Grandma's Wisdom

You all remember the orchid plant that Tyler gave me for Valentine's Day. The most beautiful flower I had ever seen. I researched hard to learn everything I could about how to take care of Orchids. One web site said water them every day, each flower individually, another told me to water once every two weeks. So I stumbled each day to do my best to guess on what I thought the flower needed. Sadly, I failed. In about two months my poor orchid plant had died. I was so bummed, but couldn't bring myself to throw away the plant.

A couple of weeks ago I went to go visit my Grandma. My grandma is so devoted to her garden in her backyard and knows everything a person could imagine about flowers. So I asked her (Yes, I should have asked her sooner), but regardless the time was now, so I said, "Grandma, how do you take care of an orchid?" and what was her answer?

"Oh Sarah, let me tell you something, you cannot kill an orchid. No matter what you do, they are stubborn plants and they are impossible to kill. They just need sunlight and a little water and love and they will last."

Shamefully, I said to her, "Grandma, I think I did the impossible. I killed my orchid." As a Grandma would, just comforted me and told me not to worry, that I would see. She explained that there was no way I had killed an orchid and she just could not believe it. She tried so hard to encourage me, and I appreciated her love but honestly, I was not hopefully about this orchid.

Flash forward to a couple days ago. I walk in my living room, and what do I see. My orchid is blooming again! It has two small little buds, the prettiest buds I've ever seen, and my heart fills with joy. Yesterday one of those buds began to bloom, and let me tell you something, it made me happier that I ever thought a plant could. But maybe the beauty of is it that I thought life (for that little plant) was over, that the worst thing that could happen to this flower, had happened. But somehow God always has a way of showing me that when bad things, things that we don't understand, or things that make us sad, mad, frustrated, or anything, happen,  we just have to be patient, because the beauty is coming.

be still.

The dictionary defines still as: remaining in place or at rest; free from sound or noise; peaceful, tranquil.

Life is busy. We are constantly doing 10,000 things at once. We try to do everything and be everywhere and we end up running ourselves down until we are exhausted. But we forget that we need to take time to be still. To turn off everything around us, and just be at complete rest.

Exodus 14:13 says "Don't be afraid. Just stand still and let the LORD rescue you today."

life goals

Recently somebody reminded me how important it is to have goals. Short term and long term goals. About 7 years ago I fell in love with six people: Monica, Rachel, Pheobe, Joey, Chandler and Ross. No matter the mood, these six people seem to make me laugh, a lot. When the last episode ended, I cried, and I knew I would watch this show forever. And I made a goal, to own all ten seasons.

About 2 years ago I fell in love with a blonde hair, blue (greyish) eyed dream boat. He seem to make me laugh at any given moment as well, and he became my best friend. He's pretty much the greatest person i've ever known, has a huge heart, and is incredibly goofy. He has passion for the Lord like I have never seen, and inspires me every day. I could go on forever about my love, Tyler, but I promise I'll blog about him again.

Back to goals. Tyler is pretty good at helping me achieve my goals, and always encourages me to pursue what my heart is drawn towards. Which is why one day, we will go to Africa. One day. ANYWAY, this birthday season, he helped me achieve another goal, to own all ten seasons of Friends. That's right, I OWN these:

Thanks to this guy:


I did feel it was necessary to express my excitement, because I believe that achieving goals are something that should be shared. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world, not because of my birthday gift, but because of the person who gave them to me. I am so blessed by you every day, Tyler, I love you.

she's my best friend

We all have that person who understands us better then we understand ourselves. That person who has been there through it all, literally, through it all. That person who has laugh, cried, yelled and help our hands through everything. Well, she's my person. Lauren and I met in kindergarden, when we were just 5 years-old. We were born two weeks apart and 5 years later we met, and have been best friends ever since.

Lauren has always been somebody I admire. She is an amazing woman of God and has always represented what is in her heart. She is the girl who has all the witty jokes, usually original ;)  , and the girl who has the biggest heart, ever. She is so friendly and out-going and, well, people adore her. We are pretty much attached at the hip and I couldn't imagine my life without her.

