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, February 13, 2018

Christmas 2017

David has joined the American Legion Riders and is riding his bike more now.


November seems to kick off the holiday season.
Then it's one thing after another.

We went to Winter-Fest at Camden Park.
This was a first for us.

We had parades.

There were programs.

We decorated.

We dressed up.

We got ready.


Finally - it was Christmas!

My favorite part was when all 5 'kids' came in on Christmas morning in Christmas pajamas!
I was totally surprised.


It was Charlie's 1st Christmas.


We ended the day at Mom's - all together.


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Fall 2017

Leila started 4th grade, and Darrell started his junior year at Marshall.

We took a week-end trip to TN for Labor Day.
Everyone was able to be together, and we had lots of fun.
We went to an indoor trampoline place.

Since we were ALL there, we also had a family picture taken.
Not your 'normal' one though - a fun one instead.



Sept was also Leila's 9th 'Gotcha Day'.


It wasn't all good.
I lost my beloved Bailey.
Bailey was by far the best dog I've ever had.
I had over 16 years with him, but it wasn't enough.
He loved us all, but he was MY dog.
He loved me more than anyone or anything probably ever has or ever will.



Fly high, Bailey Baby.

Big birthdays in Oct.
Darrell turned 21, and Leila turned 10.

Leila went to her first 'real' concert for her birthday - Kidz Bop Kidz!

And Darrell celebrated his Halloween birthday with the spirit of the day.


Although our hearts still hurt, the house seemed empty without a dog in it.
Leila and I went to Amish country one Saturday and came home with a puppy.
Charlie is a Cavachon - 1/2 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and 1/2 Bichon.
Having a puppy again is a little hard, but he's a cute little thing.


Zeus is actually quite taken with him too.
He's very protective of him.
Charlie is his own personal puppy to play with and take care of.


Oct ended with Leila's 1st ever Social Studies Fair (3rd place)

and trick-or-trick (Cleopatra).




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