I was going through my son Matthew's backpack when I saw an envelope in the bottom of it. Immediately, I knew it was a “thank you” card from one of his1. Totally not necessary since my Christmas gifts to them are my way of saying “Thank you”. I2I read it quickly. And then I stopped.

    I3 the card and read it again. One word caught my attention. “I love working with our Matthew.” One word “Our”. That one word4the meaning of the sentence for me. If she had written “I love working with Matthew”, I would know that she loves working with my son.5by adding that one word, “our”, it meant “I love working with this boy who6here, is accepted here and we all take responsibility for caring for.”

    I7 knew this, of course, seeing a blog I wrote previously, but it's always good to be

    8. In that blog post I mentioned ten reasons why his 9is the right place for him. Since that blog we have had his IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting, where I was10of that feeling again. In that meeting, someone 11“Everyone loves Matthew. We all love Matthew”. And it was genuine and 12. As we went around the room and the staff

    13us on information about Matthew, it was apparent that it went way beyond sharing what he is doing14and behaviorally. Each person had a unique little15to tell about Matthew. Stories that show that they really know who Matthew is and that they16 him.

    In fact just today I had written a note in his communication book that it was 17

    Matthew to see new snow and not be able to play in it. Later in the day I got an email and a picture of Matthew18 with snow in a big container inside the school.

    As I was reflecting on this, I realized that as a family we are really lucky 19school isn't the only place where they think of him as “our Matthew”. It 20 to other parts of our lives as well — our friends, our family, our neighborhood, and our church.

    It had been a long time since I had been to Jacksonville, Florida. I had driven to town 1to find the old barber shop where my hair had been cut as a child. As I 2around, I was a little disappointed to see the old buildings had been3with new high-rise ones.

    After walking about a block I saw an open shoe store. Wondering whether I could get the 41walked in. As I stood talking to the salesman, the front door opened and a young man about twenty came into the store in a 5 “I need a new pair of shoes,” said the6As he turned the corner, I was 7to see that the young man had no legs.

    Seeing us 8 the young man said, “When I was a 9my parents used to buy me a new pair of shoes every year. That was such a wonderful feeling—10I have never forgotten.”

    Soon the salesman came with a large box. He put it down on the floor, took out a boot and handed it to the young man. Placing the boot 11his nose, the boy closed both eyes, and took a large breath. I did not know what to say as tears began to roll down his 12.

    Suddenly we heard the salesman shouting to an old man 13who looked in the window from time to time. The young man looked at the old man and then turned to me. “Would you walk out and see what14that fellow wears?” he 15.

    Wondering why, I 16walked to the front door, opened it and asked the old man to17“What size shoes do you wear?” the boy asked the man. “I don't know,” he replied, as he18his old tennis shoes. “I would say nine and a half,” I suggested. “What's your19hiking boot in nine and a half?” the boy asked the salesman. Within a minute. The salesman returned with a pair of hiking boots. The boy 20out, took the boot, placed it to his nose and took a large breath. Once again, tears came to his eyes. “Sir, would you mind trying on these boots?” the boy asked the old fellow.

     My husband and I insisted that our children were old enough to clean their rooms and make their beds. But they thought 1. My complaints, even self-justified shouting, were always landing on 2 ears.  Very often a whole hour's scolding would end with their 3 into tears, I felt very frustrated (沮丧的).I realized I needed to 4 my method of "mothering".

     One day when they were at school, I spent some time 5 their rooms. On their desks, in plain 6, I left the cards: " Bill (the other card was 7 to Sarah), your room was messy this morning and I'm sure you like it clean. Love, the Room Fairy." 8 arriving back, the children were 9 excited to receive the little note from the Room Fairy. The next day, their rooms were fairly tidy. Sure enough, there was another note from the Room Fairy 10 for them, thanking them for their nice "gift" of a clean room and 11 asking them to play a certain violin 12. Each day, thank--you notes would be written differently to keep the ideas 13.

