Loudermilk family cuts ribbon on home

The Loudermilk family cut the ribbons across the doorway of their new Habitat for Humanity home on Sunday afternoon. Several dozen people shared the moment with Jimmy Loudermilk and his children Michael and Kayla.

Sisters Habitat Board of Directors President Jerry Hanford spoke to and about the family, congratulating them on the significant accomplishment of homeownership and welcoming them home.

"You are on a new journey of family and home," he said, as he and the family stood on the welcoming front porch of the house.

Jimmy Loudermilk agreed, thanking God, family and friends for the experience of being a Habitat family.

"It's a blessing to come home," he said.

The home is the first to be built for Habitat in the Timber Creek neighborhood, and the 46th home for the organization in Sisters. There are five more homes to be built in Timber Creek, with the next due for completion sometime this winter.

Kayla Loudermilk, 13, is a seventh-grader at Sisters Middle School. She is a student in Kit Stafford's art classes and is looking forward to hanging some of her artwork in her own bedroom. "I can't wait to design and decorate my room," she said.

Construction manager Shawn O'Hern, who came in partway through the project, thanked the many local suppliers who diligently support Sisters Habitat. He also made special mention of Ed Patterson, who now lives out of Sisters but has crafted the cabinets for the Habitat homes for many years. Patterson also makes sure each family has a hand-made afghan. The Loudermilk family was presented with a stunning black, yellow and red afghan that Patterson made.

Dave Lewis spoke a blessing on the house, saying that the Loudermilk family might seem lucky to some, but most of all, they are loved. The crowd responded with a heartfelt "Amen," and when the ribbons were cut, cheers resounded through the neighborhood.