When we really think about moving clear across the world we kinda get a little sick. We have been ready for an adventure for a long time. We are beyond excited! But leaving family and friends behind us makes us kinda sick to our stomach.
Every single day my kids play with their cute little friends. They are so happy. Our dear friends hand with us. Laugh with us. Raise us up during hard times and put up with us... and now, while Mr. Mecham is a gajillion mile away preparing our European home, friends make the longs days go by faster. Family does the same. So here we are... excited and sad all at once. Its a bag of emotions whose reality is quickly approaching. We know family will be here. We know friends will be here. We know we will stay in touch. But we won't be playing with them and talking to them every day... Today when I saw the boys playing with Princes out back, it hit hard... these little people are more like our kids than the neighbors and we kinda feel like we are leaving some of our children behind. Thank heaven for technology! If it weren't for phones and fb, blogs and e-mail, we wouldn't make it!

Dear friends and Family,
We are excited for an opportunity to travel Europe, work in Poland, serve our Heavenly Father in a far off land and expand our circles of friends there. However, you will forever and ever hold a big piece of our hearts. It has helped to know that in all the places we've ever lived, our friends are still our friends and we still communicate with them. But we will miss you something fierce.
There will always be a place for you to lay your head and an warm meal at our table if you should desire to travel across the ocean to see us.
We will be back... and perhaps we like you more than you like us... but we can't tell....because you are too nice to us! That is why we will be back. And we already look forward to it!
Until then, Much love,
The Mechams.

Every Fourth Stork is Polish

"Every Fourth Stork is Polish"

I have to admit something since the Mr. already spilled the beans about my love for bird. I LOVE BIRDS! It's maybe a little bit weird... but I have always loved them. Infact, the only thing that I get excited about when I think of the mammoth oleanders in my back yard is that they house a WHOLE LOT of birds... and I can hear them and see them every day. We are not real "pet" people... but we have 15 chickens which I have a place in my heart for and two cockateils that I talk to like they were my babies. Mr. Squeeker knows I love him. And Tilly is my buddy. I know. It is strange... I just can't help myself. So while some people dream of the fancy car they would drive if they had a million bucks, I dream of the aviary I would build... It is palacial.
Mi Amore knows this little fact about me. He has listened to me ramble many times. So he couldn't wait to report on the stork population in Poland... our future new home. I went to work researching the mythical creature that drops babies at on the door step. This is what I found: And I am so excited to see these beauties in my back yard.

"Each spring, Poland welcomes home roughly 25 percent of the nearly 325,000 white storks (scientific name Ciconia ciconia) that breed in Europe. When the storks return from their wintering grounds in Africa, they are attracted to tall trees or buildings where they build nests that often weigh up several tons. People sometimes attach wagon wheels to rooftops and barns or tall poles near buildings in hopes of luring the birds to nest near their homes. Today, telecommunications companies put up special poles and nest supports for the storks.

Adult white storks are about 1 m (3 ft) tall, with long red legs, a straight pointed red bill, white plumage, and black wing feathers.

Nearly 41 thousand “couples” of the 160 thousand worldwide breed in Poland, thus, “every fourth stork is Polish.” (http://poland.pl/spec/storks/facts.htm and www.bociany.pl)
Stork nests are huge: some old nests may be over 6 ft (2 m) in diameter and nearly 9 ft (3 m) in depth. They are constructed of branches and sticks and lined with twigs, grasses, sod, rags, and paper. Some nests have been in continuous use for hundreds of years . Breeding birds add to the nest each summer, with both males and females contributing to the construction.

Storks stay with one mate for the breeding season, but they do not migrate or over-winter together. If the same pair mates the next year, it is because of a strong attachment to the nesting site. The female usually lays 3–5 eggs, and both parents incubate the eggs for about one month. Young chicks are covered with white down and have black bills; their legs and bills slowly turn red as they mature.

