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.

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:

Wife of the Pres. said...

Lois, I am so sorry. My Dad fell off a ladder last November 20 ft. on his driveway. He broke every bone in his face, but the doctors said falling on his face actually saved his life.

We all know though too that for whatever reason God surrounded him with protection that day. It is so hard to understand why some like your Uncle Gene are taken while others get to stay.

I am so sorry for you and his family. May God surround you all with His peace as only He can give.

Kimberly said...

Oh Lois, I am so sorry to hear about your uncle's accident and death. I'll be praying for comfort for you and your whole family! Especially since you have lost several loved ones recently... peace and grace to you.