The day started out as many others before. I was always in a rush, always trying to ________ too much in a day’s time. It seemed as though the kids were________ underfoot.

Many times I heard that these were the ________ days, that I should cherish the ________. I couldn’t see it, though. I was________ by the long list of things to do.

A warm morning, I took the kids outside and started________ the flower beds as Emily and Logan played nearby. I was ________ to have a moment to myself while the kids were occupied.

It wasn’t long before I________ that the two of them were sitting beneath a small tree in the backyard, looking up into the ________ and singing a song. We had dubbed (把…称为) it“The Emily Tree” simply because it had been ________ when Emily was a baby.

Days and________ had passed, and Emily had grown ________ as well. She had turned into a bright and curious child who was always eager to learn and ________ and help her little brother Logan do the same.

________ got the best of me, and I headed over to ask why they were sitting there, apprently________ to the tiny tree.

Logan only________, but Emily told me softy in her matter-of-fact little ________, “You have to spend time with something if you want it to ________ nice and strong. ”She turned to finish her song.

Well, the weeds didn’t get pulled that day. ________, I went into the house, gathered a blanket and a picnic lunch, and________ my daughter and son under the Emily Tree.

As a teenager, I didn’t get along well with my mother before. She _______ every aspect of my life, leaving me unable to have my _______ space.

About two years ago, I had a _______ with her. I just couldn’t control my bad temper that day. I said something _______ to mum. Mum was hurt, but she went away without saying anything.

When I was _______ at home. I started to recall the happy time we spent together and realized that I should _______. But when I saw mum, the _______moments pushed all the thoughts of saying sorry out of my head. I came back to my bedroom, feeling upset. That night I didn’t’_______ well.

The next day, I got up earlier than usual. And I _______a letter beside my bed. It was mum! In this letter, mum ________ how she loved me and how she worried about me. The ________ of mum’s love raced through my mind when I read it. I couldn’t help crying out. I went out of the bedroom and saw mum standing there ________ me.

“I am sorry, mum, Please ________me!” I said with a guilty conscience (愧疚感). Then I saw tears of ________ coming into mum’s eyes. We embraced (拥抱) emotionally. That moment was totally  in my ________forever.

From then on, ________ there is argument between us, we will write our feelings and thoughts to each other. Then we can ________ and soon get on well.

By telling my story, I just want ________ people to know that if you have problems with you parents, try to find the ________. Never think that you have nothing to talk with them. They are the persons who always love you and stand ________ you! Maybe they’ve hurt you before, probably just because they didn’t know how to express love.

The family had just moved. The young woman was feeling a little upset. It was Mother’s Day – and 800 miles separated her from her parents.

She had called them that morning, and her mother had mentioned how colorful their backyard was because spring had arrived. Later, she told her husband how she ______ those lilacs (丁香花) in her parents’ yard. “I know where we can find some,” he said. “Get the _______ and come on.” So off they went.

Some time later, they stopped at a hill and there were lilacs all round. The young woman rushed up to the nearest ______ and buried her face in the flowers. Carefully, she _______ some. Finally, they returned to their car for the _______ home. The woman sat smiling, surrounded by her ________.

When they were near home, she shouted “Stop,” got out quickly and _______ to a nearby nursing home. She went to the end of the porch (门廊), where a(n) _______ patient was sitting in her wheelchair, and put the flowers into her lap. The two _______, bursting into laughter now and then. Later the young woman turned and ran back to her ________. As the car pulled away, the woman in the wheelchair ______ with a smile, and held the lilacs tightly.

“Mom,” the kids asked, “_______ did you give her our flowers?” “It is Mother’s Day, and she seems so ______ while I have all of you. And anyone would be _______ by flowers.”

This satisfied the kids, but not the husband. The next day he grew some young lilacs around their yard.

I was the husband. Now, every May, our yard is full of lilacs. Every Mother’s Day our kids _______ purple lilacs. And every year I remember that smile of the lonely old woman. And that has become a lasting touching memory of my life.