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.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Home a Year

We've officially been home one year now. Late, late light night was one year exactly.
We'd left China and traveled for what felt like forever.
The trip actually took almost 30 hours - 3 flights - and brought us from the other side of the world back home to our little section of it.

We didn't have enough time once we hit US soil to clear customs and immigration.
We left the stroller we'd bought in China (which I REALLY liked by the way) on the 2nd plane.
We RAN thru the airport and made it just in time.
Once we sat down in those seats - I cried.
I cried because we made, I cried because we almost didn't, I cried because we were almost home, I cried because I was exhausted, I cried because Leila cried, and I cried just because.

We had a small welcoming party gathered at the airport.
A welcome sight indeed.

Then we had an hour drive home. We had to stop at a Walmart on the way though.
All of luggage was still in Chicago, and therefore, so were diapers, formula, cereal, and bottles.
Everyone else waited in the truck while I ran in to get necessities.
I grabbed a 12-pack of Mountain Dew too. (I don't think they sell MD anywhere in the entire country of China!)
As we were leaving Walmart, we got stopped at a red light. When the light changed green, David didn't go.
I looked over, and he was sound asleep!
I told him to pull over for me to drive. He started to assure me that he was fine.
Yeah, right!
I told him that I did NOT travel around the world and back for him to wreck and kill us 45 minutes from home - to pull over NOW.

We made it. Got to bed around 3 AM. We were all up and ready in time for church the next morning. Gotta remember - we were still on China-time.

This 1st picture was taken at the airport a year ago. Do we look a little tired?


This picture was taken yesterday. I'd really like to think we look a little better in this one.
You know, at first glance, you think Leila is the only one that's changed a lot. But take a closer look at the boys too (especially Darrell). Look at how much taller he's gotten in just one year.


I was so glad we did get ready and go to church that next morning. They were happy to see us, we were happy to see them, and look at the welcome back sign they had waiting for us.

1 comment:

The Walrond Family said...

Congratulations on your one year anniversary!! Many blessings!

October 12, 2009 at 11:44 AM

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