Mid Autumn Festival

This year, Mid Autumn Festival, also known as Moon Festival, fell on October 3rd. There are many traditions and stories surrounding the festival, some of which you can read about here if you're interested. It is a special time for families to gather together if possible, and also a time to think about those who are far away. For us, that includes our extended family here in the US and also our daughters' birth families in China. We went outside and admired the full moon and talked a little bit about our unique family scattered about the globe. This got me to singing a song from one of our children's CDs. I believe it is actually a combination of two songs. It goes like this:

I see the moon and the moon sees me;
God bless the moon and God bless me.
Please let the light that shines on me,
Shine on the one I love.

It's a simple refrain, but it captures the essence of what was going through my heart and mind as I stood under the full moon with my precious girls. Right now they are too young to ponder these things deeply, but the time will come quickly when they will. Next year, I'd also like to gather some children's books about the moon and Moon Festival to read outside by flashlight. I'd also like to light some colorful lanterns and pray together for all of our special family members. Finally, I'd like it to be a time of thanks to God, who made the moon and all of us under it, and whose glory is unmistakable in the luminous fullness of the harvest moon.

Here are our yummy Mooncakes that we picked up at an Asian market:


And here is the beautiful full moon and our beautiful girls!

This is the best shot we could get with all three kids.

And finally, a Moon Festival poem:

Enjoy your families, everyone!