Sometimes I really doubt whether there is love between my parents. Every day they are very busy trying to _______ in order to pay the high tuition for my brother and me. They don’t act in the _______ ways that I read in books or I see on TV. In their opinion, ―I love you is too _______ for them to say. Sending flowers to each other on Valentine‘s Day is even more out of _______.

One day, my mother was sewing a quilt(缝被子). I sat down beside her. “Mom, I have a question to ask you. Is there _______ between you and Dad?” I asked her in a very low voice. She didn’t answer immediately. She _______ her head and continued to sew the quilt.

I was very worried because I thought I had _______ her. I was _______ and I didn’t know what I should do. But at last I heard my mother say the following words: “Susan,” she said thoughtfully, “Look at this thread. Sometimes it _______, but most of it disappears in the quilt. The thread really makes the quilt ________. If life is a quilt, then love should be a thread. It can hardly be seen ________, but it’s really there. Love is ________.”

I listened carefully but I ________ her until the next spring. At that time, my father suddenly ________ seriously. My mother had to stay with him in the hospital for a month. When they returned from the hospital, they both looked ________. It seemed both of them had had a serious illness. After they were back, every day in the morning and dusk, my mother helped my father ________ on the country road．

“Dad, how are you feeling now?” I asked him one day.

“Susan, don’t ________ me.” he said gently. “To tell you the truth, I just like walking with your mom.”________ his eyes, I know he loves my mother deeply.

Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and ________. But from this experience, I understand that love is just ________ in the quilt of our life. Love is inside, making life strong and warm.

Culture and tradition are the soul of a country. When a country ________ them, it is difficult for it to make ________. Chinese culture can be seen everywhere in China, ________ I did not really understand it in the beginning. Then I realized I had to ________ something in order to understand it.

Last winter I decided to stay at our university to ________ all the activities organized for foreign students to celebrate the Spring Festival.

The ________ began a month ago with the decorating of our rooms with Spring Festival couplets（对联）and new year paintings. On February 10, we ________ an activity to write Spring Festival couplets. When I saw the brush pen, I became ________. Why is there such a pen? How do we use it?

After understanding the tools, we started our creative ________. I tried to hold the brush and start writing ________, but the tip of the pen was too ________ and I couldn't grasp it at all. I was ________ , but I didn't give up. After several ________, I wrote a line of words. At this time, I found that my sleeves were dirtied with ink as I was too focused on practicing. ________, I was very happy, because I felt that I had learned the essence（精髓）of writing calligraphy.

Through this activity, I came to ________ the amazing Chinese culture more.

One day we were on our way to a family event. As we pulled into the local gas station I noticed a woman sitting ______ at a picnic table. It was around 30℃ and she was dressed in a ______ coat and long pants.

As we left the gas station, I told my husband I needed to go home and take care of something first. As we returned to our home, I went and ______ some items. I had just bought a new backpack and I knew it was ______ for her because it ______ her coat.

As I was back into the gas station, I got out of the car with the new backpack full of goodies. I walked up to the woman, ______ myself and asked if it was okay that I sat down with her. I offered her the ______ and she accepted it. She then asked me if I would like to ______ a snack with her, as she had not had anything to ______ today. I agreed and for over an hour and a half I ______ there with her, a proud mother and wife who lost her entire family a few years ago.

She was once a school teacher, but she was unable to mentally return to work after the accident. She told me the reason why she wore that ______ coat-it was the last thing she bought with her daughter. She explained that she sat with her family at that very ______. We shared smiles and ______. This woman helped me to realize that every moment is such a ______ gift and in the blink of an eye, everything can ______. Make sure that you hug your loved ones extra tight today.