WHY “Trees of Hope?” Read about our daughter to find out….

Our little girl, Laurelle Esperanza, turned four a few weeks ago! Having two older brothers and one younger brother, she got stuck in the middle and has changed our lives. Princess power!

2017 My baby girl and I!

What is this princess power you may ask? Let’s start from the beginning: when she was born I literally saw and felt myself in her. I have heard others say, “Newborns are newborns,” or “Babies are babies,” but it was a unique experience from the get-go to have a girl in my arms this time around. As Laurelle grew she also began to resemble me more physically. My dad has commented to me, “You’re back” when looking at Laurelle. How cool, right?!

Being a girl myself, and a mother to my children, I have discovered a plethora of new things when raising BOYS. Boys operate and think differently in various ways, so it has been a world of learning! When God gave us our little princess, I was excited to re-live some of my own childhood by watching the world through her girly eyes.

Now, my sweet little girl has spunk and attitude, don’t get me wrong! She started her temper tantrums before turning one, and has always had strong opinions about her likes and dislikes. Around age two Laurelle was serving her older siblings food and water at the table with no instruction from me. She was imitating what I do, and identifying herself with my role in life: to care for and nurture others.

For awhile Laurelle tagged along to whatever her brothers were playing: cars and trucks, superheros, blocks, trains, nerf wars, etc. This year a turn of events has taken place: now Laurelle is leading much of the play and activities. All the boys flock to her cotton candy-colored room to play dollies and Barbies! The spirit of nurturing is in her very strongly, and it attracts even the “boyest of boys.”

When I am worried or sad, my little princess is the first to notice, give me a hug and boldly speak without hesitation that she loves me. Her feelings and love are more easily expressed and felt. Saying “I love you” and having compassion is something I am continually trying to model, teach and instill in my children. My boys seem to need prodding to do it, whereas Laurelle possesses those qualities and habits naturally. She ignites in my boys the reminder to care, share, and to be affectionate because everyone benefits from hugs throughout the day!

Daddy’s little girl

Raising her will require perhaps more tender moments together and sensitivity to her heart. She is fragile, and as I know being a woman, will probably need to be reassured of her identity and security. Her daddy has a very key role in her life, as studies have shown that the sense of self-worth for women primarily comes from their fathers or a close male role model (and conversely boys are deeply impacted and affirmed by their mothers). Read this great article on How Fathers Affect Their Daughters written a few years ago by the Institute for Family Studies.



Laurelle is definitely attached to me as her mommy, and I remember being the same way at her age. She whispers throughout the day, “Mommy, I want a special time with just you and me to go and buy donuts.” We try to take the kids out individually on occasion so they do have that “special time” with mommy or daddy’s full attention.

Knowing one day she will be looking for attention from another man is strange to ponder! I remember vividly when I met my husband I initially felt a bittersweet sense of farewell to my single self as my parents’ daughter. The same will happen to her, in God’s perfect timing.

Every night when I tuck Laurelle into bed, I pray aloud that God would provide her Prince Charming one day to take care of her to which she ademantly replies, “NO!” Then I finish my prayer by saying, “Or, allow her to live with mommy and daddy forever” and Laurelle confidently responds, “YES!” She’s not ready to let go just yet. 

So, why “TREES of HOPE?” It was important to my husband and I to choose names for our children that had significant meanings. Our daughter’s name is Laurelle Esperanza. Her first name was inspired by my mother-in-law’s name Laura, who passed away from cancer in 2001. Although I never got the chance to meet her here on earth, I know I will in heaven; she radiated Christ boldly to all who knew her. The meaning of Laurelle comes from laurel which is a type of small tree found in the southern United States as well as in other countries. Esperanza means hope in Spanish, so put them together and you have TREE OF HOPE. She is a little tree of hope, that is what I pray God would always use her to be. Now you know one unforgettable reason I chose to put that as the title and address for my blog! My mom’s name is Hope, and mine is Krystal Hope, meaning PURE HOPE. Hope is a life-line for all of us; when the tunnel seems so bleak but that one glimmer of light is there, we know God is revealing just enough HOPE to make it through.

I heard one of the most simple yet impressive testimonies of a young mother given on the radio today. She was in the middle of a drive-thru line and before she continued moving her car up to the window to pay, she reached back to give her child a toy that had fallen to the ground. Fanatically a car behind her started beeping their horn, not wanting to wait a second longer. Instead of just forgiving the impatient person and continuing on with her day, she was compelled to LOVE; she paid twice: once for her food and a second time for the car behind. A TREE OF HOPE to hurting people, those who need to BE LOVED the MOST(and also the hardest to love)! What an example to follow, and for her children to witness.

One of my favorite verses that spoke to me as a young woman growing up that I look forward to reading to Laurelle:

God, thank you for my princess. Use me to influence her in a special way for she is ultimately your daughter and priceless treasure. Girls can be sweet and kind as well as overly sensitive and insecure. I pray that YOUR security would fill her, as a reminder that in YOU her worth is immeasurable. USE HER to be a tree emanating beauty and HOPE from above for the WORLD to behold! WE ALL CAN BE TREES OF HOPE, dear ones!