For most families, the holiday season is the busiest time of year. But it's also the most joyful, filled with all kinds of parties, foods, colors, presents, and music. The months between Halloween and the New Year can be incredibly hectic, especially those days just before the most special holiday, Christmas. By the time Santa's come and gone, many families need a few days or weeks, just to recover from the whirlwind.



But after a few weeks without the parties and colors and music, many of us start to miss the holidays. Winter sets in, with its cold, dark days, and the whole world seems to slow down, as we realize that it's a long wait for the next Christmas season with all of its wonder and fun.

There's no reason, though, to let the calendar dictate when the spirit of Christmas can and can't be a part of our lives. Just because the holidays have ended, we can still keep alive the feelings that were created by the fellowship of our loved ones, and the effort we all put in to giving of ourselves and our resources to others.

It's wonderful that many families donate clothes and toys to their favorite charities before Christmas, to help others who may be less fortunate. But donations drop off in January, as the holiday season ends. It's the perfect time for a family to gather last year's gently-used toys and drop them off at a donation center.

Clothes that have been replaced at Christmas or outgrown are also perfect for a January donation. Families can make January a time for collecting and preparing those toys they won't need any more. They can make the trip to the donation center a real outing, knowing that they are bringing joy, like the joy of the holidays, to someone else's family.

There are many activities, like volunteering, that families engage in throughout the holidays, which are just as rewarding and necessary the rest of the year. Once a family has experienced the joys of giving and gathering at Christmas, there's no reason to let those feelings lie dormant for the rest of the year. The holiday feelings can be year-round feelings.