The Guesthouse - A Secluded Retreat

10/09/2025

Yes, we love our guests and especially the ones that return time and time again. We are blessed 💕

01/14/2025

This is our backyard!

10/10/2024

Blessing #20 – An Encouraging Word!!!
The number “7” – And, What’s special about seven?

Why am I sharing my blessings? If you don’t know, refer back to December 6, 2023 when I posted my first one with a big explanation and then keep going forward to present for all the rest of them, so far.

I would like to encourage YOU to look for blessings in your life each day. They are there – sometime you just have to look for them until it becomes “habit” looking for them. They can be really large, or extremely small, but they are still a blessing.
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This one was a small one --

It was a very busy Saturday morning at 23rd Street Mall when one of our dealers, I’ll call him Charlie, came up to me and said: “Hey, I’m really enjoying your posts of Blessings and I hope you keep on posting them”. Not 30 minutes went by and a customer, I’ll call him Michael, came in, came to the desk and said: “I am really enjoying your stories of Blessings – keep it up!”

Those were two simple acts of kindness and such a blessing to me!!! I often worried that my stories might not be of any interest to anyone else or not as encouraging as I hope.

However, I have also received comments from friends and customers who see my posts that they are enjoying my stories and to please keep posting.

10/04/2024

We did it again! Thanks to all the wonderful guests who booked with us this year in our Airbnb Guesthouse. They helped us obtain the status of "Super Host" again. If you need a "staycation", have friends or relatives coming to OKC, ask them to check out our Guesthouse listing and book with us.

"The Guesthouse" - A Secluded Retreat

09/29/2024

Blessing #18 – What’s so special about the corner of NW 22nd and Drexel in OKC???

The number “7” – And, What’s special about seven?

Why am I sharing my blessings? I would like to encourage YOU to look for blessings in your life each day. They are there – sometime you just have to look for them until it becomes “habit” looking for them.
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Sometime earlier this year there was a thunderstorm and a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky. Some member of our church snapped a picture of this rainbow right over my church – Northwest Baptist. It really spoke to my heart and memories began flooding my thoughts.

You see, Northwest has been in existence since 1930 – 94 years -- and located on the corner of NW 22 and Drexel since the late 1930’s. I entered the picture in 1946 – yes, I’ve been a member at NW since birth – I tell people: “I was born there”.

Through the years, I have sat under the preaching of NINE pastors: Paul Roberts, Harvey Elledge, Newman McLarry, Charles Tope, Anthony Jordan, Craig Etheredge, Ben Brammer, Matthew Nance and now our current pastor, Rob Lindley since 2018. I didn’t always love each of them, but most were absolutely amazing. The important thing to know is that the pastor is not the church, but it is made up of the loving church family, which truly has become my “family”.

I began to think back when I went to Falls Creek every summer. One summer, our youth group, encouraged by our Youth Pastor, Gary Young, made a historic decision. We had been always setting toward the back, chewing gum, writing notes and talking. We were inspired to move to the very front and began to pay attention to the pastor (after all we were now watched by the entire congregation, our parents and within spittin’ distance of the pastor, who could observe everything going on). That tradition still stands today with our youth group.

On December 4th, 1966, following our Christmas Program “The Hanging of the Green”, shortly after midnight, we heard lots of sirens. We opened our front door at home and directly north three blocks we saw flames that were shooting so high, it seemed they reached the heavens. Our beloved church was on fire. The fire was so large, it was a 4-alarm fire and required 200 firemen and four hours to extinguish. Lost were the Sanctuary, offices & equipment, Fellowship hall, the steeple and all educational space. That was a night I will never forget. But we rebuilt and our theme was “Beauty for Ashes”. It stands beautifully as a beacon of light in our community today.

I have attended the funerals of my daddy, mama, sister and brother there and other loved ones. Also attended happier occasions such as our wedding and the wedding of our son, Matt, and his new bride, Kelly. Now, their three offspring, our Grandchildren, are the FOURTH generation of my family to faithfully attend Northwest -- Now that is a Heritage to be proud of.

Of course, one of the biggest highlights was that Bill and I met at a progressive dinner the singles department had one evening (after his girlfriend could not go with him) and we were married at Northwest three months later.

To me, the rainbow over my church reminds me that God is alive and continues to share His blessings
everyday – His watch care over my church.

09/28/2024

Blessing #17 – While speaking of “Hard Work” – Cheers to 23rd Street Staff!!!

The number “7” -- What’s special about seven?

Why am I sharing my blessings? I would like to encourage YOU to look for blessings in your life each day. They are there – sometime you just have to look for them until it becomes “habit” looking for them.

Bill and I just realized, after being in business 35 years and having worked most of those years -- up until a few years ago, we worked six days a week – BY OURSELVES!! We eventually hired two workers, then four and now we have a staff of six (or seven-my favorite number).

Let me tell you it is a blessing to have a little freedom and flexibility we've never had before -- to just be able to get away for small bits of time -- just Bill and me to have lunch together, take a day off together, get out of town and yes, even attend a funeral together (as you have previously read in past blessings).

Thank you to Mitch, Lois, Angelo, Laura, Katie and Jenny
(and, oh yes - #7 – Maddy).

YOU ALL ARE A TOTAL BLESSING TO US!!!!!

09/28/2024

Blessing #16 – Remember my last post about gas in my car? Well, while we are on the subject of Bill – Afraid of Hard Work?

The number “7” -- What’s special about seven? (Refer back to FB to Blessing #1 - December, 2023)

Why am I sharing my blessings? I would like to encourage YOU to look for blessings in your life each day. They are there – sometime you just have to look for them until it becomes “habit” looking for them.