Both parents bring food to the nest until the young fledge at 8–9 weeks of age. As the babies prepare for their first flight, they practice by jumping up from the ground floor of the nest, and then take small flights near the nest. Before the summer is over, they join their parents at the feeding grounds, which are usually near wet or marshy areas"

Is that fantastic? I can't wait to see them. Nate says they are everywhere! :)

Happy Anniversary Baby!

June 14, on Flag day, Mr. Mecham and I were married in the Manti, UT, (Sanpete County) LDS temple. It was a lovely day, indeed. The photographer forgot to show up (because dad had pre-paid him) but other than that there wasn't even a glitch! And besides, everyone had a camera anyway so we had tons and tons of pictures!
14 years later here we are... still celebrating that beautiful day! Except we are happier today than we were nearly a decade and a half ago... because we've had time to figure out how much we actually really do like each other. And I must say, I wouldn't like to live another day without Mr. Mecham. I hope we never have to find out what that is like.
This year we do not celebrate in much style... Although the ever romantic Mr. Mecham did call in a special order clear from Poland to have Sugar Mama's deliver a little treat. And he promised me we would have a real celebration... perhaps in Paris or Prague to celebrate our union. And then... he sent a love not from Europe. And though I did edit it a little bit, I am going to share the romantic side or Mr. Mecham... because it makes me so happy to read it.

Rebecca Suzanne,

First of all, you may have received my custom-ordered 'magic' anniversary gift. I mean, seriously....only once in a lifetime do you celebrate 14 years of marriage on the 14th day of your wedding month, and I find myself on the other side of the world. Curse. Don't fret, my dear...I will get to be with you again very soon, and someday soon I will be able to take you to celebrate in a proper fashion. enjoy.

Happy Anniversary!!!

Part I:
With much joy and fondness do I sit down tonight and reflect on the blessed and happy state of my life with you. Today marks the completion of 14 years of marriage to you, and I wish like a dish of tuna fish that I was next to you to say this in person...but with my weakness in communicating, would I say the things I want to? Hard to say, Clark. One thing I do know is that things happen for a reason, and I firmly believe that I was lead to you. You were like a magnet for me. Once I saw you, I knew that I had to know you. Once I got to know you, I couldn't stay away. Period. I joke about marrying way above my head, but that couldn't be more true. The problem with that, however, is that you must tire of constantly dragging me along. Everything worthwhile, lovely and of good report related to my existence on this earth ties directly to you. Period. (I say that a lot...I think) You are my foundation of hope, happiness and pure joy. I cringe when I reflect on some of my past actions and attitudes related to our relationship, my career, my role in our family, my view of our family and the way I have treated you at times. I think our thoughts can be assembled in such a way as to create our own framework of endless misery and woe (I don't know how to spell woe, to be honest with you), and for me, thinking of those things does that to me. I doubt you had any idea of the amount of work it would be to have me in your life. Oh how great the hope that eternal life gives us, that we can be in a constant state of improvement and repair, always becoming better than we are...not settling for what we are now, but striving for what we can become. I am sorry it has taken me so dang long to appreciate you for all that you have done, all that you are and all that we can become together. Dang. That sounded good. Way better than any stupid card at Fry's or Wally-world....and I had to break from my stupid tradition of buying you some slightly (or not so slightly) suggestive card that was as shallow as all get out. :)

