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.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Graduation Week

Last week was Austin's 'Graduation Week'.
It's no longer just a one day affair. There's so much involved.

We started out last Sunday.
Our church had a surprise dinner in his honor last week.
Lots of good food, cards and well wishes.
He was completely clueless too - which made it all that much better.

Tues was Class Night.
That's when they announce the 'Personalities', read the 'Class Poem', read the 'Class Will', announce their activities.... fun things like that.


Thurs was Awards Night.
Austin was upset with me initially because I said he had to go.
He didn't think he would be getting anything, so he thought it was pointless.
He wanted to go to work instead, since he'd already missed work Tues.
(I knew he was getting one thing.)
We were all surprised!
He got 4 scholarships!!!


Sat was THE big day. Graduation!
It was outside - down at the Riverfront Park.
The weather was perfect.
He graduated with honors.
(1 down - 2 to go.)








I even let him wear his 'toe shoes' thru the line.
He mentioned it as a joke.
When I agreed - he just about fell over with shock.


Our baby is off to college later this summer.
He's going to Kentucky Christian University, which is in Grayson, KY (about an hour and a half away).
At this point, he plans to major in youth ministry.
He's turning into a pretty amazing young man, and we're quite proud.

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