I came into the head teacher's office, where my brother was waiting for me. He was filling out papers for me to 1. He turned to face me and his eyes were red. I knew that something 2 had happened.

    “Amanda had a car accident, and now she is in hospital.” he said. I was astonished. How could that happen? Amanda was the 3driver I knew.

    Without a thought in my head, I got out of the school and 4 to the medical center. She was lying on a bed with her 5 covered from the eyebrows up. Nothing could explain my feeling 6 she looked up at me with blood-filled eyes. In her eyes, where I had expected to see7, I saw strength. She said to me, “I love you, Renee.” I was shamed and speechless realization that I 8 told my sister I loved her.

    As the doctors 9 her down the hallway to the X-ray room, I wanted to scream out to her that I loved her, but I couldn't. I cried with tears of 10.

    Everyone kept telling me she would be all right. 11, something in their voices spoke loudly of the doubt that everyone was trying to 12. Finally, the doctor came, “She's going to be fine.” Great! I knew that the accident could leave a large scar(伤疤) on her head but she was 13, and that's all that 14to me.

    A year later, I still have a(n) 15, even though we complain about each other. Every time I see her face and the large scar, I remember to tell her that I love her. I almost lost the opportunity to tell her that, and I am thankful I still can.

    In spite of the fun and laughter, 13-year-old Frank Wilson was not happy. It was 1 that he received all the presents he wanted. And he also 2 the big Christmas dinner with family members.3, Frank was not happy because this was his first Christmas without his brother, Steve, who during the year, had been killed in a car accident. Frank 4 his brother.

    Frank said good-bye to his relatives, and explained to his parents that he was going to see a friend. Since it was cold outside, Frank 5 his new plaid jacket. It was his favorite gift. He placed the other presents on his new sled (雪橇). Then Frank 6.

    As Frank went down the street toward home, through one front window, he saw a room with old 7 hanging over an empty fireplace. A woman was seated nearby, crying. The stockings 8 him of the way he and his brother always 9 theirs side by side. The next morning, they would find presents.

    Then Frank had a10. He knocked on the door. “Yes?” the 11voice of a woman asked. “May I come in?” asked Frank. “You are very welcome,” she said.12his sled full of gifts and thinking he wanted to 13 gifts. “But I have no food or gifts for you. I have 14 for my own children.” “That's not why I am here,” Frank replied. Please 15 whatever presents you would like for your children from the sled.” “Why, God bless you!” the 16 woman answered gratefully. She selected some candies, a toy airplane and a doll. Finally, the stockings were 17. “Thank you so much!” the woman Said. “You are welcome,” Frank said and left.

    Frank's18was full of happiness. Then he gave his jacket to a poor boy. At last, he19 all his gifts. Now Frank was worried how he could 20 to his parents that he had given his presents to others.

    My parents always made extra Christmas specials for my sisters and me. Of course the big 1 was that my sisters and I would run down the stairs to see our Christmas tree surrounded by mountains of 2. We got bikes, microscopes, cameras, and 3 else a kid might want. They were great, though I didn't 4 appreciate all that my parents did. It was quite common for me to be trapped in 5 the endless gifts. As a result, I'm unable to remember everything I 6.

    As my husband Joe and I were ready to welcome our first child 7 the world, we thought about how to give Christmas gifts in advance. Finally we 8 the decision to set the three-gift 9 for our holiday celebrations. I had ever 10 about the idea in a few magazine articles. And I really liked how it made the 11 decide the things they truly wanted. Mostly, I loved the idea of 12 our holiday. I would see my kids get the same 13 of gifts. I expected a Christmas day when we could actually 14 each other's company, as well as the gifts and the spirit that our children were given.

    15 those ideas that Joe and I came up with before they were born, such as never letting them eat junk food, or 16 TV time to only one hour a day, the three-gift rule is one thing that 17 the test of time. We've done it each year since Tom was born 18 years ago, 18 it's actually done in the way that we had hoped. Joe and I are less 19 because we just need to focus on giving each child the top three things that they desire. And we find the kids do 20and enjoy the gifts.

    I was in the kitchen making lunch when I saw my six-year-old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. I could only see his back. He 1 to be walking with a great effort, trying to be as 2 as possible.

    A few minutes after he disappeared into the 3, he came running toward the house again. I went back to making sandwiches, 4 that whatever task he had been doing was completed. Moments later, 5, he was once again walking slowly toward the woods.

    6curiosity, I walked out and followed him on his journey. He was 7 both hands in front of him as he walked, being 8 not to spill the water he held in them. I secretly walked 9 behind him as he went into the woods and I saw the most amazing 10.

    Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost 11 at him to get away. A huge male deer with elaborate（精美的）antlers was 12 close. But they didn't even move as Billy 13. And I saw a small deer lying on the ground, obviously suffering from 14and extreme heat, lift its head 15 to drink the water cupped in my beautiful boy's hands.

    It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of 16. You know, we hadn't had any rain for three months and our crops were 17. As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, they were suddenly 18 by other drops. I looked up at the sky. It was19 God was moved to weep. The rain came that day and saved our farm, just like the 20 of one little boy who saved another.

    When I was young, my mother could not even 1 a 50-cent chocolate bar for me. However, instead of focusing on poorness, my mother selflessly 2 me to fight for success so that I could lead a 3 life. She worked long hours every night to support the family. 4, she would find time to 5 with my sister, Emily, and me. Although I did not have two parents, I was loved and 6 just as much.

    Not all of life's milestones were easy. Some even left a 7 taste when my mother married a man in Maryland. The first few months were 8: baseball games dinners together and movies. It felt like we were the 9 All-American family. Then things 10. Screaming matches between my stepfather and my mother ruined dinners, and he 11 movie tickets for wine.

    We spent five years living in a family setting that had turned into a 12 zone. To our great relief, they finally 13 and we settled in Texas, where Mom is still working hard for a better life. Now, as I write this article with some dark 14 at hand, I realize my family and I are at the 15 point of our lives. I have succeeded both in my 16 and personality. I have been 17 my hunger for knowledge and I am to 18 from high school, not making a bitter product of my 19, for I know that hard times in life are also learning experiences. 20, like candy, can be the sweetest treat of all.

My husband and I were both raised on Kansas farms. It was1 to my husband's parents that their children should be educated and given the2 to gain financial stability that they themselves didn't have when they3to feed their family.

We each sought careers in the medical field. As we searched for a place to settle, we looked only at 4 communities. The city held no attraction for us. We wanted a5, quiet area where our children could be exposed to good basic values, a good6 , and a friendly environment. Our7was made 40 years ago, and we never once8settling down in a small town in north central Kansas. .

Early investment(投资) to secure the education of our children and our future retirement were focused on9 . Farming was and is a(n)10part of our lives, although the primary income source is our11 practice.

What's great about small town living? The air is clean! There is no12. We feel safe! Our doors are locked13 . Our neighbors are honest and friendly. Only recently have we learned to14 car keys from unattended vehicles- not because of any great dangers, but to15 us more cautious and safe when we are in more heavily populated areas.

There are very few16in our small community. Even if you don't know each other very well, smiling faces with recognition and greetings are17with warmth. Friendly enquiries are18when there has been an experience with pain or joy. Anytime a neighbor is19from illness or some loss, the community is there to help, to20 the burden and to express their loving concern.