Lauren turned 21 this month, and I was so excited to ring in another birthday with her. I love you, Happy Birthday best friend, you rock rock.

One of those people

We all have those people in our life. You know the ones, the people who make your day a little bit brighter every time you see them. The people who have a joy and love for life that always rubs off on you. The people who you value more then they probably understand.

My dear friend Sarah is one of those people. I met Sarah my freshman year of college and I am so lucky the Lord brought her in to my life. This past weekend we had the opportunity to travel together to California, and coming home I just realized even more how wonderful she is.

She has a huge heart for helping others, children, and diet coke with 1/4 cherry coke. I'd say we are pretty dang similar. Thank you, sister Sarah, for who you are in my life.  Today, just because, I am celebrating you.

spring, and all that comes with it.

April. ahhh springtime. I love April, because well, it is my birthday month, but also because the weather outside is simply beautiful. I love sitting outside in the sun, and watch people go by (in a non-stalkerish way). However the down fall about spring this year is the allergies. I have not been one to have allergies growing up but for some reason this season I can't shake it. The pollen flying everywhere with the wind is not helping my sinuses. In addition to that, my body is trying to stay hydrated however my "dragon like legs" as Tyler called them, are as dry as dry can be and resembling scales.

However I would take dragon legs and runny noses for this weather any day. So today I encourage you, go outside, because it is beautiful. 

21 years young.

21 years. a lot happens in 21 years. and i would say that i have indeed, experienced a lot. today is my twenty-first birthday, and all i can do is sing praises. I can't help but think how lucky I am that the God who created heaven and earth, the sunsets, mountains, flowers...EVERTHING, also decided to create little old sarah elizabeth esparza.

I am have been blessed with so many wonderful people in my life. All people who have changed my life in one way or another. So to all of you, thank you, you touch my heart every day. Last night I had a celebration at midnight, and I can't tell you how loved I felt. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In honor of my growing up-ness. Here's a treat of me in "kinneygarten" as my mom says.

Pretty Girls

They all are beautiful. and they ALL know how to work a camera. Lauren, Lindsey, Ashley, Michelle and Jaymi are 5 wonderful girls that I got the chance to photograph a couple weekends ago. They are all became best friends...it just seemed to work out that their lives intertwined one way or another. Jaymi goes to ASU, while the other for go to U of A, and so when they are reunited it is evident how much they enjoy being around one another. Thank you, girls, for letting me photography a small glimpse of your friendship. I am so lucky to have friends like you!

My brother Ben

Everybody has a hobby. Some people pick up that hobby for simple fun, and some were just destined. I believe that my younger brother was destined for greatness. Ben started golfing when he was just a wee little one, and worked his butt off to achieve the first step in his golf career-to play for a division one school. 


It was not an easy road, it takes hard-work, determination, and a whole bunch of other qualities that I have seen my brother develop over the past (almost) 18 years. My brother is out-going, funny, protective, loving, and a pretty dang good dancer. But I see a lot of Ben's heart when he picks up that golf club. Nothing frustrates him, or brings him more joy than this game. And most of all, Ben knows that this gift he has been given comes from the Lord and plays with his whole heart.


In just a few months, he will graduated from high school and be on his way to play golf for The University of Arizona. Ben will complete the tradition created by our parents, our older sister, me and finally Ben to become a Wildcat. I am so excited to watch him continue to do what he loves, and I can't imagine ever being anywhere where I couldn't follow his dreams with him. I am so proud of you brother, and I promise to always be there cheering you on.

The Importance of Family

Family is one of the things in my life that I cherish the most. I have been blessed with a wonderful family, and I hope that you get to know a little piece of each of them at some point or another. This past weekend I had the change to go to a Women's Retreat at Young Life's Lost Canyon. Lost Canyon is one of my favorite places on earth, and it was so awesome to go up and be surrounded by fellow sisters in Christ.

I got to spend a lot of time with my older sister Stephanie, and our Mom. They are both two of my very best friends, and Mom keeps us both laughing no matter the circumstance. They both have amazing hearts for the Lord and I feel so lucky and blessed to have them as my family.