For those who are new around here...this is our story!
Four years ago, I sat down to write the story of how Andy and I came to own a little piece of downtown Breckenridge, Texas. At the time, we had no idea just how much God would do with that little dream.
Andy and I have always loved renovating spaces, and we’re constantly on the lookout for our next “project.” For years, I had dreamed of owning a boutique, but the timing never seemed quite right. Then, in 2022, everything fell into place. While searching for our next fixer-upper, we were drawn to a historic property in downtown Breckenridge with great bones. Little did we know that the building’s rich history dated back to the early 1900s and that its story would become such a meaningful part of ours.
The building was once home to Mr. Caldwell, a prominent figure in the history of Stephens County. In 1912, he was elected county attorney, later serving as county judge and district judge. In 1917, he and his business partner, Breck Walker, formed the Walker-Caldwell Oil Company, which became highly successful during the Ranger and Breckenridge oil booms. Caldwell and Walker invested much of their time and profits into the future of Breckenridge, helping finance the city’s first water system and bringing three railroads to town. But what captured our hearts most wasn’t simply what Caldwell accomplished—it was the way his faith was woven into his life and his legacy.
As we researched the history of the building and the Caldwell family, we were amazed by the many “connections” God seemed to place in our path. Caldwell was a deacon at First Baptist Church, where Andy now serves as Senior Pastor. His family had ties to Hardin-Simmons University, a place that has also been an important part of our family’s story. He donated land that would eventually become Hendrick Medical Center, where Andy was born. And then we found a quote from Mr. Caldwell that stopped us in our tracks:
“The Lord has been good to me, and any man who fails to take God into his life to rule and guide him is a failure to a very large degree.”
We may have lived nearly a century apart, but I often think Andy and I would have loved sitting down with Mr. Caldwell over a cup of coffee and hearing his stories, learning from his wisdom, and talking about what it means to faithfully invest in the place God has called you.
Today, the Caldwell name may no longer be displayed on the front of our building, but his legacy remains a meaningful part of its story. And four years into this journey, I can say with even more confidence that owning this building was about so much more than opening a boutique.
In March 2022, Abecca Grace became a reality. What started as a dream has grown far beyond anything I could have imagined. We’ve watched God open doors, build relationships, bring an incredible team around us, and allow Abecca Grace to reach women far beyond our little town of Breckenridge. What began inside the walls of one historic building now reaches women all across the country.
But our heart has never changed. Abecca Grace was never meant to simply be a place to buy pretty clothes, gifts, and home goods. We want it to be a place where people feel welcomed, loved, encouraged, and cherished. A place where beauty points to the One who created it. Our greatest desire is still to point people to Jesus—the author of ALL beautiful things.
Four years later, we are more grateful than ever for the opportunity to own a piece of downtown Breckenridge and to invest in the community we love. We’re still dreaming big, still renovating, still creating, and still asking God what He wants to do next. We’ve learned that sometimes God’s timing looks nothing like our timing. And sometimes the dream you’ve carried for years is just the beginning of something far greater than you imagined.
We are incredibly thankful for every customer who has walked through our doors, every shopper who has supported us online, every team member who has helped carry the vision, and every person who has allowed Abecca Grace to become a small part of their story.
Like Caldwell and Walker, we hope to use what God has entrusted to us to invest in the future of Breckenridge and the people He has placed in our path. And above all, we pray that the legacy we leave behind will reach far beyond the walls of this historic building.
Thank you for being part of the Abecca Grace story.
With love,
Ashley Rodgers
Owner, Abecca Grace
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