated first in her class and was ready for new1in high school.

    2, high school was different. In the first week, Jenna went to tryouts(选拔赛) for cheerleaders(拉拉队队员). She was competing against very talented girls, and she knew it would be3for her to be selected. Two hours later, the4read a list of the girls for a second tryout. Her heart5as the list ended without her name. Feeling6, she walked home carrying her schoolbag full of homework.

    Arriving home, she started with math. She had always been a good math student, but now she was7. She moved on to English and history, and was8to find that she didn't have any trouble with those subjects. Feeling better, she decided not to9math for the time being.

    The next day Jenna went to see Mrs. Biden about being on the school10Mrs. Biden wasn't as11as Jenna. “I'm sorry, but we have enough12for the newspaper already. Come back next year and we'll talk then.” Jenna smiled13and left. “Why is high school so14?” she sighed.

    Later in15class, Jenna devoted herself to figuring out the problems that had given her so much16. By the end of class, she understood how to get them right. As she gathered her books, Jenna decided she'd continue to try to17at her new school. She wasn't sure if she'd succeed, but she knew she had to18High school was just as her mom had said: “You will feel like a small fish in a big pond19a big fish in a small pond. The challenge is to become the20fish you can be.”

    Feeling tired of waiting for a lift for so long because you don't want to take stairs? Or even feeling so exhausted that you wished for a(n)1 when you could just lie down on the bed all day and not worry about work or studies?

    My name is Beena, and my story begins from here.

    I was born in a poor family. While growing up, I saw my parents making many 2 for me and my brother. They wouldn't buy anything for themselves so that they could 3 all our wishes. The small amount of money they earned is 4 in our childhood to make sure we don't feel lesser than other kids around us.

    I decided to 5 my studies and give my parents a better life, the life that they 6 for all they have done. I finished my 7 and got placed into a Leading firm in Audit industry.

    In the process of fulfilling my dreams, I took my health for granted. I was 8 tired and that was the time I felt that I needed a rest from work and relax for some time.

    I went to a doctor's clinic when I heard these three words which changed my life forever—I was 9 with Guillian Barre Syndrome, a rare neurological autoimmune disorder.

    My breathing was becoming increasingly 10 for me while I was in the ICU. I was in the hospital for two months on life support. During these two months I had 11 some near death experiences, including skin 12 and multiple infections.

    I was sent home from the hospital immediately after being taken off the life support. My body was still fully 13 from neck down and I couldn't even lift a finger at that time. I started my physical 14 from home. It took me one year to take my first few 15 with the help of a walker. I had two options at that time. The first was to give up and 16 that I will never be myself again and the other was to keep pushing. I chose to be my own 17.

    I 18 everything that could help me go to work without having any caretakers around and finally after 2 years of hard work I was ready to go to work again.

    I still have a long way to go, but I have decided I will never give up my 19. It's that door you 20 that will decide whether you will fly or live your life in a cage.

    Experts say boredom is good for kids. It forces them to be creative, 1their imaginations, and helps them discover new things. A（n）2in point is 13-year-old Luke Thrill from Dubuque, Iowa.

    Luke was 3 of playing video games and riding his bike, so he decided to build a tiny house in his back yard instead. He made money from cutting lawns and4exchanged some services, such as gaining the help of an electrical engineer5 sweeping his garage. Luke also 6 spare materials from his grandmother's house and other 7 materials from his neighbors for some of the windows and the door.

    The 89-square-foot home cost $1, 500 to build and 818 months. Inside there's a kitchenette, a back sitting room, a table and a mounted（镶嵌的）TV, and an upstairs bedroom can be easily9by stairway.

    Although Luke did the10and learned how to do all the work, he had his father's 11 throughout the project. Greg Thrill was very happy that his son learned to stay on12and deal with grown-ups. 13, he had some simple rules when Luke14 the house: "You15the money. You build it. And you own it."

    Luke is now in love with16. He has a YouTube channel and hopes to 17other kids to start building. 18, he wants to build a bigger tiny house to live in, but for now, he19 in his new home a few nights a week, does homework there, and uses it to take a20from his twin brother.