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, October 20, 2015

Cruise

We didn't get to go on our annual 'girls' beach trip' again this year, so we altered it a little and went on a cruise.
We were missing a few of our 'group', but there were 4 of us that went to the Bahamas in Sept - Leila, my mom, Mandy and me.
I hated to take Leila out of school for a week, but it was the only time we could get it scheduled that would work.
We went on a 5 day cruise to Nassau and Freeport.


In Nassau, we went to Atlantis.
While it was supercool, and I'm really glad that I had the opportunity to go - I have to say that I think it's overrated.
I think it's one of those places, that is a definite to go to, but once is enough.




The port of Freeport itself may not be quite as nice as Nassau, but we went on a tour that was fantastic.
Our guide was amazing.
We toured the island and saw some of the 'out of the way' places - not just the typical 'touristy' stuff.

Boiling Hole

Conch Shell 'Graveyard'


Then we went snorkeling at a place called Paradise Cove and ate conch fritters afterward.

Paradise Cove - where we snorkled










Leila's 7th 'Gotcha Day' was while we were gone this time.
Normally we all go out to eat (Chinese).
We missed getting to do that with Daddy and the 'boys' this time, but we got to spend it with Mama and Mandy in Nassau.
The 'guys' may not agree, but we thought it was an okay trade.


The water was a little rough this time.
I don't know if it was the weather, or if it was because we were in the Atlantic (and I've always sailed in the Gulf before). But it wasn't anything too bad.
And I'm ready to go again!
0 comments

Aug 2015

Aug brought SO many changes to our household.

The wedding was the 15th, and Austin moved out.

A mere 4 days later, we moved Darrell to Huntington to start his freshman year of college at Marshall.
(Go Herd!)

Darrell has certainly embraced the college lifestyle.
He's quite social and is making the most of his opportunities there.
In fact, he hardly ever comes home.
He joined a fraternity - but he assures me that it's an 'academic' one, not a 'party' one.
He's been whitewater rafting with the Christian group he goes to.
And he's working part-time at the MU Rec Center as a life guard.
I hope that when the semester ends, his grades are as exciting as his new life.

The day after that, was the first day of 2nd grade for Leila.
She wasn't wild about school last year, but so far she really likes it this year.
I'm so glad.
That makes mornings much easier around here.


In one week, we went from a household of 5 to 3.
A change like that definitely changes how and how much you cook!

I'm still working as a substitute teacher, but I'm limited in how much and how often I can work this year.
David changed jobs.
He's still with the same company, but he has a different position now.
He travels a LOT - he's probably gone 3 weeks a month.
That makes it much more difficult for me to work and still get Leila to and from school.
On the other hand, he's much happier with this new job - so that's okay.

Leila was missing the boys so much that we let her get a new kitten.
Yes - we have WAY too many animals already, and YES, we added another to the 'zoo'.
What can I say - sometimes we're just not that smart.
But he's a cute little thing.
Meet Mousey.






0 comments

Austin and Casey's Wedding

Austin and Casey got married August 15th.

Wedding and reception were very nice.
Darrell was a groomsmen, and Leila got to be the flower girl - a 'job' she absolutely LOVES.






We got to see a lot of family - from both sides.
Our house was really a busy place that week.
We had the rehearsal dinner / pool party here the night before.
Then we had company and out-of-town guests for several days afterwards.

Part of my family


Part of David's family

Siblings
0 comments

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

July 2015

I thought that once our traveling was done for the summer (Fl and Chicago), things would slow down.
I was wrong.
When we got back from Chicago, we went straight into Bible School.
It's only 2 hours an evening, but it absolutely wears me out.

Austin and Casey had their bridal shower in July.


We all worked like crazy on the house trying to get it ready in time for Austin and Casey to move into.
We've decided that although we've all learned a lot of valuable life lessons in home repair - this is not something we would like to do full-time.

Darrell went to registration and orientation for college.


We did manage to sneak in just a little bit of fun this month though.
Our Sunday School group went to a water park for the day.
We had a great time and can't wait for our next 'outing'.
0 comments

June 2015

Once graduation was out of the way, school was also winding down for Leila.

She had her ballet recital.
She does so good at this, and I love to watch her.
I really wish she would stay with ballet, but at this point, she doesn't plan to do it again next year.




After school was out, we went to the Tampa, FL area for a family vacation.
David didn't get to go this time due to work, but we managed to have a good time anyway.
We even stopped in Mayberry on the way down.

We went to several beaches.



We toured the Yuengling Brewery.

We went on an airboat into the Everglades and saw alligators.

It was a great week - except for the incredibly LONG drive to and from.

Once we got home, Darrell and I had one day to unpack and repack.
He and I were off again - this time to Chicago.
We went to the FBLA National Conference.
He was there to compete, and I was there to chaperone and judge.
Neither of us had ever been to Chicago.
We got to do a little bit of sightseeing while we were there.
We were with a great group of kids, and I really enjoyed myself with them.


0 comments

Graduation

May was Darrell's graduation and all the many events and things that entailed.
He had a very successful and busy high school career.

On Awards Day, he received 5 scholarships and various awards and recognitions, including graduating Summa Cum Laude.


During Class Knight, he was one of the speakers.
Darrell certainly does not mind getting up in front of a crowd of people and talking - in fact, I actually think he thrives on it.
He was voted by his classmates as 'Most Active' - no surprise there (he's never home).


Graduation was on May 30. The weather was perfect.
Darrell was one of the speakers for this as well.
He is such an awesome young man.
We're extremely proud of him and lucky to call him our son.





The week after graduation, we had a pool party to celebrate.
It was also Austin's 22nd birthday, so we made it into a double celebration.


0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)