�Some of the highlights of the holiday season are the times that a family spends together.� These special occasions� can be divided into three parts: planning and looking forward to them, enjoying the actual events and, finally, looking back on them with pleasant memories.� Many families, feeling blessed to have each other, find ways of sharing their good fortune with others.� While working within their budgets, these families do a variety of generous things to spread goodwill and holiday spirit to others.�
�Some of the gracious gestures and activities that you might plan for your family group and perhaps some friends, are:
 | �Take your group, armed with song books to a neighborhood senior residence for a caroling party.�Pass out song sheets to the audience so that they, too, can join in. Bring light refreshments�like punch and cookies to build the event into a cheery holiday happening. (See our Free Stuff Page for a free downloadable Caroling Party Book) |
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�If you have a garage sale-goin� family, spend time and a few dollars throughout the year to search out nearly new toys and games.� During the holidays make a festivity out of gathering to spruce up the items so that they look new.� According to the requirements of your local toy drive, wrap and label the gifts and deliver them to the drop center. |
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There are organizations that will match your family with another for a holiday sharing concept where your family shops for the other.� Your children select gifts for the �adopted family� children to be delivered with a basket of food for the family�a bountiful holiday celebration. |
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�Another family time and talent sharing option is help the residents of a senior center� with holiday card addressing, gift wrapping, along with other errands that will make� their holiday season complete. |
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����� Families enjoy helping at a holiday meal given for the homeless at a church or shelter.� Taking this time out of their comfortable day, adds meaning and contemplation to it. |
�Every family or neighborhood has a member or two that are distant for some reason.� When planning a family �giving and sharing� project consider that you might have worthy recipients within your family or circle of friends.� These �close-to-home� gestures are best if they are made in a low-key, if not anonymous way.
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