Part II:
Things I really, really like about Rebecca Suzanne Mecham (in no particular order):
- The sultry sound of her voice on the phone after a long day.
- The way she flips her lovely blonde locks off her shoulder when she is giving a kick-fannie presentation.
- The way she tilts her head when she is listening to what you have to say.
- The way she can whip up the most decisious meal in the world with nothing but vegetables, some left-over rice and a couple of cans of beans.
- The way she can sight read music better than most folks can play after practicing.
- The incredible way she smells. I am not kidding at all about that lotion applicator position...
- Her patience with her children, which far and away exceeds the great majority of the population.
- The way she sticks up for her children - always.
- Her desire to be a noble and obedient daughter of God.
- The way she says 'k'den' when she needs to make a point.
- The number of books about ancient prophets within an arm's reach at any given moment.
- Her honesty.
- Her passion about those things that she cares about.
- Her beauty.
- Her grace.
- Her soft spot for anything about the Royal Family, a Coke with lots of ice, and cadbury eggs.
- The wall of pillows erected every night to make the cursed (Sunday purchased) mattress even half-way comfortable.
- Her talent with hot wax.
- The way she can turn a trip to the gas station, grocery store or indian reservation into a reprieve from the world's troubles.
- Watching the way other people love her and react to her.
- Pulling the blanket up around her after she has fallen dead asleep on the couch, knowing that she may or may not sleep in her bed that night.
- Watching her manuver around a cooler in the back of the van as she distributes a fabulous meal to the family going 75 mph down the highway.
- Watching her manuver the tiller (her favorite power tool) around the garden or chicken coop.
- Listening to her play the piano in the evening just for the heck of it.
- Watching the reaction she gets from both the chickens and cocketiels. She really is the Bird Lady.
- The way she takes care of people recovering from sickness or surgery.
- The way she never makes fun of people coming out of surgery by making them say dumb stuff.
- The way she covers for people when they get sick at the sight of a needle or the wiggle of an IV thingy.
-

The way she makes me feel when I am with her....my oh my.

I love you, Becky.

That is just a part of why I love Nate... I think its funny that he thinks he has "mis-treated" me... Like... when I think of that I think of people hitting other people. Or Maybe people saying something mean. He hasn't ever done any of that... But whatever.

My response... to that lovely letter:

Mi Amore,
No way, not ever, Will there be a card or letter written to beat that one. NEVER EVER! laughing and crying... And I don't think I could ever top it. You just hit a major home run... so tell me again, why are you 10 trillion miles away tonight?
I love you. I miss you. EVERYTHING about you. Everything.
Becky

I was so consumed trying to forget that yesterday was my anniversary, since I didn't get to spend how I would have liked to... and so I didn't post this little blog until the 15th. Oh well... Atleast I won't forget it.

Taxi Driver

Among all of the motherly duties to be done, I think I am going to be best at Taxi driving... After all, I spend all my time in the car. Does everyone feel the same way? Like... this week was so crazy that at red lights I found myself daydreaming about the day that Bailey gets her drivers liscence... and I was picking out which new car I would get when I passed the big family wagon on to her so that she could run some errands and drop some kids off. At one light I woke up to a horn honker and a couple middle fingers coming my way. I guess I was a dreaming a little more than I should have been.

5 things best about taxi driving:

5) watching the price of fuel at the pump go up and up and up.... Because you start considering not only the cost of the event that you are driving your child to, but how much it will cost you to get them there before you decide if it will work in your buget. You know, I like the idea of charging per bag. The airlines have that just about right... Each time somebody gets in my car from now on, I think I will charge them for their purse, swim bag, music bag, bat bag, brief case, wallet, church bag, scripture bag, and for sure each grocery bag. Then I can afford gas!

4) working in a cubical (I've never done it but heard it isn't so much fun) must kinda be like driving your car all day. Except you don't have a chair with wheelies that you can spin around in. However, your cubical is on wheels?!

3) winter taxi vs summer taxi: Winter taxi is just the same thing over and over... drop the kids at school. grocery store. bank. laundry. pick up kids from school. take to sports practice/games. take to music lessons. over and over... Super routine! But summer taxi is a little different! Get in car. burn hand. burn buttocks on the seat (cloth seats have to be better than leather in AZ.) turn on AZ and feel a 10 min blast of heat melting your face... then get to destination turn off car only to return and start that over again before you get to next destination. Plus the car smells like chlorine. Very different from winter taxi. Events are moment to moment rather than routine. Can't decide which one I like more

2) Taxi driving with a car load of kids. Hopefully all of them talking at the same time... and Hopefully there are atleast 10 of them... Just hopefully! For an entire 8 hours until your head is sooo full of fog that you can't figure out how to get the straw in your coke from the cup holder to your mouth.

