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Top Reasons Why You Should Hire a Wedding Planner

1.Wedding Wisdom
Planning a wedding is no easy task, and the number one reason we recommend a wedding planner is for the extensive knowledge that comes with the position. The main roles a wedding planner will take on are decorator, budgeter, coordinator, point of contact, and many more. They are your go to person for any help you need when it comes to choosing your wedding details and dealing with the day of coordination. This is a huge relief for any busy couple as they plan their big day.

2.Educates You on Essential Etiquette Guidelines
Regardless of your wedding style, understanding essential practices is paramount. Entrusting your plans to a seasoned wedding planner will help any couple navigate the intricacies of etiquette while also streamlining your journey. A wedding planner is essential in offering time-saving insights and expert guidance for hosting pre-wedding events and ensuring a flawless wedding day.

3.Choosing the Right Wedding Planner for You
There are a variety of types of wedding planners that you can choose from for your big day! Some planners take the full-service approach overseeing every aspect of your event, including decor, rentals, vendor management, and execution. While other planners specialize in day-of coordination focused solely on ensuring the seamless flow of your wedding day. Couples have the flexibility to choose an option that aligns with the scale of their pre-wedding events and the big day itself.

4.Vendor Selection
A wedding planner can play a crucial role in picking the right vendors for your wedding. Planners offer important insights in vendor style, reliability, professionalism, and can guide you towards the right choice to elevate your celebration while also curating the perfect team for your vision. Planners also typically act as the central point of contact and can help streamline communication between the couple and their vendors. 

5.Budget Manager
A wedding planner serves as a financial maestro, bringing unparalleled value to the intricate dance of budgeting for your special day. With a keen understanding of both your vision and financial constraints, a skilled planner navigates the delicate balance of creating a dream wedding within your budgetary parameters. From negotiating vendor contracts to identifying cost-saving opportunities, they possess the expertise to maximize every dollar, ensuring that your celebration is not only memorable but also financially sensible.

 6.Day of Execution
A Planners role in execution is pivotal, as they meticulously coordinate every detail, manage timelines, and troubleshoot unforeseen challenges with grace. With a wealth of experience, a wedding planner brings a calm and confident hand to the coordination process, guaranteeing that each element falls seamlessly into place on your special day. Entrusting a wedding planner with execution means you can savor every moment, confident that the logistics are expertly managed, allowing you to bask in the joy of your celebration without a worry in the world.

7.Let’s you Savor the Moment
A wedding planner is the guardian of your joy, ensuring that your special day is not only flawlessly executed but also a source of pure enjoyment for the couple. By handling the intricate details and logistics, a skilled wedding planner grants you the precious gift of being fully present in the moment. From managing timelines to coordinating vendors and handling any unexpected hiccups, their expertise provides a stress-free environment, allowing you to immerse yourselves in the celebration with undisturbed joy. With a wedding planner by your side, you can relish every magical moment of your special day, confident that every detail is in capable hands.

Photo Credit: Courtney Wahl Photography, Wildflower Events Design

Pope's Museum Blog

The Benefits of Choosing a Historic Venue for Your Event

Selecting a historic venue can provide something truly unique for your event. Set in distinctive surroundings, the characteristics of a historic venue and the stories behind it will leave you and your guests with lasting memories long after the event has finished. Pope’s Museum offers you a chance to begin your wedding journey here, adding to those who have begun their family here for more than 100 years.
Pope’s Museum began serving South Georgia as a wedding venue in 1894, as both of Laura Pope Forester’s husbands were Justices of the Peace. Beginning with BH Pope in 1894, weddings have been held at this renown. Recently restored, the locations of these weddings, whether intimately held in “Cupid’s Room” or celebrated on the historic original brick patio, still creates times of joy and festivity for special events.
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1. Great talking points
One of the greatest benefits of hosting events in a historic venue is the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of history. For example, the artist behind Pope’s Museum, Laura Pope Forester (1894-1953), has been recognized by the state of Georgia and the United States Secretary of Interior as a trailblazer in women’s rights in the early 20th century. Her artwork on display and the story of her accomplishments have inspired thousands as they have read and toured this site. You having exclusive use of the historic venue/museum will give your guests topics of conversation as they enjoy the reception.

