ECLIPSE!

We decided to go to Idaho to see the total solar eclipse.  And then as it got closer we wondered if it would really be worth it to drive all the way up there and have Owen miss his first day of kindergarten for it.  We probably would have backed out, except that we had already told Eric's grandparents we were coming to stay with them, and they were excited to see us and we didn't want to disappoint them.  

So we decided to go for it.  BEST DECISION EVER. Seriously.  We can't believe we almost didn't go. We would have missed the most amazing thing we have ever seen in our lives!!  We wish we would have known how cool it was going to be; we would have tried so hard to convince all of our family to go!

There's really no way to describe how incredible the total eclipse was.  You talk about it with people who saw 75% or even 99%, and they are like "oh it was so cool, the leaf shadows and pinhole viewer and the glasses and everything, and it just felt off, the light was so different!  It was awesome!"  And yes, all those things were really fun and cool; we experienced them in the 2 hours while we were waiting for the total eclipse.  But those things are just novelties, like party tricks compared to the majesty and awe we experienced for a minute and a half when the MOON BLOCKED OUT THE SUN.  It was life-changing.  It was almost completely dark, 360 degree twilight.  It was cold.  And the ring of light around the moon was the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen.  The light beads!  Were incredible.  It was just so powerful and inspiring, all you could do was shout in amazement, that's what everyone was doing all around us.

We are going to become chasers.  For real.  Dallas 2024 baby!!

Here are some pics from the day before in Pocatello:

 on the way:

 Good morning from Pocatello, on our way to the totality zone!!! Along with everyone else! Go humans. Go USA lol. This is awesome! #totaleclipseorbust#greatamericaneclipse #chasingthatshadow #darksideofthemoon

 Hanging out at a park in Shelley ID.

 Starting to see the eclipse with our glasses on!

 Emma did not care about the eclipse. haha

 Waiting for the total eclipse! #darksideofthemoon #intheshadow#greatamericaneclipse

 facebook post #3 haha
Okay that was just as amazing as we hoped it would be!!! ABSOLUTELY worth the drive!!The diamond ring effect, the solar flares, the darkness and cold, wow. So spectacular. What an amazing universe God has created! #totalsolareclipse

 And then sadly when we went back to pocatello for lunch before going home, Katelyn was riding a 4 wheeler, hit a tree and got this little cut that needed 5 stitches. :(