1) The best thing about taxi driving is that I have a taxi at all! Thanks heaven! Could I imagine doing all of this walking? YIPES!

Man of the house

It went down like this:
Last night we were preparing Nate "the great" to leave on the first leg of our European excursion. Upon my scan of the front yard I realized that it was not mowed... I told McKay that he was going to be the man of the house and so he would be in charge of mowing after pops left. And though I was half way joking, because like what mum sends her 10 year old out to do all the manly duties of the father... But McKay let it seep in... While I forgot about it.

This morning we took Old papa Nate to that airport along with 3 oversized suit cases full of provisions for the next 18 months... And we quickly dropped him at the curb with a smooch and hugs and drove away. Upon our return back to the homestead we all quickly found ourselves crawling back into our cozy and cool sheets. And next thing I know this is what happened...

I woke up to the lawn mower moving across the yard. I looked at the clock in time to see that I had waaaaaay over slept and then I peeped out my blinds to see the "man of the house" pulling the lawn mower over the yard.

Later, whence he came in, and after I smooched his face off, I asked Mr. McKay why did he do such a nice thing and he told me, "I wanted to get a start on the lawn before it got too hot." He did the far side by the street today and said he would work on the rest throughout the rest of the week. And then I realized... I am in good hands!

Mr. Mecham may be thousands of miles away, but the Man of the house is taking good care of things over here.

Sure love that little man!

"I swear I had never done anything like that before..."

One day I was sitting in church and heard somebody say, "pray for trials... they make you stronger". I actually gave that some thought. Like... I thought about it all day! I thought about Lady Nie and all the trial she has faced with her accident. She has been a wowzer of inspiration to the world! I thought about Joseph and Emma Smith who lived an entire life of trial for the restoration of the gospel. I thought about the founding fathers of this nation and the soldiers who gave their lives for land of liberty! Trial! I thought about the countless prophets and wives who faced lives without children, persecution for their beliefs, hiding from those who would kill them, destruction of their homes and friends in the masses, calls to give up every worldly possession they had and the losses of children to the adversary from some of the most notable and righteous women to ever live... The trials of Eve, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah, Sariah, and the mother's of the stripling warriors. The trials of Adam, Joseph, John, Abraham and Lehi, Nephi and ultimately, the Son of God. In a nutshell, I did a lot of thinking that day. A lot. And I realized that these people were all real and they were all loved. But they had something I didn't have. They had trial and opportunity to overcome it. They were stronger people because they depended upon Heavenly Father through their trial. Then I asked myself a funny question: Why would these people who were a bajillion times better than me have to go through all of this to receive glory and I should not have to do anything of the kind? Then I got worried... What about the pioneers? There is a trail! I had not allowed myself to get stronger... but I was ready. I must have been in a good spot that day because that night I did the most "off the wall" thing I had ever done. I prayed for trial. Now let me tell you... I swear I had never done anything like this before. But I was serious as a heart attack! And HOLY MOLY... talk about a prayer granted! Now please let me preface that this seems like a mite sized trial compared to the heroic people above mentioned... but non the less, it has been... hard!