While your family and wedding party are taking photos, your guests can tour the grounds and be inspired by the 100-foot statuary wall honoring heroes such as the first women in the U.S. military, Martha Berry of Berry College. Red Cross Nurses and more. They can walk the garden paths and enjoy the historic camellias or five feet tall native oakleaf hydrangeas.

2. The kudos –
Aligning yourself with a historic venue and museum such as Pope’s Museum demonstrates that you are a supporter of the values of Laura Pope Forester-those of inclusivity and gratitude. Laura Pope Forester built her home into an award-winning national treasure more than 100 years ago by artistically highlighting the principle that men and women are equally necessary for American success. 

She also knew that beauty and elegance went hand in hand with God’s creation. Hence her art environment showcases her love of gardens and gratitude. Choosing to have your event here demonstrates your belief that these messages are still true.

3. Inspiration and Theming
Historic venues can provide the perfect backdrop for events and give guests great reasons to share pictures from your event, in front of the artwork or spaces which can then be shared on social media to share the celebration.
Historic venues also provide much food for thought when it comes to inspiration for theming. The artistic lace balcony or the distinctive architecture in the columned portico creates decorating inspiration. The arches in “Cupid’s Room” and the split staircase inspire creativity for elegance.
There is no doubt that historic venues provide something magical, something different and something special for today’s events. In a world where experiences are so important, historic venues are a great choice for creating- memorable events. Pope’s Museum LLC: Elegant. Joyous. Distinctive If you are interested in Pope’s Museum LLC for your next event, reach out to us at 850-459-9620 or popestoremuseum@gmail.com

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Break out the Champagne! We did it

Today, on October 29, 2021, With a UNANIMOUS vote, the National Review Board affirmed Popes Museum to be on the National Register of Historic Places. What an honor!

Currently, there are under 2,300 places in Georgia that have this honor. This places Popes Museum as a site that is recognized by the United States National Park Service as nationally significant in the areas of Art and Women’s history. The restoration of Popes Museum has been recognized and approved by the United States Department of Interior as being authentic and it looks BEAUTIFUL!

But wait, there is more!!!

Additionally, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs stated, “…While not recognized until after her death, it is today recognized as among the oldest documented self-taught art environments in Georgia and the southeast and is believed to rank among the oldest surviving such environments in the United States.”

How cool is that! Laura Pope Forester created a museum from her home that showcased the accomplishments of women. She believed she should say thank you to the military who protected and served during her lifetime of living through both World War I and World War II. She also used her skill to strengthen the family. In fact, the front portion of the house is historically named “Cupid’s Room” due the the dozens of couples getting married there.
 
70 years after her death, the nation is honoring her works, her beliefs and her genius. Today we are a museum, a bed and breakfast and an event venue, specializing in weddings. Whether you want a wedding outdoors such as Desiree and John choose, or one in Cupid’s Room such as Meghan and Ryan did, know that choosing Popes Museum means you have selected a venue that is elegant and unique inside and out.
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Why Elopements Could be the Perfect Fit

Elope? That involves a young couple, hand in hand, running across a moonlit field, via a hastily made escape rope made of bed sheets right? That makes for great movie drama, but is not an authentic picture of what an elopement looks like in 2020.

Elopements are gaining in popularity, as are micro weddings. Where micro-weddings are thoroughly planned events with a smaller group of guests, elopements are personalized intimate events that have sweeping romantic touches throughout every aspect. Simply put, elopements offer couples the freedom to have both an elegant event in an intimate and unique setting. With less need for months of preparation, there is less stress and more focus on the occasion. Pope’s Museum works with a team of experts that can help you choose whether or not elopement is right for you.

