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.

Monday, January 16, 2012

A New Start

A New Year and a New Start!

Polly has adjusted quite well to her new home.
Trouble (the old cat) is not quite as thrilled with her as she is with him - but we keep thinking he'll get better.


Austin and I went to Fairmont last week for orientation.
(Talk about deja vu. Seems like we just did that.)
He ended up getting placed in an apartment rather than a dorm.
He has one other roommate in a 2 bedroom furnished apartment on campus.
He moved up there yesterday, and starts classes tomorrow.
It's a little further away - about 2-2.5 hours.
I really think this will be a good thing though. I think this is a good place for him.
I've seen a difference in him over Christmas.
He's grown up and matured some in the last 5 months.
And I've enjoyed having him home this last month.
I can't imagine what the next 5 will bring.
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Nov & Dec

Nov and Dec have now come and gone.

Nov was relatively uneventful.
David went to Turkey for 2 weeks on business.
And we acquired a kitten while he was gone.
I SWEAR she just showed up one morning - I did NOT go get her.
She's a cutie, and as ornery as can be though.

Polly


Not a lot of people came for Thanksgiving dinner, but it was nice.

I took the boys (and Jessica) with me for the first time ever shopping on Black Friday this year.
We did things a little different this year and shopped all night instead of all day this time.
I actually think I liked it better that way.
They were anxious to see people fighting, but alas - we just got some deals and had fun instead.

David turned the big 5-0 on Dec 3. (Ohhh, he's getting old!)
I had a little surprise birthday party for him.
He claimed he figured it out, but he didn't.


Dec brought the usual hustle and bustle of Christmas.
I guess Christmas was as nice as it could be this year.

I've been bowling on a league this year with some ladies from church.
I am probably the 'weakest link', but we have a great time. (Love going for lunch afterwards too!)
David and the kids got me a bowling ball and bag for Christmas. It's bright pink!
And was a total surprise.

Christmas Pictures


Christmas Sunday


Cookies for Santa
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