last night!

the total lunar eclipse was amazing - totally beautiful and amazing!

i was getting worried at first because when i left work yesterday evening, it was snowing like crazy! so as i walked to my car, i prayed that God would clear the sky and allow us to get a glimpse of His majesty. i mean, what good is a beautiful lunar eclipse if it's hidden behind layers of snow clouds?

so by the time i had gotten home, fed the kitties, cleaned up a little, and cooked up some grub, the impending eclipse began to slip my mind. then i, of course, had to watch the season premiere of Top Model and catch bits and pieces of the top 12 American Idol ladies do their thing, especially since my co-workers swear i look sorta like one of the AI contestants. i had to check her out and make sure it was a compliment and not an insult.

i was lounging around when all of a sudden it hit me that the eclipse was already a few minutes underway! so i ran to my bedroom window to see if it was visible, and surely enough, i was met by a crystal-clear night sky, complete with stars scattered everywhere and not a cloud in sight!! how awesome is God?? VERY, and He proved it once again last night.

i immediately, with my face pressed against the cold window pane, caught a glimpse of the star of the show - Mrs. Moon, already beginning her performance. her first quarter on the left side was already sporting the shadow cast by us earthlings. *SIGH* it was phenomenal!

i threw on some clothes and high-tailed it to the balcony to get a better view, binoculars in hand. the position of my apartment/balcony was PERFECT for viewing it - the moon was right there, smack dab above my head. it was actually very easy to see without the use of the binoculars, but a close up view never hurts. i was proud of my cheap little binoculars i've had since i went to see Phantom of the Opera in Toronto, like 10 years ago. they certainly aren't the real, professional binoculars most people would use at a time like this, but we made it work. they did a great job!

anyhoo, i stood out there marveling at the moon (and freezing my buns off), and thanking God for being so beautiful and magnificent, and for allowing little old me to even get a glimpse of just how creative and marvelous He is.

the total eclipse lasted a good 3 hours, give or take a minute or two. and there was no possible way that i could withstand the frigid temperatures that long. plus, i'd have an awful crick in my neck staring up at the sky for that long. plus plus, the whole process creeps along sloooowly. so i figured i'd catch it in increments. i must have gone in and out of that door 20 times, lol. but each time i went out there, another phase of the eclipse was happening. it was great to watch it all unfold.

at about midnight i was ready for bed and locked up for the last time. so i caught the last portion of the eclipse from my bedroom window. there was just a tiny section of Earth's shadow left on the upper right side of the moon. her show was over - well, for us anyway. it was just beginning for all the sleeping beauties waking up in other parts of the world (like you, Shaz!) :-)

what a night.