Unless you are planning on getting married in a judge’s office, a venue is one of the first decisions. Since the goal is personalized and intimate, the venue must be one that fits. Put another way, does this venue fit your unique relationship with originality and distinction? Whether you want to walk down a sweeping staircase, stand beneath a southern pecan tree, or join hands in an art gallery, where you elope is a key factor in personalizing your wedding. After all, your wedding venue is part of the experience, not just a space to share vows.

It’s more than just the venue though. As you think about an elopement, here are some insights from experts in the wedding industry that serve with Popes Museum. Christie Woodrow, owner and operator of Wildflower Event Design (https://www.wildflowereventdesign.com) shares that elopement weddings can be an especially romantic special way to celebrate your love story.

She knows that this is still THE DAY. Therefore her counsel is straightforward and tailored to you, for you. She advises, “Splurge on one thing. Find a way to tailor your ceremony to you. Some brides order dozens of their favorite flower and petals for the ceremony. Another option is gourmet mini cupcakes with their initials and ceremony colors. It doesn’t matter what it is; as long as it as it is personal to you and your love story!”

As an event planner, Christie also advises to invest in a great photographer and makeup artist. “Doing a wedding on a smaller scale does not mean you deserve to look less than amazing!” Pope’s Museum agrees. Weeks or years after the event, a great photograph is worth the investment. Courtney Wahl of Courtney Wahl Photography (www.courtneywahl.com) shares that elopements provide her with more time with the couple. Not only can she capture the quiet moments, smaller weddings are also less stressful. The occasion flows like waves, where the transition between moments is more effortless, rather than staged. Photography captures the beauty of the event. Therefore, beauty in the environment is a great investment

Pope’s Museum knows that florals and fauna create an atmosphere where you can feel spectacular. Having an elopement offers the opportunity to vamp it up. Melissa Brock, the owner and operator of award winning South of Stem Florals (www.southofstem.com) loves elopements. She specifically mentions that elopements allow the floral budget to go to the items most photographed like the bouquet and ceremony space.

It is less stressful too. She writes, “You have so much less stress giving everyone space and time to take in all the glory of the moment and “smell the roses”.

Catering is less stressful as well. Although it is easily apparent that serving a dinner for ten guests is more affordable than serving for 250 guests, it is also more intimate and personal. Too often, responsibilities and expectations at large weddings leave the bride and groom without a chance to enjoy their own day. Elopements offer affordability and high end dining. Crystal Wells of Cookies and Catering (https://www.facebook.com/Cookies-and-Catering-105431094361454/) brings just that to the table. Their goal is to exceed your expectations of service & food. It’s a win-win. Elopements have the bride and groom eating and laughing together around the table.

Perhaps for some, the question is who is sitting around the table? While elopements are generally less than 10 guests, there are ways to involve others not on site. 3 Dawgs Productions (https://www.facebook.com/3DawgsPro/) offers professional live streaming of events at Pope’s Museum no matter the size. By offering streaming of small weddings, you can open your audience up to those who cannot attend due to all sorts of reasons be it health, funds, timing or any other reason. Streaming service also offers professional audio including microphones and music directly input into your stream and allows you to record your service to keep digitally or on disc to share or watch later.

A perfect venue, working with a team of professionals, can have your wedding happen so that you can join hands and hearts together. Pope’s Museum welcomes being a key part of that, with an elegant affordable venue and a team of professionals ready to make your dream come true. www.popesmuseumfarm.com

Photo Credit - Courtney Wall Photography - Wildflower Events Designs. Flowers - South of Stem

“Something Old, Something New…”

Brides across generations can usually finish this traditional litany of requirements needed before the wedding march begins. Our grandmothers knew it, our mothers knew it. Having a fresh approach toward the “old and new” is what brides recognize at Popes Museum. From 1894-1953 weddings were performed in Cupid’s Room. This room, originally built in 1854 includes heart pine flooring, a split staircase, and the original mantle and mirror. It still reflects of legacies of families who come from a long line of love, and those who are starting their own legacy. Something old and something new.

