When my brother and I got adopted (收养), I was four and he was two. I was 1 at first. I didn't know what was going on. I didn't smile at all. But then I found a lovely new nightgown (睡衣) on my bed. I started to smile. I had 2 had my own nightgown before. When my dad saw me 3 , he hugged me. He started to cry a little. I felt happy because my brother and I finally had a forever 4.

    I remember once when I was in the third grade, a boy asked me if I was adopted. I said I couldn't remember, because I was too shy to tell him. But it doesn't feel 5 to talk about it now. At home, we talk about it a lot.

    I'm in the sixth grade now, and a lot of people 6 my story. It feels great. I always feel good about myself when my friends are around—one friend especially. When my friend was little, her mother couldn't 7 her, so she was adopted. When I heard her story, it sounded a lot like my story. It started out hard, but that part is over.

    Life is good for me. I 8 my parents and do whatever I can to help. I'm interested in 9 and I sometimes prepare breakfast. I collect eggs from the henhouse and cook them for breakfast. When I feed my dog or close the chickens up for the night, I give them love, just like my 10 give me.

    On Christmas Day, all family members gathered at our parents' home. No member had ever1Christmas Day with our mother and father. Only this year, things were2. Our father passed away on November 26th, and this was our first Christmas3him. Mother was doing her best to be glad, 4I could tell this was especially hard for her.

    A few months earlier, I had painted my parents. I'd planned to give them5Christmas gifts. While painting one day, my father came to visit me. I wanted to show him, but suddenly I realized I should give him a6. Yet something urged（促使） me to share this moment with him. He walked closer to appreciate（欣赏） the portraits（肖像）.Then he stepped back to eye them at a distance. Finally, with a tear7down one cheek, he said, "Look! How beautiful your mother is! Will you let me have them framed（镶框）? "

    Then one night in November the phone8, and I was told father passed away. I finally9to call about the portrait framing and thanked God my father had got a10 to see the pictures before he died. I was surprised when the shopkeeper told me my father had11and had the gifted wrapped（包装）.Even though we had lost father, everyone12to be cheerful. As I looked into my mother's sad eyes, I13to give her Daddy's and my gift. As she got rid of（去除） the wrap, there was a small card inside. With tear-filled eyes and a wide14, she said, "I knew Daddy would be with us on Christmas Day!"

    I read the words written by my father, "Mother: Our daughter 15me why I am so blessed（幸福的）. I'll be looking at you always—Daddy.

    One day a man saw an old lady standing by her car on the side of the road. He could see that she need help.1 he stopped his car in front of her and got out.

    Even though the man had a smile on his face, the old lady was worried. "2 had stopped to help for the last hour. Was he going to hurt3? He didn't look safe, he looked poor and hungry." the old lady thought.

    He could see that she was worried. So he said," I am here 4you, madam. It seems that you have a flat tire(车胎漏气).5don't you wait in the car where it's warm while I change the tire for you? By the way, my name is Bryant Anderson." Though feeling doubtful, the old lady6her car.

    About 20 minutes later, he was done, the old lady asked Bryant 7 she should pay. Bryant 8thought about being paid. He told her that if she 9wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person her help.

    The man waited until the lady started her car and drove off. It was a cold day, but he felt 10as he went on his way home

    One day a young lady was driving along with her father. They met a strong 1, and the young lady 2 her father. "What should I do?" Her father said. "Keep driving. "

But later. many cars began to pull over (向路边停靠)3  the storm was getting worse and worse. "What should I do?" the young lady asked her father again. "Keep driving. " her father replied 4  the same answer.

    After driving a few miles, she 5  that more cars were also pulling over. She told her father. "I must pull over. I can 6  see ahead. It is terrible, and everyone is pulling over!" Her father told her. "Don't give up. Just keep driving. "

    After a couple of miles she was again on dry land. 7 the sun came out. Her father said. "Now you can pull over and get out. " She asked. "8  now?" Her father said. "Look back at all the people that gave up. They are 9 in the storm. Because you didn't give up your storm is now over. "

    When you 10 hard times, keep going and soon your storm will be over and the sun will shine upon your face again.

    "I can't believe what I'm hearing!" I thought to myself. Jeff was the last candidate (候选人) for president of Students' Union. My best friend Tony came to me and said, "I'm 1, Mike. I really thought you should be 2."

    Later that day, I happened to pass Jeff in the dining room. I offered him a polite " 3" and walked to my usual table. To my surprise, Jeff put his plate beside mine.

    "I'm, er-I'm just wondering 4 you would…consider coming to work on my team," he said 5. "You are really smart, and you would be a great manager."

    "I don't think so," I replied, feeling 6.

    "Well, if you change your mind, we are meeting tomorrow," he said before moving to 7 table.

    All that night, I thought about the offer from Jeff. Maybe being a part of the election process (选举过程) would give me a chance to make important changes at our school. I 8 to join them.

    My first goal was to 9 an attractive advertisement. Within a few days, we designed a10 with Jeff's pictures showing him in a number of activities. No one could walk through any hallway without passing Jeff's smiling face.

    My next step was to 11 which new activities students would like to have at our school. Many of them wanted a chess club and a volleyball team. With the information I had collected, Jeff met with the headmaster. The headmaster 12 to add these activities to our school program.

    With my help, Jeff and our ideas were well received at school.

    An eighth grader said, "It'll be like attending a new school with Jeff as president."

    Hearing these words made my heart filled with 13. I had wanted to become president of Student Council to make a difference. I achieved that and more by working as a member of Jeff's team. He became the most popular candidate and I was a large part of his 14. The fact that it has made a(n) 15 in other people's lives is the real prize. What a great feeling!