     Sometimes the Room Fairy would propose a little 14: "If you can finish your homework and 15 your lessons before dinner, I'd like to watch a particular television program with you tonight." Sometimes some colored markers or other little items would be left in 16 of well done jobs the day17.

     18 I can't remember how long "the Room Fairy" continued leaving her love notes. When they were age appropriate, we used various versions of Post-Its(贴条). The bathroom mirror became the 19 centre of our home. Appointments, notices about visiting relatives, lesson schedules, and changes in plans could be posted.

     We all benefited from and 20the idea of sharing reminders and daily details of life through notes. I believe the true advantage of the Room Fairy notes survives in our frequent and enjoyable communication.

    Devon Gallagher, a college graduate from Philadelphia, wants the world to know where she's been during her great worldwide vacation in a(n) 1way.

    The traveler, who was 2 with a bone disease, had her right leg 3 at the age of four. 4 the amputation (截肢) caused hardships for Gallagher early on, she, at the age of 22 now,5 it as an inspiration for making the 6 of her life.

    To spread that7, Gallagher has 8 to social media, 9 she shares photos of her travels across the world, but instead of 10 using a geotag (地理标签), she draws her location across her artificial leg before taking a picture.

    Now she has been taking pictures 11 Europe. "I get a new leg every two years and I can choose the design on it. One day I had a sudden 12 that my new leg could be used as a blackboard," Gallagher said. "My mum and grandmother weren't too 13 the idea, but my friends thought it was great and told me to go for it, so I did."

    Gallagher said people often stare when she's 14 on her leg, but once she shares the photos, she 15 only praise and encouragement. "My leg hasn't 16 me from doing anything I've wanted to do," she said. "I don't know 17 it is my determination to prove to myself that I can do it, but anyhow, I've been able to 18 up with my peers and lead a pretty great life."

    Gallagher shows us that you should never let anything stand in the 19 of your dream. And if you meet with an obstacle (障碍), get 20 with it— if life gives you an artificial leg, make art.

    A woman professor walked around in a classroom while she was teaching stress management to her students. As she 1 a glass of water, everyone 2 they would be asked the "half-empty or half-full" question.

    3, with a smile on her face, she asked, "How 4 is this glass of water?"

    Answers called out 5 from eight to twenty ounces (盎司).

    She quieted the students down and then replied, "The absolute weight doesn't 6. It all depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a 7. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my 8. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel 9 and paralyzed. In each case, the 10 of the glass of water doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes. Do you know why?"

    All the students kept silent and listened carefully, lost in thought.

    She continued, "our 11 and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and 12 happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to 13. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed— 14 to do anything."

    It's important to remember to 15 your stresses. As early in the evening as possible, put all your 16 down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!

    More often than not life gets terrible 17 we think too much. And the moment you remove your burden, you'll find yourself feeling so much more 18.

    So rather than moping around and feeling sorry for yourself, 19 doing something about it. After all, life is too short to 20 yourself to anything that's not making you happy.

    When we finished eating, I quickly grabbed (抓住)the check and 1 to pay. Before I could get to the counter(结账处)a man 2 me over to his table, saying "I know you saw 3 at you and I'm sorry if it made you4. It's just because you look like my old classmate 40 years ago." Then he asked if we would be with them for a few minutes.5, Danielle and I sat down. We talked for about 10-15 minutes and then I 6 I had something 7 to do. As I stood up to leave, the man 8 across the table and took my 9 out of my hand. Before I could explain, he said "I would really like to 10 this meal for you." He continued," The only thing I ask 11 is that some day when you can help others, please pass on the 12."

    As I walked to my car 13 what just happened, Danielle started jumping up and down with 14 , saying, "Mama, now we can get a Christmas tree!" 15 , we bought a Christmas tree for $8.97, which I still have today. I never put an angel (天使)on the top because it has a 16 one! Although I never met that man again 17 the years, there's hardly a day that goes by that I don't think of his 18 .He was right. I have been able to pass it on. I became a speaker and passed on his 19 to as many people as I could reach.

    Whether he's divine (神圣的)or not doesn't 20. I still think of him as a guardian angel.