giving props

in discussing plans for the upcoming holidays, i realized i am thankful to have choices.

we have invitations to be with family or friends and those invitations are wide open - no expectations.

but beyond feeling good about having choices, 

i feel deeply grateful to my parents and my in-laws because:

while they love to see us and spend time together {holidays or not}, neither party holds too tightly to us having to be one place or another for holidays.  

the traditions we have are bound to people, rather than a particular place at a particular time.

i am sure they have preferences.

but we don't feel the pressure.

furthermore, they seem to recognize our family unit's tendency to develop family-like friends and 

are encouraging about our choosing to use our sparse resources to make those regular connections.

i am thankful.

and

in this important regard, 

i feel known.