The vision of “something old and something new” continues out into the grounds as well. Whether you are standing beneath the 100 year-old Magnolias and cedar trees or smelling the newly planted tea olives, the gardens themselves testify of something old and something new for your wedding.

Is “Something borrowed, Something blue” more your speed? Pope’s Museum has that too, whether it is borrowing The Bridal Cottage or the accommodations for your out-of-town guests.The “Something Blue” is evidenced in the hand painted murals, artistically crafted by Outsider artist Laura Pope Forester that are on the walls, or the blue hydrangeas that bloom throughout the historic gardens.

The last line in the wedding poem goes like this, “and a Sixpence in her shoe…” The intent is to wish prosperity upon the new bride. Popes Museum is a partner with the bride and groom in that as well. While elegant and historic, Pope’s Museum does not break your bank account. In fact, wedding planners have testified that we are one of the best kept secret for brides that want beauty, elegance and affordability!

That makes Pope’s Museum the perfect choice for your wedding and the perfect choice for your marriage!

Come schedule your tour. We have so much to offer and your mind will be humming the tune “Something old something new, Something borrowed Something blue and a Sixpence in your shoe,” knowing that you know the secret to having it all.

*Photos by Courtney Wahl Photography

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A Word To Our Veterans

To the Family Members of:

Olin C. Atkins 
Willie H. Collins 
Morea A. Golden 
Perry D. Gray 
Charles L. Hammett 
William L Braswell
John L. Rehberg

Lawson F. Bryant
Harvey Hester
Earl I. Cliett
James R. Palmer
Lem C. Hammett
Alonzo . McCrory

In 1919, Armistice Day was first celebrated as an anniversary to the end of World War I, the war that was supposed to be the end of all wars. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we honor those men and women who served and gave all for freedom. Recognizing this sacred act, Congress changed it from a celebration of the end of WWI to a national holiday honoring all veterans in 1936. Yet sixteen years earlier, Laura Pope Forester, a woman whose love for her family, her community and her country grounded and inspired her, formed and sculpted her own memorial to the men from Grady County who died during that war. Your ancestor is carved onto the marble slab of this nearly century old memorial at Pope’s Museum.

While is likely that you have only heard stories of this forefather of your family, it is our family’s conviction that gratitude crosses generations and extends across time. Therefore, we want to say thank you and we are sorry for your loss. In losing a grandfather, an uncle or a father in war you lost someone who could have taken you fishing, shown you how throw a curve-ball or how to know when you meet “Mr. Right”. Our entire community and nation lost as well. This week, as we say thank you to all veterans, Pope’s Museum is proud to say that the WWI memorial where your ancestor is honored is still standing strong. The restoration is nearly completed. This is because our community has not forgotten that freedom is bought with the blood of its heroes.

Dan and Michelle Dean

The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation.
-George Washington

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To Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

Michelle Dean
192 Popes Store Road
Ochlocknee, GA 31773
United States of America

May 20, 2019

Her Majesty the Queen,
Buckingham Palace,
London, SW1A 1AA,

Dear Madam,

Two years ago my family embarked upon a journey that was not on our bucket list, but has turned out to be the most amazing life. Thinking we were purchasing an abandoned century old home in which to raise our children, my husband and I found ourselves the owners of arguably one of the oldest extant indoor and outdoor folk art museums in the United States, a home commonly known as Popes Museum. As it closed in 1973, 20 years after the death of artist/owner Laura Pope Forester, Dan and I did not know of its history, and the honor that the artist Laura Pope Forester gave you personally until recently.

Of the 200 statues Mrs. Forester personally carved, only a handful remain. Fortunately they are magnificent representations of her genius and dedication to bring honor to whom honor is due. One of her statues is a likeness of yourself created in the late 1940s as a memorial to your steadfast loyalty and partnership with the United States during World War 2. It is part of a 100 foot wall honoring local fallen heroes and national heroes such as (then) General Eisenhower. This work, among others, is featured in the United States Library of Congress over 250 times.

