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, November 29, 2011

Oct 2011 - Halloween & Birthdays

Oct was a busy month (as usual).

We started out the month with a nice visit from some of David's family.
I didn't get to see them much (I ended up with the flu that week), but David and the kids did - which was good.

Darrell's knee is doing better, but he missed most all of cross country season.

Oct also brings homecoming.
Darrell participated in it all - spirit week (where they dress up every day), decorating and riding on the parade float, decorating the hallway, working the powder puff football game, the bonfire - you name it, he was there.

Costume Day


Blast from the Past Day


Spirit Day


All that school spirit must work because, Point Pleasant is 13-0 now.
For the 1st time ever, we're headed to the State Championships this weekend.

Austin's football season is officially over.
I think he'll find himself missing it (and the comraderie) more than he thinks he will - but maybe not.
I'm sure he won't miss practice 7 days a week though.

A Cold Game


One of His Biggest Fans


Although they didn't have a winning season - they won more games this year than ever before.
KCU is on it's way.

'Our' Player


We've been working on the paperwork to get Austin transferred to Fairmont (what a pain).

Oct is also a big birthday month here.

Leila turned 4 on the 29th.

Decorating Cupcakes


4 Years Old

And Darrell turned 15 on the 31st.



He took his test and got his driving permit on his birthday.
I must say - he was more excited than we were.

The end of the month brought Halloween.

We carved some cool pumpkins.

Ready to Carve


Leila's (and Daddy's) pumkin


Hard at Work


Darrell's pumkin


Trick-or-Treat night was COLD and rainy.
We still had a good time (even though the block party got cancelled).
Leila got LOTS of candy.
And Leila made a very cute little witch.