“Paul must have been trying to carry his waste paper to garbage can and dropped a few pieces.” I1picking them up.2later I found more pieces. No quiet sighing this time. I 3“Who is throwing garbage?” No answer. Instead, I saw more bits of paper silently floating4from upstairs. Looking up, I saw my seven-year-old son, Paul.

    “Stop making a mess.” “It's not a mess. They're5.” “Sorry, what did you say?” I hadn't heard him clearly.

    He didn't answer me. Paul has autism (自闭症) and6answers a question, especially when he's 7attentively on something else. He ran down the stairs. “Where are my other butterflies?” he asked,8around. Every time Paul 9five or more words together, my heart says a 10of thanks. But lately he seems to 11that the benefits of forming complete sentences when communicating are12of the effort.

    Butterflies. Of course. I rushed to13them from the garbage,14them off and handed them to my young artist. “Want to see them15again?” he asked with a shy smile. “Oh yes! They're beautiful.” I whispered. He ran back upstairs to float his 16down again. They really did look like beautiful butterflies.

    That day Paul 17me to look up at 18instead of down at garbage. How many other masterpieces (杰作) do I miss because I'm too caught up in my 19to take time to appreciate what's right in front of me? Life is not what happens to us. It's 20we look at it. Now, I look up.

    In the town of Swedesboro, New Jersey, 5^th grade students are determined to make 2,000 paper cranes (纸鹤) by the end of the school year. Their1is to put smiles on kids' faces.

    The idea of 2 the paper cranes started when their3 Tara Milward, read them the story Sadako and the One Thousand Paper Cranes in class. Sadako was 4with leukemia (白血病) at a very young age. She5folding the paper cranes along with her family and friends6 this was a symbol of hope for Sadako to get7one day.

    The students of Harker School wanted to8 Sadako's story. They began buying paper9 paper cranes, and decided to make 2,000! They want to send the101,000 cranes to Hiroshima, Japan where Sadako lived. The next 1,000 cranes are 11 to a local hospital. Wherever a paper crane is made, the students are12that something so simple can help someone 13 hope.

    They are so devoted to the14that they work on it in every minute of their15time to help them towards their big goal of 2,000 paper cranes. To achieve their16 goal, all of the students are coming together and working very17 They are eager to spread the hope to their friends and families, also a18of this extraordinary project.

    The students are 19 by Sadako's story and are making their impossible dream come true. They hope to make a 20 around the globe to show that everyone can make the world a better place.

    I started serving the homeless when I was eight years old. I didn't know these people would make such a big difference in my 1.

    Twice a month I go to the church and help get things ready for 2. When the gate is opened, people come 3in to get drinks. They take their seats while breakfast is4, and then we begin to5. We each take two plates and carry them 6the line as the plates are 7. Each person receives kinds of foods. I walk to the tables and8the plates before them. After I've served them, I ask if they need9else and bring them whatever they ask for.

    When I first started serving, I was a little 10. At first I stayed close to my mom most of the time, but after I got to know these strangers, I11that they were friendly people. And the12of them was often nicer than the outside. I realized that there was no13 to the scared. After serving for a few months, I started to14seeing the same people each week.

    All of these people make my day much15. The past two years have made a big16in my life. I do this 17it is the right thing to do. When I serve people, I want them to know that someone 18them and that they matter. Serving makes me happy, but even more 19, it teaches me to love and 20others and helps make the world a better place.

    My husband kissed me goodbye, stroke (轻抚) the baby's cheek and then rushed out of the door, into his busy day. With the cold of the morning fading, I fed my baby and it fell fast asleep. Usually I would place it in bed and quickly have the house somewhat in 1.

    However, this morning, I stayed seated, just 2, with the baby in my arms. The thoughts ran into 3of the mornings with my husband, a father rushing out of the door to meet the obligations of life. It was only a small jump to thoughts of my own 4.

    My mother passed away when I was ten, and as I looked 5, I could see how much of a family man my dad was. He went to work every morning and 6 to his family every evening. He 7 food, clothing, warmth, and protection. He was a faithful father.

    Setting the baby down, I dialed the 8 number. I had just realized the 9 of the ordinary－the daily life going on around us that we often took for granted, and that it needed to be 10.

    "Hi, Dad." I said, 11 back tears.

    "Hey, Bud. How are you?" 12 was in his voice.

    "Fine, I'm just calling to say … thank you." I got it out before my throat 13 too much for me to speak.

    "What for?"

    "For getting up and going to work every morning of my life. Now that I have my own 14 and I see my husband doing the same, I just wanted to thank you for being 15."

    There was 16 for a moment as my dad composed himself, and with a small 17 in his voice he said, "You're welcome, Bud."

    I don't remember much of the rest of the call, 18 that moment of revelation (显露) about my father, I will never forget. There are those who are known for their heroic 19, and also those who are known for their fortunes and fame, but it is the 20 everyday fathers who are the true heroes. I'm thankful that my father was one of them.

    I made a request of my Guide to direct me someone who was badly in need. Then I was1in a huge traffic jam at a stoplight. "Rush hour." I thought. But it was an overheated car,2on the middle lane(车道).With cars driving all around it, I couldn't stop anywhere without making things3I had to turn left in the thick traffic and couldn't pull over for a couple of blocks. I thought," maybe this is one I should let someone else4But I blamed myself for that.

    I turned around and parked my car on a far entrance road. Then I thought about how to help the girl in the broken car. Letting her car off the highway seemed 5, but luckily, cars in multiple lane going both6opened wide for me to approach her car. So I asked her to release(松开)her brake and steer(掌控方向盘) across two more lanes of rushing cars while I7her car to the highway' s right side. I saw the fear and8in her eyes. I9my fear from her, so she might think I knew what I was doing. But only my Guide knew.

    I just pushed and she steered. Once again the sea of rushing cars10and her car finally was stopped at a safe11just before a police car12up behind us. The policeman was13at what he had witnessed. The girl thanked me with a14and said her friend was on the15and didn't need my help anymore. Suddenly, the officer began to16thinking my car was17parked in the ocean of traffic. I explained I parked my car across the highway. I then drove away after helping out for only a few18.

    My Guide sought the "kind act"19and cleared the way. All I had to do was20being a bystander(旁观者).

"What's your name? " My fifteen-ear-old daughter, Jessica, asked a stranger on the street. Her eyes sparkled with 1 and her face wore a broad smile. I wish she could make it because she has a disability with autistic (自闭症的). I stood nearby, waiting 2 for any potential result. 

To be honest, the 3 nature of hers is a result of her disability. Ever since Jessica was real young, she had 4 right up to strangers on the street and 5 a conversation, never expecting to be refused. Children with autism don't relate well to others. As her mum, my thoughts are 6 . On one hand, I tried my best to prevent her from 7 others. On the other hand, I don't want her to be discouraged. Happily, when Jessica talks with someone, it always 8 me that people patiently answer her, although they must sense she's a bit different. 

What about this time? Would this man respond kindly or just 9 her and walk away? A few minutes later, Jessica skipped to me. Obviously, it was a successful 10 . Jessica shared with me the 11 they had talked about, which would certainly 12 my daughter's day. The man just treated her like an ordinary girl, nothing special from others. 

As we continued on our way, I felt a renewed sense full of 13 for the future. Despite my daughter's problem, an equal 14 the kind people gave her created a moment of 15 interaction.