Over the next few months the foundation for the perfect trial was laid. And then on January 12 Mr. Mecham found himself jobless. In a world where so many people know what this feels like I should not, perhaps, consider this a trial at all. But for the Mechams, it was. And it was perfect! We look back on the last few months with fondness! We consider that at that moment on January 12 we would elevate it to one of the greatest events that ever happened to our little family. All of the things we had prayed for were solved by this minuscule event. Our children learned more gratitude! They fasted and prayed like I've never heard children pray. That alone was a tender mercy. The sad fact, is that their mighty faith was what elevated that of their parents. Each of us became more solid in the law of the tithe. We lay giddy in bed each night thankful to have lived that law perfectly... if we never did another thing perfectly we are blessed to have done that! We knew that it was the best insurance out there! And it has proven to be! We can't wait to pay our tithing when Sunday rolls around! Our chickens laid more eggs. Our food stayed fresh longer. Our car got better gas mileage. Our children stayed healthy in midst of flu season. We were able to afford surgery for Nate and physical therapy for McKay. The list is lengthy. It is miraculous. It doesn't add up on paper. I personally learned something critical for my progression... something about my judgement upon those who financially struggle: though it is difficult to admit, I didn't ever see myself in that place and so I didn't have an understanding of what the poor and needy really go through. Because of that, my judgement was seriously off. I am soooo thankful to have been enlightened! So very thankful. The hardest day for me through the entire 4 months of this newt sized ordeal was when the sweetest little man pulled up in front of my house and I watched him from the window reach into his back seat and pull forward a big box overflowing with food. I nearly wept before he got to the door. We had a lot of food in our house. But this man and his wife wanted to help and they did more than feed us food. Bags of Cosco chicken, lasagna, treats for the kids, turkeys, roast and pork. I swear paycheck worth of luxurious provisions. From their goodness I felt the love that Heavenly Father has for us. I know that we were not only watched over but that EVERYTHING!!! would be okay. From that day forward, I did not worry. I knew all was well. Another sister offered her food storage to us. Somebody else dropped off his car for Nate to drive while I took the other one. Dear friends, knowing we wouldn't use our money to spend going out, made us dinner and invited us for fun at home instead. We took more temple trips. Our relationships got better! And Better! And Better! We learned a new work ethic. We believed more in ourselves. In fact, if you have a self image problem... loose a job! Then you will realize that Heavenly Father is taking care of you! That sounds funny, i know, but lets be honest, if the God of Heaven and Earth has enough interest in you to work miracles on your behalf doesn't that give you self esteem? Above all else, we learned that there is a little secret to trial that we don't get to hear much about... when some will ditch you because they mis-judge you for trial others will rise to the rescue. While some would say trial is punishment I would say it is a profound way for Heavenly Father to show His love for us. While some will wallow in their trial, I believe whole heatedly that it is to be overcome. And I will die fighting to overcome. While there are those who claim that trial is brought upon the weak I believe that only the strong can take it on. From this day forward, I will stand firm in my belief that Heavenly Father knows what trial to give to who. He is mindful of each of us. And I will accept what comes my way with a cheerful heart knowing that the person who said, "pray for trials... they make you stronger" not only spoke from experience, but he was absolutely right!
mark your calendar: January 12... the best day for the Mechams. WE (as in all of the Mechams) consider this little trial a mighty opportunity for growth in every way... to prepare us for what ever there is to come to us. And with confidence I invite all who need a lift in life to not only pray for a trial, but to be willing to find each and every blessing that comes with it. There are more than can be counted.

