"A-DAY" CELEBRATIONS...ON NUMEROUS LEVELS

Last week, our family had an incredible experience as we were invited to an A-Day celebration (aka "adoption day") of one of Ellie's best friends, Pratista.  Each year, Pratista, having originally come from Nepal, celebrates the day she officially became a part of the Cummings family, sharing stories, pictures and special momentos with family and friends.  We have been blessed in getting to know Tista over the past 4 years, as well as her family, and we love continuing to learn more about her adoption journey, as well as the experiences of other friends of the Cummings who have also adopted.  It was a celebration with special significance as it was also Good Friday, the day we remember the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for every person, so that we could each be lovingly adopted into God's family.  He paid the price for us, bridging the gap between a broken world and a Heavenly Father, who wants us to experience His unconditional love on a very real level.  Tista's mom spoke of the desire God has to adopt each one of us, while sharing what an absolute blessing Tista has been in their family since the day she was adopted nine years ago.
In addition to celebrating Tista's own A-Day, she extended that love as she presented a "Welcome Home" sign she had created for Fei, placed on a table with Chinese décor, and notes/blessings from those in attendance.  The Cummings Family also gave us a personalized blanket for Fei, one that is the same style as all the Cummings kids...so special!  Also, we laughed so hard as we experienced a "flight simulation"; our parents were also there that evening, so the 8 of us crammed into 8 chairs nestled tightly together, with loud "engines" to the sides, flight attendants passing out peanuts, a chatty girl sitting next to us, all while holding a stuffed animal representing Fei.  Add onto that entire evening that it was exactly one month until we leave for China, and you get a perfect combination of God's love and support in the form of friendship, celebration and the knitting together of families in only a way He could orchestrate.  It is a night we most certainly cherish!