Happy Moon Festival!

The Moon Festival is a very important holiday in China. It's a celebration that includes the story of a goddess named Chang'e who traveled to the moon and lives there still. Since the moon is a very important part of Chinese culture where their calender is based on the lunar cycles, she is an important figure.

The Moon Festival (or Mid Autumn Festival) is very similar to Thanksgiving in the U.S. as Both holidays revolve around family reunions, food and tradition. Mooncakes (see picture) are eaten with family in the evening outside while watching the moon. If there is family that cannot make the reunion, there is comfort in knowing that on that evening you are looking at the same moon as your loved ones far away. So, tonight when we eat our mooncakes at a local park, I'll look at the moon and think of Buttons' birthparents. Surely they'll be thinking of her and wondering if she is looking at the very same moon. I wish peace for them and I would love to tell them what a wonderful child she is and how lucky we are to be raising her. When I put her to bed, we have a new ritual of giving thanks and I love hearing what she's thankful for which included kitty cats, curtains and her uncle last night. I'm sorry her birth-mom and birth-dad are not able to know these wonderful things about her, but I am selfish enough to be thankful she is with us. On other nights we have both spoken our thanks for the moon. Tonight I will give thanks to the moon and its connection to the people who brought Buttons into the world.

I am also thankful for Buttons' teachers, one of which asked if we celebrated any Chinese holidays and if so, would I mind giving her some ideas for crafts to go along with them. Yeah, what a great teacher, huh? So, I made 16 paper lanterns for her class since bright lanterns are a big part of the festival. Gosh, kids are fun. Don't forget to check out the moon tonight!