Shanghai Sky at Sunset

These past few weeks, it's felt like we've been living in a different country. I mean, the sky has looked like the above picture almost every day!! It's amazing how much more uplifted I feel when the sky is blue, and how the city and everything else seems cleaner and happier. They say because there is an upcoming G20 Summit in Hangzhou in September, 225 factories have been closed to ensure clean air for the visitors. Another 150 factories in Shanghai have reportedly been closed or moved to make sure that visitors to the new DisneyLand have blue sky for their time at the fairytale haven. After all, fairy tales don't have gray skies, right? Whatever the cause is, I am just so completely grateful. This is the sky Shanghai is capable of without excess pollution. Let's hope it stays!

With clear skies during the day, we have also been able to see beautiful sunsets at night! The sun does set in Shanghai... And living on the 14th floor allows us to see it above the buildings!

 View from our kitchen window. My new favorite time to do dishes is right after supper... to watch the sky is a treat!

 The best view is from our washing machine balcony, but if I lean forward every now and then at the sink, I catch glimpses of the sun's beauty.

 Every now and then I stop to think about how MANY people live in buildings in view of our place. And this is just what we can see from one of our windows. We are surrounded with people. People who need the Lord.

 And right now, His majesty is on display every night in the heavens.

 Sometimes bright, sometimes muter tones... Always beautiful.

 Sometimes we go outside to the playground as the sun sets. You can't see it as clearly down there, but the winds kick in for a refreshing evening breeze, and from the playground you can see the sky definitely painted, by a Master Hand.

 One night when when Ellie had to go to bed early (not long enough nap earlier!) I biked with Dassah to campus for a twilight mommy-daughter time. I didn't have my camera, so had to use my phone and try to capture the beautiful dark night blue.

She wanted to go to the lighted up gazebo - a truly beautiful site against a darkening sky. We sat and talked and did one of the games ("round and round teh gazebo") that we used to do before I had another baby!

 It was a truly beautiful night to be out... We stayed out a little longer than usual but bedtime could be pushed back a little later for sights like these! ;)

"The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."

"Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world."

Psalm 19:1-4