Once a Habitat home is complete, a ceremony is held to bless the home and celebrate the family’s success and hard work. Melissa Carter’s Home Dedication Ceremony was held Sunday, March 13th. It was a bright sunny day, with a brisk wind. Melissa stood on the porch of her new home, overlooking a crowd of around 50 Disciples' Build volunteers, friends and well-wishers. Beside her was her beautiful seven-year- old daughter, Ciesha, and nearby stood her mother, sister, grandfather and other family members.
Lynn Leech, our new Interim Executive Director, welcomed everyone to the event and Jim Kvach, our Board Chair, thanked the 20 churches that contributed volunteers and financial assistance to the building project. Margie Page, of Lexington Presbyterian Church battled laryngitis to praise Melissa for her success as a mother, working person, and community member.
Together, Melissa and Alice Waddell, Co-Chair of the Family Partnership Committee, lit a candle to symbolize the love and happiness that will fill the home. Alice then led the Litany of Dedication, which ended in the simple words:
Bless this house, O Lord, we pray.
Make it safe by night and day.
Bless your children everywhere.
That in your Kingdom they may share.
Melissa's & Ciesha's new home! Photo by Sy Hughes
Alice handed Melissa a copy of the Bible, and then Melissa accepted the keys to her new home. Wiping away a tear, Melissa thanked Habitat and all of the volunteers who had helped to build her house.
After the ceremony it was time to eat. There was plenty of food, thanks to Jane Ann, our dedicated Lexington ReStore Manager, who organized the meal and worked the grill. Kentucky Fried Chicken, where Melissa works as a Shift Supervisor, contributed two huge pans of chicken.
Jane Ann at the Grill (Photo by Sy Hughes).
Ciesha and the other kids played in the backyard while the adults walked through the house, admiring the design selections Melissa had made. She chose dark brown kitchen cabinets and knotty pine laminate flooring. She also picked a pretty multi-colored ceiling fan for Ciesha’s room. The rooms were bare of furniture, but full of love and support. Melissa’s and Ciesha’s new Habitat house had become a home.
Photo by Sy Hughes
