I work in Silicon Valley. My bike ride to work is the most ____ part of my day. It is my time to think and get some fresh air before getting into my busy_____

Last winter, my dad ____ and that peacefulness was gone. His death took all of us by surprise. He was a Kansas farmer, vigorous and dedicated to the land. He farmed until his heart gave out.

I missed Dad much. I was in my forties. His death made me_____ how I should spend my remaining life. I wanted to make a difference, and many questions were wandering in my mind. Dad wasn't ___   by such uncertainty. He was ____ and loved us kids, which put us to work. His ____ were high. “Is that the best you can do?” he’d ask ____. It wasn’t criticism, but it always made us want to do better.

Life on the farm was ___   before I was ten years old. I rode my dirt bike wandering the fields happily. When I was 12, I started driving tractors. Other kids of my age ___   summer days by the pool while I plowed fields in the hot sun.

Dad never ____ me to do anything. He led by _____ He did what he said he was going to do. He didn’t look for a new ____ in life. He knew what was important, and ____ it.

I smiled. The more I ____ about it, the more clearly I knew the answer to my question. Dad had been showing me that ____ in my entire life. The externals—this job, that job— ____ less than living with integrity(正直). I didn’t have to change the world but be myself.

Businesspeople talk a lot about ____. The most influential leader in my life was my dad. He was leading me, even after his death. His ____ were part of everything I did—instructing employees, coaching my son’s Little League team, writing songs with my daughter. From now on, I would make those values more ____ to my life.

My kids and I were heading into the supermarket over the weekend. On the way, we found a man holding a piece of paper saying, “_________ my job. Family to Feed.”

At this store, a sight like this is not normal. My 10-year-old noticed him and made a comment on how _________ it must be to have to stand outside in the cold wind.

In the store, I asked each of my kids to _________ something they thought our “friend” there would appreciate. They got apples, a sandwich and a bottle of juice. Then my 17-year-old suggested giving him a _________. I thought about it. We were low on cash ourselves, but sometimes _________ from our need is just what we need to do! All the kids declared something they could do away with for the week.

When we handed him the bag of _________, he lit up and thanked us with _________ eyes. When I handed him the gift card, saying he could use it for whatever his family might need, he burst into tears.

This has been a wonderful _________ for our family. For days the kids have been looking for others we can _________! Stepping out not only helped a brother in __________, it also gave my kids the sweet taste of helping others. It’ll go a long way with them.

My husband Val and I had not been getting along well lately. We didn’t argue, but we hardly _______. I knew that one _______ was that I often scolded him. Unluckily, I looked only at his fault(缺点)and forgot to notice how _______ he had done in everything.

I really didn’t want to be _______ talking too much, but it seemed as if I couldn’t _______. However, I made up my mind to have a _______. Could I ?

I decided to try. Each day I would find one thing I liked in _______ and mentioned it to him.

The first day, again, appeared the greatest problem. I noticed _______ things I didn’t like about Val. Why did he leave his books everywhere in his study instead of putting them _______?

How could he wear that ____________shirt again? And I had a difficult time ____________with anything good I could mention.

I thought and thought. ____________ he was good sometimes. When something needed repairing around the house, Val ____________until he discovered what was wrong. ____________ , I told Val I was glad he was patient ____________my fault and said something about the way I often scolded him. He smiled,a small, weak smile ____________ made me angry, “Maybe this isn’t going to work.” I said to myself. But as three weeks continued, finding something good about my husband came more ____________ . He deals honestly with everyone; he treats our children with ____________. Why had I seen so many unpleasant things?

By the end of the 21 days, I couldn’t believe how easy ____________ had become to praise Val. And Val did seem ____________. In fact, he mentioned that I seemed to have changed a lot.