If her work is amazing, so was the drive and motivation she had in creating it. It was her desire that America and Great Britain remember that victory was won as the two nations joined forces. Hence on the western side of the wall are statues of an American nurse, a fallen Air Force pilot, a grieving mother, a British nurse and yourself. Madam, it is my heart that you know that 70 years after the event, in a small town in southern Georgia, we still want to say thank you for your fidelity.

As I mentioned earlier, we were unaware of the history when we purchased the home and acres of Popes Museum. Since then we have applied and received approval to be on the National Register of Historic Places. We have created a nonprofit organization approved by our IRS and are working diligently to preserve this wonderful work of art. My two younger children, Talisa (11) and Ben (10) and I were discussing the artwork and Your Majesty when Benjamin suggested writing you and letting you know about it. Talisa impressed me to act in a timely manner because the statues are not getting any younger. If you would like to see more information about the works of Laura Pope Forester, or our efforts to continue to say thank you to the men and women such as yourself who are honored on the wall the website is www.popesmuseum.com or www.facebook.com/popesmuseum . We are reopening the Museum to the public and educating students of all ages about the time period and the players involved in it, including yourself. I would be honored to entertain any correspondence with you to assist in this endeavor.

Your Humble Servant,
Michelle Dean

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Our Vision

News of infighting, just like family conflict, usually get more attention than what is appropriate. Too often, discontented voices overshadow what is honorable and right as a morning fog can overshadow a farmer’s field until you can barely distinguish the pecan grove or fields of cotton all around you.

The antidote, or cure to this poison, is not adding to the discontent by fussing about it; The antidote is to shine a light on what is the anchor for this community-to remind our homefolks that God is still on His throne, America is still good, Georgia is still home, and that Cairo has been, is still and can continue to be a community of bravery, dedication, leadership and valor.

We need to make a choice to celebrate our life and honor the ones that made it possible. PM is intentionally doing both-celebrating what we have today and honoring those who made this life possible. Already we have had artists groups, retreats, a bbq for our local veterans, and soon to be on the schedule are events such as a thank you dinner for the Friends of our Library, another for our volunteer firefighters, luncheons for Grief Support groups, and we working toward a partnership with our school system.

During our many tours of the museum it has been perplexing the number of long time Grady County families who did not even know that local veterans are carved in marble in memorial on that wall. A campaign has launched to change that.

While Dan and I have been working for 18 months on the needs of the house itself, it is time to focus on the art works of Laura Pope Forester. Through a nonprofit organization, set up with the GA Sec of State and the IRS, we are empowering the community to partner with us in rebuilding and restoring PM to a place of civic pride, community involvement and economic impact. Our first project is to light up that wall.

Listen to the following nuggets about the historical and potential economic impact of preserving and promoting this National Treasure. There are 10 Library of Congress files with over 261 photographs on Popes Museum . That does not even begin to share the many magazines and newspapers that have featured this Grady County jewel. Locally, FSU has books, exhibits and professors that specialize in her work. Denver Airport-58.3+ million travelers last year walked through the main terminal where Popes Museum was one of two featured attractions for GA. If 1/100th of 1% come to South Ga that is almost 6,000 tourists in Grady County .Additionally, the High Museum in Atlanta and the Savannah College of Art and Design is looking to see the museum restored and Laura’s artwork preserved or returned to the site. I have spoken with both the assistant folk-art director at the High and the Dean at SCAD. Both organizations are interested in seeing this restoration take place. This will be a boon to our economic and cultural resources.

All of these opportunities begin with a vision and a team of support. Enlightening Grady County of this treasure and demonstrating the community’s support is a critical first step. A fundamental task is promoting what is on the site now. The Shine the Light campaign is set up to do both.

What we are seeking to do is to set up security and illumination lights on the wall directly on Popes Store Road right near SR111.

