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.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Spring 2016

The first half of 2016 has been rather uneventful.

Leila got glasses.
Although both eyes needed them, one eye is significantly worse than the other.
She has 2 pair - just in case anything happens to one of them.
This turned out to be a very wise decision when less than a month after getting them - a little boy ran into her on the playground and her glasses got bent.
At least she had the others to wear until we could get those fixed.

Leila decided that soccer just may not be her thing, and elected not to play spring soccer this year.
She went back to gymnastics - which she LOVES.
She is driving me nuts doing flips and cartwheels and such all over the house though.

Mom and I went on a weekend trip to the Greenbrier in March.
It was fancy and grand and beautiful, but there are spots where you can definitely see its age too.
Still, it's a place to feel pampered.
Next time - I plan to have one of their famous 'baths'.




Easter was early this year.
Our town had its first ever 'Easter Parade'.
There were floats depicting Jesus's life from birth thru the resurrection.
Our church had the scene where Mary washes Jesus's feet.
And much to Leila's joy - the kids were able to ride in the back of the truck pulling the float!
The rainy / drizzly weather certainly didn't dampen the spirit of the day.


Easter Sunday started bright and early with Sunrise service and breakfast (which our Sunday School class cooked), followed by church, Easter dinner and then a much needed nap.





The 'kids' all cooked lunch for me for Mother's Day at Austin and Casey's house.
I felt very special indeed.


Leila has finished 2nd grade.
Darrell finished his first year at Marshall. He started working at a bank this week for the summer.
Austin just turned 23!
Summer is now here.
Where has time gone?


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