Lunch Lady

McKay has this little soft spot in my heart, as all my children do... And, like any other mother would, I did something this year that I didn't want to just for him. Actually, it all started years ago. Here is the story:
McKay is a home body. He has always enjoyed playing with his friends at home but rarely does he go to their house. When it was time to go to school we tried like crazy to convince him that it was cool! We took him to Mrs Billings pre-school; the funnest preschool EVER! and he still wasn't excited about school. When kindergarten started he was less enthused. Finally in second grade McKay got Mother goose for a teacher. Bless her! That woman is going to Heaven! School that year was beautiful and I was certain that we were over the hardship of public school. The following year was AWFUL! Mother Goose was gone (she stayed teaching 2nd grade even though we offered to pay her an additional salary to move through 12th grade with McKay) and McKay had a male teacher. Mr. Moore. Now I have to tell you, I thought Mr. Moore was one of the best teachers in all of public school! But he was a definite far cry from mother goose... he didn't hug. he didn't shyly giggle when the kids were being naughty, and he didn't talk to Mckay like he was a tulip. His was an institute of learning and he expected everyone to "just do what they were told" and when they didn't he wasn't messing around. He never got mad, but he followed through on consequence every. single. time! Mckay hated school. In spite of me going to the class room and grading every paper ever done that year, McKay still hated school. And so I put together all my brain power and came up with an idea to apply to be a playground aid at school. Why not? If McKay had to go to school then perhaps he would like it more if his mother went with him! YIKES! And just to keep the making fun down, I shall have a job there! The kids never wonder about that!!! Problem: no playground aid jobs open at his school... which meant to me that other kids also hate school and their mums got a job to help them out! Well we made it through 3rd grade. And we LOVED that summer! But is sure went by quickly. 4th grade arrived as did another amazing teacher but all the kids who were friends in 3rd grade were in another class... and Ms. Sims didn't need help grading papers. It was going to be a terrible horrible no good very bad year! I could tell. Making all new friends? WOW! I could go sit in the class and observe but how weird is that everyday? And who has time for that? And would that really help? And so it was that we just accepted a year of wo is me from McKay... LOTS of prayers and trying to invite kids over was a treat. Then came the year of a life time (I will write about later... I promise) and one day, in the midst of serious trial at the Mecham home, the lunch lady called to offer me a job. She found my resume from last year and thought she would have me go apply at the district offices. And so I did. And that day I got the job and I started the next. Lunch lady is a far cry from playground aid. And just in case you don't love your neighborhood lunch lady, you need to. In fact, there should be lunch lady appreciation week! Those ladies are working their buns off! (no pun intended.)
Day 1 as a lunch lady: I had to change my clothes because I had on earrings, a blouse and ballet shoes. Better apparel choice would have been scrubs and a pony tail. Best choice was t-shirt and jeans, tennis shoes or orthopedics and NO JEWELRY! hair in pony tail or pinned back somehow. BOY HOWDY! Day 2- 5: I did everything... EVERYTHING... wrong! And on day 5 I came home with tears in my eyes telling Nate "I hate school!" I hate it and we should home school McKay. The fact is, I had decided to quit on Monday. And then Ms. Sims called and said, "You fixed the problem! McKay is a whole new kid since you started working this week. He raises his hand! He is playing with all the kids on the playground. He is HAPPY all the time! I think you solved the problem!" I was stunned! STUNNED!!! He saw me for less then 10 seconds while he zipped through the line deciding if he would have a corn dog or meatloaf... How did that change everything? And from that phone call I realized... I had to stay as a lunch lady. I had to! It had changed the whole game for McKay. But I hated it! Then I gave myself the little pep talk that I gave mcKay every other day before I was a lunch lady... the one about attitude and optimism. And then I put on my tennis shoes and t-shirt, pulled my hair into a pony tail and found a smile and went to work. What a year!

10 things I learned from being a lunch lady:

10: I was cut out to be a mom. I don't like to work under somebody Else's jurisdiction.
9: people don't think lunch ladies are smart.
8: the local lunch lady does NOT NOT NOT get paid for the work she does... She works like a slave and gets paid next to nothin'. Don't work for the money there... if you need money get a different job.
7: I live in a bubble. I like my bubble.
6: the school that the kids go to is an amazing institution and I am now a major lover of Franklin schools. WOW! The children are well behaved and the teachers are incredible. I wish each parent would go and observe just to see what it is really about.
5: Religion is an interesting topic. I worked with 5 of the most wonderful lunch ladies ever! 1 Catholic, 1 Lutheran, 1 J.W., 1 Latter Day Saint. Religion was my favorite topic to bring up! :)
4: Ketchup and Ranch dressing really make me want to gag.
3: School Children are vulnerable. I am soooo glad I am done with that!
2: You can easily pick out children who's parents are involved in their life by their appearance, actions, and confidence... GET INVOLVED IN YOUR KIDS!!!
1: The number one thing I learned as a lunch lady is that I would literally do ANYTHING... i mean ANYTHING... to get my little people through life. Your reason "why" in life, should make you try (or cry)... and my reason why I went to work as a lunch lady made me do both.

I have never... NOT EVER... looked forward to summer break so much!