We’re David and Lois McBeath. We live in Point Pleasant, WV – a small town along the Ohio River on the western side of the state. We have 2 sons. Austin is 15. He’s a sophomore at Pt. Pleasant High School. Darrell is almost 12. He’s in the 6th grade at Roosevelt Elementary.
We actually began our adoption journey more than 10 years ago. I saw an ad in the newspaper about Chinese babies. We called about it, but it just wasn’t even feasible at that time in our life. All these years, it was always there, stuck somewhere in the back of our minds. I don't know why exactly – it just was. The thought never completely went away.
We also talked off and on about having another child. Our house was only 3 bedrooms, and we know the boys could have been in a room together, but we didn't want to do that if we didn't have to. In the spring of 2006, for some reason (I don't recall exactly what) - it came up again. We started thinking and talking - why not? So we started checking into it more. We did a lot of research online. The more we found out, the more we felt a calling, a desire and even a need to do this.
We started the adoption and added onto the house all at the same time. It took about 6 months to get the paperwork together. Then about another month after we sent it to China for them to translate it and 'log us in' (11/6/06). That's when we started to officially wait.
We finally got "THE CALL" on 7/13/08. It was a Sunday afternoon! After 2 ½ years, we are finally going to get our baby!


Leila Ann McBeath, formally known as Shun Xi Yi, was born on Oct 29, 2007. She had a cleft lip and cleft palate. The lip has been repaired, but not the palate. (We'll have to do that when we get her home.) She's in the Children's Welfare Institute of Shunde District of Foshan City, which is located in the Guangdong Province, in the southern part of China.

Shunde, the hometown of flowers, is one of four cities under the jurisdiction of Foshan City. Covering an area of 806 sq meters and with a population of 1.05 million, Shunde City is situated in the middle of the fertile Pearl River Delta, between Guangzhou and Hong Kong. It was set up as a county in the 3rd year (1452 AD) of the Jintai reign of the Ming Dynasy (1368-1644), and conferred with the administrative status of a city in 1992 by the State Council.

Foshan City is also where the actor Bruce Lee was from.

Friday, July 10, 2009

A Fashion Statement & New Laws

Like I've said before, Leila LOVES to go. You would think that if she doesn't get to go somewhere (anywhere) every day, that we're being mean to her. She can be so fussy, but as soon as she's headed for the door - boom, she's a happy camper again. And as long as we're out and going, she's usually good - no matter how tired she is.
We went down to see the boys last night at camp. Didn't get home until after 10:00. She'd only had about 1/2 hour nap all day, and yet she was fine. She was out.

I took this picture last week. She put Mama's shoes on (doesn't even really have to be HER shoes). She conned her Aunt Juanita into putting both sweaters on her (yes, it's July, but a coat definitely means she's going somewhere). Now, I don't know about the 'hat', but I'm sure there's a reason for it.
At least she makes a fashion statement!


Austin is not happy this week. WV has passed a new law affecting underage drivers. One of the biggest changes that affects him is that in the first 6 months of having his license (until Dec 8), he is not allowed to have any non-family members in the car with him. That means - no friends, no DATES - only Darrell. For the next 6 months after that (until next Jun), he may only have one. They're also moving the curfew back to 10 PM - with the exception of church and school activities or emergencies.
He even offered us a 'deal'. He said that he would take his chances, and if he gets a ticket - then he'll pay it. NO - not happening. There's way more to it than a possible ticket. Yes there's that, but there's also insurance. There's the fact that if he were in an accident and someone got hurt - as his parents, we could be sued for everything we don't own. (At 16, common sense does not always rule.)
We gave him an alternate 'choice'. He doesn't have to like, but he does have to follow it. If not, we can take his truck - now or later.
Do I feel sorry for him - yes. Do I completely agree with it - no. Do I think it's a bit harsh - yes. But it's still the law (effective today). We don't get to pick and choose which rules and laws we want to abide by. It may not seem fair (and he certainly doesn't think it is), but it is what it is.

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