Are you afraid of hard work?? Well, my Bill isn’t. He grew up in the country milking cows, etc., etc. Just watching him daily going faithfully around working hard is a huge blessing to me.

His work ethic is VERY strong. You might see him all around the neighborhood, our church and our business picking up trash almost everyday. Where in the world does all that trash come from!!!

We thank God every day that we still have the good health and physical ability to do the things He has called us to do.

Just take a small look at what Bill does ALL THE TIME!
“Well done my good and faithful servant"

From helping Owen to learn to mow when he was young... ...to painting & maintaining our "Guesthouse" Airbnb... ..to helping a dear friend in West Texas with his hay bales and feeding his cattle... ..to replacing difficult-to-get-to lights at our 23rd Street Antique Mall.....or faithfully serving welcoming members and first-time guests every week at the “Welcome Center”at Northwest Baptist Church,

Let me know what you think and IF you would like me to continue - Thank You 🥰

08/07/2024

Blessing #15 – Always gas in my car!

I have found that blessings can be such small, intricate details, but they are still blessings, so just keep looking for your blessing today!

Have you ever gone out to your car in a hurry to get somewhere on time….when low and behold you are almost out of gas.

Well, I HAVEN’T.

My husband, Bill, takes such good car of me and makes sure I always get where I’m going without the worry of having to
"fill my tank with gas”.

Well, he actually “fills my tank of love!!!”

Thank you honey!

08/07/2024

Blessing #14 – Light the Sign!

The number “7” -- What’s special about seven?

Why am I sharing my blessings? I would like to encourage YOU to look for blessings in your life each day. They are there – sometime you just have to look for them until it becomes “habit” looking for them.

For quite some time, our neon had not been working on our 23rd Street Antique Sign. The man who helped design and install our sign has long since passed and his son, who also helped, no longer did that kind of work. We contacted numerous sign people but rarely got any kind of response. Actually, months passed.

Finally, we contacted “Metro Sign Corporation”. Bill was amazed the person he actually got to talk to said: “I’ll be right out to take a look at your sign.” What??? Really???

He showed up and within a day he had our sign back beautifully shining for all to see. He was a real blessing to our business.😘 .

Let us know if you have seen our beautiful sign all lit up!

08/07/2024

Blessing #13 - Mother's Day Surprise

I'm back!!! I hope you remember I was posting that my favorite number is #7, that I"m 77 years old and that 2024 is going to be the best year of my life. Life just has a habit of getting in the way and I haven't taken time to continue sharing with you all recently.

So here we go with with another story I pray you will enjoy. Our son, Marke, has the BEST ideas when it comes to Christmas Gifts, Birthday gifts and just gifts in general.

This year for Mother's Day he surprised me with the most fun scooter ride with a sidecar! We went several miles in the evening out and around Lake Overholser and I so enjoyed it.

Thinking back on other Mother's Days, I remember two more times that I actually documented. One was a surprise bike ride where we road the bike trails over to the beautifully wooded area near the Zoo. Another year he had a friend who knew a guy with a "Banana Boat"!!! Yes, we got to ride around town in a BANANA!!!

Didn't I tell you he has the BEST surprises.

07/08/2024

Blessing #12 – “It’s a God Thing”
New Staff Member at 23rd Street Antique Mall –
Katie Gonzales

The number “7” -- What’s special about seven?

Why am I sharing my blessings? I would like to encourage YOU to look for blessings in your life each day. They are there – sometime you just have to look for them until it becomes “habit” looking for them.

The number “7” is my favorite number! Meaning a sense of “fullness” or “completeness”. God created the world in six days & on the seventh He rested!

As a reminder to you, I will explain --

December 6, 2023 was my 77th birthday – and I believe 2024 will be the best year of my life! I have been so blessed by God and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for me this year. I have experienced the peace and joy of God in my 77 years. I am rejoicing in “The Goodness of God!”

It was a busy day on a Thursday in May, as I recall. One of our customers and her husband came wandering in. I knew she worked for a local designer so I asked her “What are you doing here during the day?” She exclaimed – “I quit!”. What????

We have become friends over the many years they have shopped with us and I knew she had a love for “everything old”. Even without asking Bill, and even without asking her husband, Mike, I quickly asked “Would you like to come work with us part-time”. She quickly replied “Yes I would”. So a new chapter of our lives began.

Katie now works four days a week and exclaims almost every time I’m working with her that she LOVES working at 23rd Street Antique Mall and that it’s the best job she has ever had – she loves the staff she works with, loves our dealers and really loves selling to our customers.

We both know it was a “God Thing”. Thank you Lord for such a sweet, encouraging and passionate person you have brought into our lives.
Katie Gonzales

07/08/2024

Blessing #11 – Maddy’s Flute Competition

The number “7” -- What’s special about seven?

Why am I sharing my blessings? I would like to encourage YOU to look for blessings in your life each day. They are there – sometime you just have to look for them until it becomes “habit” looking for them.

The number “7” is my favorite number! Meaning a sense of “fullness” or “completeness”.
God created the world in six days & on the seventh He rested!

As a reminder, I will explain --

December 6, 2023 was my 77th birthday – and I believe it will be the best year of my life! I have been so blessed by God and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for me this year. I have experienced the peace and joy of God in my 77 years. I am rejoicing in “The Goodness of God!”

As you know already, one of my greatest joys are being close to my grandchildren. In April, Maddy, our 15 year old granddaughter competed in Regional Flue Competition and won 1st place. This qualified her to compete in the Oklahoma State Flute Competition @ OSU. She also won 1st place there. I love to see how God has gifted Maddy with the love of music in piano and flute!