This is an easily attainable goal: For 5 LED architectural series lights to be installed, wiring, trench dug, inspected and the landscaping to protect them from damage we have been given estimates of $4,500. We already have 13% of the funds raised and are asking our community for help in raising the rest. All donations are tax deductible and go directly to our Shine the Light campaign. BTW: Once the wall is lit up we will do the exact same thing with the memorial to Red Cross, nurses and the GC men from WWI who are on that memorial.

Not only is this attainable, This is impactful long term. Many of the grants that PM could be eligible for -both commercial and gov’tal- require evidence of community support before they commit to using their resources. A successful campaign demonstrates we are committed to this vision of restoration.

Lastly, This is honorable as the 26-foot wall lists our families that have served us with everything they have. More than 40 names of Grady County men are on that wall and illuminating it will build support and gratitude for their sacrifice. Numbers are fine, but when you see the names of Donaldson, Bell and Richter you realize these are our families. Over and over again I hear from local families who are linked to the house through marriages that happened here, parties they attended here or field trips they took here. 2 months ago a 97-year-old woman sat on our patio chairs sharing how she went to her first high school party put on by “Miss Laura’. This is not the first person to dream of what was years ago. She also joined me in believing that we can do it again.

I am boldly asking you to partner with me to begin the process by donating to our campaign to shine the lights on the wall.

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An Open Letter to Grady County

There are 2 American flags waving outside my front gate at Popes Museum. These banners stand as sentries, pointing toward the character and ideals of the individuals ­that Laura Pope Forester memorialized in her 26-foot wall of statues and marble. Today, 75 years after the creation of this masterpiece, these are the same values our town lives out.

Who are we?

Men and women who live out values such as bravery, dedication, leadership and valor.

Just as the wall highlights the brave women who wore a military uniform during WWII, there is the bravery seen in Lara, a young woman who works with her hands building cabinets and sanding 150-year-old floors. She is facing cancer squarely, knowing that God is good, even while dealing with her unknown future. Bravely facing an unknown future by doing what we can to create victory: This is who we are.

Just as there is the dedication on the wall to General Eisenhower and General MacArthur and their leadership, there is the leadership of Chris. Once a revolving door in the county jail, he now uses his past mistakes as a vehicle to share with others a means to get them out. He goes and shows, not just tells and sells. Leading others out of a totalitarian government or out from life of addiction. This is who we are.

Just as the marble slab honoring WWII casualty Eugene Cone and his uncle WWI casualty Roy Sadler connects family, there is the staff and atmosphere of Center Drugs. Throughout the year you can see my children and I playing a quick game of checkers, sharing an ice cream cone from the soda fountain there in this community atmosphere. Building family, the cornerstone of a strong community. This is who we are.

There are over 40 local men honored on that wall right on Popes Store Road, men from various cultural and economic backgrounds, but all of them Grady County men whose lives were laid down to create a home of the free. Each of these servants are listed by name. Each of them has a story to tell. We may not have much call to lay down our lives unto death here, but we do have servant leaders.

There is Linda and other staff members at Magnolia Place. Serving minute by minute, Linda patiently assists her resident in crossing the room, literally one step at a time, counting “1-2-3-4-5 rest, 1-2-3-4-5 rest”. She does it with a smile on her face, sincerely proud of each step they’ve made together.

There is Tim at the Drew Gas Station who fills up my car and my gas cans, smiling as he does it. Never do I compete with an insulting sound system as he is conversing with me. Instead there is a man who does his job in fitting, clean clothes and always a “Thank you Ma’am”.

There is Pherrill and Marcus at Quality LP Gas who made more than one phone call and more than one service visit to find a repair part for a stove. Not because they sold the stove, but because they installed the gas that the stove uses.

Space does not allow me to share of the Rotary dinners honoring the top 10% of our students, the community wide gospel choirs, the travel clubs for our community sponsored by our local banks, and the stability of the city hall tuning out songs that speak of life and grace that chime every hour in our downtown. This is who we are and what we are.

