Beth Sanchez of Beth's Cakes - OKIE Magazine

it restrictive to follow any rules
that Sanchez set forth, chose to
move in with their mother, a much
less “controlling” parent, given her
condition.
Sanchez was left alone,
working three jobs. “I worked
at a gas station, Golden Corral,
and for an insurance company,”
Sanchez recalls.
Even though she had little time
for herself, she soon found herself
in a relationship with a man who
was a drug dealer. This two-year
relationship resulted
in Sanchez abusing
drugs including
meth, cocaine,
LSD, marijuana,
mushrooms, and
“whatever was
available.”
When that
relationship ended,
Sanchez was at a
crossroads. She was
21-years-old, abusing
illegal substances,
and had no clear
direction. Being a
victim of circumstance
became a strange
blessing, Sanchez
recalls, explaining,
“When we broke up,
I realized it was hard
dating a dealer.
Realizing her dilemma, and
taking an hard look at her own life,
drug abuse had on her mother,
she made a conscious decision
to get clean and make an attempt
moved to Norman, Oklahoma. “I
had some friends there, and it
was closer to Purcell, where my
Grammy lived,” Sanchez stated.
“Grammy”, her mom’s mom,
had been a staple in her life
since she was little, and Sanchez
considered her one of the few
stable elements in her life.
Now twenty-two, Sanchez
dedicated herself to rebuilding
her life, working as many hours
as she could, waiting on tables at
a restaurant called the Country
Favorites. “Life’s about choices,”
she says, “and I chose to work my
Choosing to work so
much gave Sanchez some
independence, which helped
She had re-established her
relationship with her mother, and
still maintained a connection
The Sanchez Girls: Lilli, Gwyneth,
Emma and Selma.
to her father, although he had
remarried, had additional children,
and was concentrating on his new
life.
Being in a relationship was not
something Sanchez considered a
priority in her life at that time, but
all of that changed when she had
lunch with her mother one day at
an Italian restaurant.
During a conversation with
her mother, she found herself
stopping mid-sentence to say,
“That is the most handsome man
I have ever seen,” referring to one
of the waiters at the restaurant.
Her mother, turning to look at the
man, said, “You’re right.”
His name was Michael
Sanchez, and while it would be
weeks before he and Beth had
a conversation that involved
anything other than “I’ll have
water,” they continued to see
each other at the restaurant, a
favorite hangout for Beth and her
friends. Eventually, a friendship
developed, and it evolved into a
romantic relationship, and they
were married.
Michael’s job
transferred him to
Lawton, Oklahoma,
and since 2000
he and Beth have
made it their home.
Their lives have
changed since they
times, to be exact.
Lilli, 12, Manny, 11,
Emma, 9, Gwyneth,
8, Selma, 6, Nesta,
3, and the newest
addition, Rocco, 18
months, make up
the Sanchez family.
Having seven
children under one
roof, all pre-teens,
can be challenging,
to say the least.
But Beth Sanchez
is no stranger to challenges.
Between caring for the children,
homeschooling them, and taking
care of the home, there was little
time for any thought of a career
for her, or even a job outside the
home, even though having a large
Her desire to be a part of the
solution, a trait she had acquired
through necessity since she was
young, kept her seeking for any
opportunity which would allow her
to help. She never imagined it
would involve ovens and spatulas.
was a grilled cheese sandwich,”
Sanchez recalls, “and I never
even owned an ‘Easy Bake
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