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.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Recent Trials / Thanksgiving

I haven't posted for awhile.
It seems like we've had a lot of trials lately and quite frankly, I didn't want to post unless I had something good to say.

We had my uncle's services on Nov 14.
The following week, my Dad was hospitalized for 4 days. That was due to fluid build-up and his ever-present heart condition.
We discovered a lump on Darrell's neck. I took him to the dr for that, and they did an ultrasound. Preliminary results look fine (thank goodness), but I found out this week that they want to do another test 'just to make sure'. That's okay - I'd rather be safe than sorry when it comes to my kids' health.
The same day, they put Dad in the hospital, and I took Darrell to the 1st doctor's appt, I took Austin to the ER that night. We thought he'd broken his hand at wrestling practice. It wasn't broken - it was just hurt really bad. (That was good too - if it had been broken, he would have been out the whole season instead of just a few days.)
BUT, he did end up breaking his toe at practice a few days later.

Well, by then it was Thanksgiving / hunting week - which the guys love, and I hate.
Darrell shot a 5 point, but when he did, the gun kicked and the scope hit him in the nose - breaking it.
With all the practice this new coach is demanding, Austin has been having a hard time getting to the woods as much as he'd like, but he managed to get out and shoot a 6 point on Wed.
David hasn't gotten one yet, because he's been passing up some so the boys would be able to get theirs instead.



Thanksgiving was nice (much better than last year).
We had 14 people here for dinner. It should have been 15, but we're going to dwell on what is, not what should be.
And dinner was great.

Thanksgiving night, I decided to go somewhere. Austin and I took his truck, because my car was blocked in.
Yep, we took out a deer. His truck is not drivable now. It's not that it looks that bad, but it won't start.
My brother pulled it to my Mom and Dad's house with his truck and now we're waiting until Mon morning so a tow truck can come and get it and take it to the shop.
Yes, I know - we weren't hurt. But still - what a pain.

I did get to go shopping for just a little bit yesterday. Not nearly as long as I normally do. I normally go from like 4 AM till about midnight. I was home yesterday by 11:30 AM, but at least I got to go.
I got a few things. I'd say I'm about 2/3 of the way done.

They boys put up my outside lights this week. Leila LOVES them. We turned them on for the 1st time last night. I think she even tries to say 'light'.
I put out my Christmas house decorations yesterday too. (Not bad on less than 3 hours of sleep the night before.)
Now if I can only get the guys to cooperate on doing the tree next...
0 comments

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Happy Veteran's Day

Happy Veteran's Day

FREEDOM’S CALL

They Are Called To Be In Uniform
To Serve Both Day And Night
Protecting Our Great Country
To Fight The Valiant Fight
To Rescue Us From Danger
At Home – Across The Sea
Brave And Special People
Who Keep Our Nation Free
And Together On A Mission
Our Heroes, They Are There
Every Color – Every Creed
With Freedom’s Light To Share
And Day By Day – Step By Step
All For One & One For All
Our Heroes Stand Together Strong
To Answer Freedom’s Call

I am afraid that our Veteran's Day will not be so happy this year.

My uncle, Gene, passed away yesterday afternoon.
(He was ironically also a retired US Navy veteran.)
No, he wasn't old, and no, he wasn't sick.
He was on a ladder Monday. The ladder collapsed.
He fell, hitting his head on concrete.
His injuries were just too great.
We prayed for a miracle, but (for whatever reason) it did not come.

He was the 'rock' in that family.
Now we ask for prayers for his family and friends.
2 comments

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Orphan Sunday

November is Adoption Month and today was Orphan Sunday.
Our pastor preached a VERY moving sermon this morning pertaining to that.
As he told a 'story' and talked about a 'drop-off' spot, it was obvious that he'd certainly done his research.
I don't know if everyone was affected by it as much as I was or if it was just because it hit so close to home, but I certainly shed a few tears.
At church tonight, I did a presentation and slide show about adoption and our trip to China.
There weren't a lot of people there - which was okay.
It gave me a little bit of practice though, because I guess I'm scheduled to do it again for the UM Women's group at end of the month.
0 comments

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Birthday Celebrations and a Check-Up

David and Darrell finally got to go on their 4-wheeler ride.
They skipped church on Sunday and went down to the Hatfield & McCoy trails.
They had beautiful weather and a great time. They were both worn out by the time they got back though.



We had cake and ice cream for Leila that night.


Leila had her 2 year check-up today. She did great.
She weighs 23 lbs and is 2'7".
No shots this time, and she's good to go for a year.
0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)