We are a community that shows respect and humanity to each other, modeling true patriotism as we live out our lives. The men and women who make our headlines may be elected by our fellow citizens, but they are not an accurate representation of what I see weekly.

The season of patriotism and waving the flag is upon us. Our national banner of red, white and blue are waving proudly at Popes Museum. But here in Cairo, GA we live it more than one week a year.

“Patriotism is love of country. But you can’t love your country without loving your countrymen and countrywomen.” Cory Booker got those words right; but

Here in Cairo, Georgia, it is who we are.

NOTE: Laura Pope Forester created an environment that honored our hometown heroes. Listed on this 26-foot-long wall are the names of our Grady County heroes of 1943, 1944 and 1945. The honor wall lists each name of the men who did not make it back to our home town. Forty in all. These are our own families that gave up a son, a father, a brother, a husband. Scores of our own Grady County citizens are unaware of this treasure that is featured in the Library of Congress, the Denver, CO airport and the Smithsonian Magazine. See www.popesmuseum.com/projects for how you can help.

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Checkmating the Facts with Vision

When I walked through the petite French doors of Pope’s Museum, it wasn’t the odor of three years being closed up and the ill treatment of animals that I sensed. It was the 5 sets of arches I awed at as I stepped through the original doors. Stepping into the main parlor–known as the Cupid Room–it wasn’t the clothes and cardboard partially burned in the fireplace that my eyes delighted in; it was the hand-hewn mantle as well as the original mirror and piano that had seen as least 6 scores of years. I couldn’t breathe easily, yet I could envision. Walking up the stairs and pausing at the landing at the dividing staircase , I was impervious to the inches of dirt hanging off the heat-warped ceiling fans. I was too busy caressing the mahogany banister.

Pulling back the urine-stained carpet, I was well aware that the padding was worse, but my heart leaped when I saw old growth pine plank flooring on both the 1st and 2nd floors. Though the grime on the windows required more than one person washing them again and again, I could see a gardener’s paradise through them. 40-foot Japanese Tulip trees, even taller southern magnolias, sasanqua camellias and rows of cedar trees 50-60 feet tall, not to mention the acres of abandoned pecan grove. A vision was seeded.

Facts are important, but they cannot substitute for the power of a vision. Think through people who have created an impact–both who have pages in the history books and those who have pages in our scrapbooks. For example, statistically it was an impossibility that an untrained, ill-equipped band of men separated by hundreds of miles of terrain should have been able to beat the world’s most powerfully trained and empowered army and navy. Those are the facts, but the vision of living in a land where one could choose governmental authority over themselves was greater than those facts. Hence America, the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave exists.

When my great-grandfather left Belgium in 1899, the vision of earning more than starvation wages empowered him to cross the unknown, not speaking English or knowing what he was headed toward. The vision pressed him to go. Generations are free to fill their destiny because he focused more on the vision than on the facts.

According to George Barna, “…Vision is the insight God provides to instruct and direct our paths, a reflection of what God wants to accomplish through us in building his kingdom.” This understanding keeps me and my family focused. Knowing that Popes Museum is not just a piece of property, but is a tool in our hands to build God’s kingdom. We envision Pope’s Museum as a place of civic pride and community prestige. We envision Pope’s Museum as a place where generations of families from around the area gather for milestone moments such as weddings and reunions. We also envision a place where my own family finds rest, provision and peace. This is our vision for what God wants to accomplish through the Dean family at Pope’s Museum.

What about you? Are you out of focus on your vision? Facts are important, but they do not motivate one to reach higher, aim farther or strive longer. Vision does. Are you so focused on the facts of your situation that you are losing the inspiration? It is not too late to regain the vision for yourself. Sweep past the facts and dust off the vision you have allowed to be ignored. Your purpose is not determined by the facts in your life, but by the ideal in your spirit. If life is a game of chess, it is the vision that checkmates the facts, not the other way around.

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