Leila Ann

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.

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Girls Trip 2023

I worried about leaving David so soon after his accident, but our annual Girls Trip was scheduled and paid for.

Austin and Darrell both promised to check on him while we were gone, and to take him wherever he needed to be (as he still had not been released to drive).

We were going on a cruise.

All of us had cruised before, with the exception of Jessica.

We booked a 5 day one - since she was still iffy on the idea.

We sailed to the Bahamas out of Norfolk, as that was the cheapest we could find.

Our 1st port was Nassau. It wasn't overly eventful.

We did a short 'bus tour' (that part was worthless) and went to a beach (worth it).

Our 2nd port was Freeport. It poured the rain during part of our excursion, but we loved it anyway.

We went to some caves at the Lucayan National Park.

We didn't get to go to the Gold Rock Beach though, which was extremely disappointing because some of us had been practicing our 'Johnny Depp run'.

We went to another beach instead, which was just as beautiful.

The bad part of a cruise, is that you don't get as much 'beach time' as we normally like. BUT, the good part is that everyone can do their own thing, and yet - still be together.

Leila ran with other teens. Mom and Lynne went to more shows. The rest of us - well, let's just say, we always find something.

Upon returning to port - Mandy and Lynne had to head home, but the rest of us elected to stay for a couple more days so we'd have our full week.

We stayed in Virginia Beach right on the boardwalk.

We did some sight-seeing, some shopping and happened to have front row seats from our balcony on a Sand Soccer Championship.

And that's another trip in the books.

Motorcycle Wreck

May 19 - David wrecked his motorcycle on Jericho Road on the way to work.

Leila and I were getting ready to leave (running a few minutes late), when I got a call.

It was his phone, and yet when I answered - it was a lady's voice I heard. She told me what had happened, but that he was conscious and had the wherewithal to be able to unlock his phone for her.

I told her I would be there in a few minutes. On the way, I passed a teacher from school that I had been working with. Since I wasn't entirely sure what I was going to find, she took Leila to school with her.

I went around all the stopped traffic, whipped into a driveway and ran the rest of the way. I got there moments before the ambulance. He was laying in the middle of the road. Someone (a teacher at the Intermediate school I found out later) had covered him with a blanket. Yes, he was conscious, but not really 'with it'.

There's really no way to describe the feeling of seeing someone you love in the middle of the road with tons of people around him.

The squad transported him to the hospital, and the attending policeman arranged for his bike to be towed.

PVH did an assessment and sent him onto Cabell.

He had: 5-6 broken ribs, a punctured lung that was leaking air, a broken scapula, a shattered collarbone, a slight concussion, a broken toe, a messed up / stowed thumb, and a cut on one hand that took 6 stitches.

His helmet was cracked and his bike was totaled.

As bad as it was, it could have been so much worse.

There was a nurse in front of him that stopped.

And another nurse that came up behind him.

They stopped traffic both ways, helped, called the squad, the police, and me. And stayed with him.

The responding officer went above and beyond - taking care of the bike and even coming to the hospital to bring me the info on it.

One of the benefits of living in a small town - the number of people that called, prayed, checked on us and helped in so many ways. (Word does travel fast.)

Mom came to the hospital as soon as she heard - before they had even called for the transport.

Darres and Juanita immediately drove up all the way from TN.

Don beat me to the hospital in Huntington.

Austin made phone calls.

Austin, Darrell and Haley came to the hospital & kept me company.

Darrell and Haley got me dinner, and Austin and Casey got Leila's.

Darlene, Austin, Casey, Mandy and Ronnie got Leila where she needed to be.

Joel and Laura came to the hospital and Petey and Ben took care of the weekend guests we were supposed to have.

Mandy and Ronnie finished the cooking I was supposed to do for the Blessing of the Bikes that was ironically scheduled for the next day.

We would never have made it without all their help, and I thank God for them all.

I also thank God that our 'Blessing of the Bikes' came a day early.

We knew he was lucky, but we didn't know just how lucky until we went for a follow up appointment the next week. The doctor sat down and explained that if the piece of collarbone had gone an inch in any of 3 other ways, instead of into the lung that it did - he would have died almost instantly.

New Beginnings

After such losses, it's nice to post about some new beginnings.

Although, Leila played travel volleyball for Galaxy last year, she did not make the team this year.

She was disappointed, but not devastated.

At almost the last minute, she decided to try out for a different team - Own It.

Not only did she make it - she's thrilled!

She (and we) feel this team is a much better fit for her and for us.

She said she feels more at home, more accepted, more comfortable and most importantly - happier.

We love the team, the kids, the parents, and the idealogy they stand for. Yes, volleyball is important and the main goal - but community service and personal growth rank right up there too.

Not that we didn't like Galaxy (they're a great organization with great people), but Own It seems to be more 'us'.

We've started tournaments now.

There isn't nearly as much travel this year - which has pros and cons both. We don't get to go and see as many places, BUT it's much more affordable - which is nice.

Another 'new' thing in our lives - Leila got her learners permit.

It's harder this time than it was with the boys. They had been driving 'things' for years - lawn mowers, 4-wheelers, tractors, etc. She hasn't.

I know she'll get there - but it seems to be a longer, bumpier road this time.

Easter was special this year because Mom had her entire family at church Easter morning. That hasn't happened for a very long time.

Things seem to be looking up.

Unbearable Loss

The year certainly did not start off well.

David's brother Jay lost his battle with cancer.

He had fought valiantly for long enough and is now finally free from his pain.

We were able to be with him in his final moments, and we will be ever grateful to Robin for allowing us that privilege.

My heart and my love and my prayers go out to her and his kids and grandkids.

I am also so very thankful that David got to see him and spend time with him as much as he did last year.

One month after losing Jay, we lost our biggest furriest baby - Zeus (Zeusy, Zeuser, Zeuable).

He was 13, and the most gentle loving dog ever.

Everyone that ever met him, loved him.

We miss him every day, but at least we have the comfort in knowing he's okay now - He’s running again, and he’s probably happily barking at everything he’s seeing.

Charlie doesn't understand though - Zeus was his big brother, his best friend, and his constant companion.

It will take a long time for us all to heal and be 'okay'.