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 16, 2010

Nashville

While the boys were at Camp Electric, we did some site-seeing.
It was a bit too far to drop them off and come home, only to turn around and go get them - so we stayed too.

We drove over to Memphis one day.
We toured the famous 'Graceland'.
Some of it was more interesting than others.
I think was amazes me the most about it - the man's been dead for 33 years and yet the place is still crawling with visitors and bringing in a fortune each and every day.

In Front of the 'Mansion'


Elvis's Car Museum


We got to visit with a few of my cousins that live down there on another day.
It was good to see them, because we don't get to often enough.
A 'real' visit is better than 'computer time' anytime.

Mom, Dad & Phyllis

Leila & Reanna

We went to the 'Grand Ole Opry' another night.
That was nice.
Straight music - no fancy light, no gimmicks - just good music.
I didn't realize how many people perform there on a given night.
(I think there were 6 when we were there.)
And yet, the show is only around 2-2.5 hrs long.
They only do 3-4 songs each.
David liked Charlie Daniels the best.
Leila liked Montgomery Gentry. She was coping the one guy's movements and blowing him kisses even.

Charlie Daniels

Those were our highlights.
It was one of the least, activity-filled vacations, I think we've ever taken.

I have to say - I was sort of surprised with the city of Nashville though.
Never having been there before, I had this preconceived notion that it was a huge tourist spot.
Yes, I think it's THE place to go if you're trying to make it in the music business.
But for the 'regular' tourist - not so much.
It was much cleaner, safer, and friendlier than I anticipated though.

'Walking Down the Street'


'On One of the Streets'


'Worn Out'


Irregardless, it's ALWAYS good to come home.

Getting Ready to Come Home

1 comment:

Wife of the Pres. said...

Glad you guys liked Nashville. AS for the tourism, it is slow this year due to the flooding. The main tourist row in downtown was completely underwater, so many of the businesses are not up and running yet.

I am not surprised you found it friendly. We've never been anywhere more friendly! I'm sorry we missed you all here and at in Ohio. Oh well. Just not meant to be with us being home only 2 weeks with the boys. They are doing well though.

Hope you all had another fun time getting together. BTW, I've never been to Graceland myself. LOL! And this camp Electric sounds amazing but I'd never heard of it. Funny how you don't know as much when it is in your backyard.

:) L

July 18, 2010 at 11:27 PM

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