Last evening I stood shivering in the brisk wind

as I watched my grandson Jacob's soccer game. Though uncomfortably chilly, I remembered to thank God for the blessing of having several of my grandchildren living close by. For many years, they all lived away and we never had the privilege of enjoying events like soccer games and Christmas programs. That's all changed now and Jerry and I are thankful for the joy of sharing more of their lives.

This past summer we had nine, that's right nine, of our grand kids at our house for a weekend sleepover. It was awesome. I took the older ones to a concert at a nearby church while Grandpa Jerry watched the four little ones. He hadn't done that by himself before, but they had a great time. He took them out in the yard to look for bugs. They played ball and watched a movie. He said, "It was perpetual motion." I was just glad that when we got home the house was still standing and no one was missing. The five older kids and I enjoyed the concert. However, mostly it was just great to hang out together. Ah...Except when I found the rubber spider Eli had planted in my purse.

The next morning Jerry made pancakes for everyone.

That's a lot of pancakes! The kids loved it, but I really wouldn't recommend it. I found sticky residue and finger prints on everything from the patio door to the potty lid, to the kitchen cabinets. I'm still finding them.

Yes, when the visit was over you definitely knew the kids had been here, and the house wasn't perfect. But who cares? Every time I'd feel a sticky door knob or see another finger print, I'd think of the little hand that left it and I would stop and give thanks for these precious children. I didn't mind these sticky reminders, though I do like a tidy home.

I've never been a great housekeeper. I'm not what you'd call a neat freak. At any given time, if you look for them, you will find dust bunnies. However, I don't like clutter. I'm forever picking up after my husband, who is not bothered a bit by clutter, and I'm constantly fighting the battle of the paper. I can't stand stacks of mail, catalogs, or magazines in my line of vision. It annoys me and steals my peace of mind. I've tried to figure out why this stuff bothers me so much, and I think it's about control. I like to control my environment. Having nine children over at the same time is a good way for me to learn that I can't always control my environment. I've also learned that I cannot control the unexpected twists and turns of life.

I have written several articles and blogs lately about disappointment and how we react to trials and challenges. I think I'm on a roll with this topic because of the unexpected developments in my life the past couple of years. I'm taking a journey through uncharted territory, and I'm trying to respond with faith and trust. I'm trying to give up control.

I challenge you to walk this journey of trust with me-because life does get sticky. However, just like the fingerprints left by my grandkids, the messy parts of life often hide the greatest blessings. True joy doesn't come through perfection, or predictable routines, or a neat and tidy life. It comes when we truly believe that all things work together for our good if we love God-and when we know for sure that we can trust the Lord, no matter what.

So give up control. There's great freedom when you can accept and even embrace the messy situations that come along. Live in the moment, and most importantly, don't overlook the hidden blessings in small things-a soccer game on a chilly evening, a silly, romantic email from your husband or wife, a stunning butterfly,

or a sticky knob made by a tiny hand.