My grandparents actively practiced simplicity. They both grew up in very large families and _______ the Great Depression. Saving for a rainy day was their life philosophy. They chose to spend really _______ life together with their family rather than seeking _______ through material items.

Over the years my grandparents have noticed _______ changes in their community. Every year more farmland was _______ to build larger and larger homes. As real estate(地产) prices rose, many of their neighbors _______ their little homes and land. Soon theirs was _______ little house surrounded by the sea of mansions(大厦). Lots of family members _______ my grandparents to expand their little old house. But they didn’t want a bigger one. They loved their little house and were _______ with what they had.

My grandparents ________ consumptive(消费的) lifestyle by painting and repairing the house themselves. They lived in a little home, but had a huge ________. They loved and enjoyed planting ________ it greatly improved their health, ________ their grocery bill, and gave them a（n）________ to be outside. They also ________ everything. For instance, they had driven the same car for over 15 years and didn’t buy a new one until the old Chevrolet was ________.

Through their example, I learned an important ________: it is possible to live a simple life. My grandparents taught me that living simple life isn’t about self-deprivation(自我牺牲). ________, it’s about giving yourself the time, freedom and money to pursue(追求) your dreams. Becoming debt free, living in a ________ building and going out on foot are good ways to ________ your life and start pursuing your dreams.

Mother Tongue

My mother and I are making spring rolls in the kitchen. This is my _______ treat from her native Vietnam，and we've been making them together since I was a child. As she works，she sings a song in Vietnamese. _______，I don't understand a word.

The song _______ me of another one she used to sing when I was a child. I _______ her to sing it over and over，but I never asked her what the words meant.

As a young bride，my mother was _______ to become an American. She listened to the Bee Gees and Blondie. She made fried chicken and pie alongside spring rolls. Besides，she _______ that we should speak only English at home. At that time，I didn't realize that，in her _______ for being a good American，she was depriving（剥夺）me of a（n）_______ to learn Vietnamese.

As a child，I didn't _______ to know my mother better. She took care of me，and that was all. As an adult，I can't ________ her well enough. Relying on her still ________ accented English，my mother often seems to summarize her thoughts，________ those things that are too difficult to say. When I ask her why she didn't speak Vietnamese to me when I was young，she says，“Why ________？You're American！”

Yes，but I am also half-Vietnamese. Without the language，I am ________ aware that I am only half.

Lately，I've been asking my mother to ________ phrases into Vietnamese so I can try to keep some of them in my ________. I can now order three or four ________ when we eat at Vietnamese restaurants. I can say“thank you”to the waiter. But that's it. I still don't know how to express“I love you”in Vietnamese，or that other thing we all want to say to our parents but is too ________ to say，which is“Don't ever leave me”.

Back in the kitchen，our first spring rolls are done.“Count them，”my mother ________，“so I know how many more to make.”

I shake my head.“Can you do it?”I ask,“In Vietnamese?”

She smiles and adds that. With that, we are ________ where we began.

My grandma and I shared an amazing relationship as uncommon as the double rainbow. When I was ten, we started our first _______ during World War II. We sowed seeds (播种) together —in the soil and in _______.

We planted beans, corn, watermelon and flowers. I must _______ that I rode twenty miles each Saturday more for the conversation with grandma and the homemade cookies than for the_______. But however full I was after I ate, I was always left _______ for more of the wisdom and optimism she _______ with me.

I’ll never forget the day when we tasted our first harvest as a result of _______ a plum (李子) tree with an apricot (杏子) tree. The ripe fruit was pink, not purple like a plum, nor orange like an apricot, _______ a mixture of both. “Granny, will they be any good?” I asked. “_______!” she said, “Didn’t we do all that was needed?”

Sure enough, they were ________. “That’s because they are special, ________ any other fruit you’ve ever eaten. They are plumcots!” she said __________ as we ate most of what we had________, “You always get out what you ________. Sow apple seeds and you get apple trees; sow weeds and you will ________ weeds; sow the seeds of great ideas and you will get great________,” she said softly, looking directly into my eyes.

From my grandma, I learned the seeds of ________ are neither unusual genes, nor are they________ on the high IQ, the skin-deep beauty, the race, or the family background. The seeds of greatness are attitudes and beliefs that begin in children by observing and learning the lifestyle of role models and heroes.

“Shape your ________ and actions after people who are enthusiastic, excellent, honest, ________ and creative in their service to others.” Armed with my grandma’s words, I set out bravely, sowing and then harvesting my own great life stories.