A year and some more months in review

January 31, 2007 Jessica lands in Utah. Her new home.

First task car shopping. I bought me a 2006 Nissan Altima. I woke up the first day to a car covered in snow.

After graduating nursing school I decided I needed a change and moved to cold snowy Utah. Little did I know the adventure that would unfold. I accepted my first nursing job as a Registered Nurse (or soon to become one, still needed to take Utah state boards) at the University of Utah Medical Center on the Orthopaedic Med/Surg floor. The staff quickly became my family away from home. I learned quickly and developed an excitement for nursing I thought I never would. Even after one night shift where two patients coded (stopped breathing on me) and one threatened to I still enjoy going to work to serve my patients.

At this time I was living with my dads cousin Vahl Buchanan and his family. I am so grateful they took me in. Their neighbor was one of the counselors in the singles ward bishopric. I had no choice I would attend (I was going to lay low until I finished nursing boards). The ward was wonderful and accepted me immediately.

I spent the first week living with my dear friend Erin (Downey) Flynn. She is one of Monica's best friends but she quickly became mine. For awhile I visited each week and made them dinner and they let me watch 24. In April she had her baby. Little Isolde Flynn it has been fun watching her grow.

Note the TV show on in the background.



March 2007
I found two great roommates, Vanessa Hepworth and Becca Seegmiller, and moved into a Duplex with them. A month or two later we were joined by Lisa Rowland

March was also the month I took my boards and officially became a Registered Nurse!

April 2007

This month I was invited by some of Becca's friends to go camping and hiking at Zions. We hiked the Narrows it was so awesome. I had a lot of fun and made some great friends. We looked a little ridiculous in our space suits.

May 2007

I returned home to Arizona for the first time. Unfortunately the family was more excited for the return of our Missionary. Monica came home from serving in the Germany Munich Austria Mission. It was great to be with family again. However, the time came to return to Utah. I packed up all my belongings and Stephanie Rider and I drove the moving truck to Utah. It was a fun trip. The truck was named 'Chief Yellow Bird', when passing other vehicles a war chant encouraged Chief Yellow Bird along. I was excited to be bringing my wonderful bed home. It was missed greatly. I was anxious to take a knife to the air mattress that was my bed for 3 long months.



June 2007- July 2007

I returned to Utah for the wedding of my cousin Rachel Miller. After the wedding the family went to Flagstaff for a Buchanan family reunion. We visited the Grand Canyon and Walnut Canyon. We just had an all around good time. Melanie Buchanan had just returned home from her mission in Peru.

One highlight of the weekend was the marshmallow fight. And of course Melanie and I took some time in front of the camera.

My ward also had a Redneck Date night, hosted by the Elders Quorum. My date was Joey Fawson he is my 2nd Cousin Colleen Buchanan's nephew. We joked around that we are related, perfect for a red neck date night.

August 2007

I had the awesome opportunity to go to Flaming Gorge with the East Millcreek 19th ward. Every year the ward goes camping and boating. I left Thursday morning after I got off work. We had a great time and I made a lot of great friends.

September and October became a count down to the most exciting vacation ever. Stephanie Rider and I booked a Royal Caribbean cruise to the Mediterranean. I worked and worked to save money and we planned our adventures daily.

Oh yeah... and in September my ward had an Elders Quorum date night. It was a Gangster Gala. We dressed up then at dinner each table hosted a murder mystery. With the help of Lisa Rowland I made my dress. My first clothing sewing project.

November 2007

With passport in hand I flew to Texas where I met up with Stephanie. Together we flew to Chicago then London into Rome. Our first day in Rome we visited the Fountain of Trevi, Spanish Steps and my favorite the Pantheon.


The next day we boarded the ship and sailed to Greece where we visited Mikanos. A island covered in white washed houses. The streets were small and winded in all directions. The mascot of the island in the pelican. For lunch I had Anchovies, YUM?!?!
Dinner

We had opportunity to enjoy an beautiful sunset.
The next port of call was in Kusidasi Turkey. From Kusidasi we boarded a bus and they drove us to Ephesus. Here we got to explore the ancient city where Paul from the Bible preached to the Ephesians.

We found the medical symbol I stood in the Hospital


and we viewed the beautiful amphitheater
and stood where Paul preachedIn addition to Ephesus we were able to visit the Temple of Apollo and eat some nasty lunch. It lookes appetizing but it is all pickled. Yuck. The main course was a fish we didn't dare try it after the salads.

A few days later we found ourselves in Rhodes Greece. A knight town built in and around a castle. Due to stormy weather we found ourselves here for two days. Special thank you to the captain for not taking us out in the storm that sunk many ships.

In the castle searching for my Knight
Due to the storm we missed out on Cyprus.

Next port of call Alexandria, Egypt!!!! We boarded police escorted buses and made the long trek to Cairo where we visited the Pyramids, Sphinx and a museum home to all of King Tuts belongings. The Pyramids are not far out in the desert like one might think they are right by the city. Beware camel rides are dangerous 20 Euros to get on, but that does not include the fee to get off.
my eyes are always closed

Next stop Athens Greece. Sadly I am was not impressed with Athens, the architecture was beautiful but the rest was kinda a bore. I think it was the way the guide presented it. But I have see in none the less.

The original Olympic Stadium

After Athens we found ourselves back in Italy. Naples that is. From Naples we travled by train to Pompei an ancient city destroyed by volcano and perfectly perserved by the ash. It was amazing. Unfortunatly, it was rainly that day so we did not get to enjoy everything as much because we were cold and miserable. From Pompei we went to Sorrento. MY FAVORITE PLACE EVER! It was beautiful I wish we could have explored it more. Here we bought music boxes. Recently I was looking at a picture and I said that is my next vacation destination. I looke to see where it was it was a island named Capri. We were suppose to visit this island but the boats were slow in the rough water so we never made it. So sad, I was so close.

Pompei

Sorrento


From here we returned to Rome. We visited the Vatican, and the Colloseum.


The Popes window



ROME
and of course before headin out we had some Gelato!
What an amazing trip. Thank you Stephanie for making me come!

December 2007 marked the end of my job at the Medical Center. I tool a new job at the University Orthopaedic Center. I wanted a change and was originally looking for a day position. I found this job No weekends No Holidays working nights. I thought it would be a great opportunity for me. I started in January of 2008.

January 2008 was spent on Orientation. Learning the ropes. I was also counting down the days to my next big adventure.

But before the adventure could start Monica came to visit. We had the chance to drive in a fun snow storm to Provo to see our cousin David off on his mission. While she was here we also had a San Jose night. The people who came were Melanie and Jimmy Buchanan, Aaron Jensen, Mark Williams, Kieth Bond and his girlfriend Katie Mack. It was fun to catch up with all of them.



February 2008

Vanessa, Becca, Lisa, Ben Layne, Jason Sargent (Sarg), Chris Seare and myself headed for Ireland! We got a great deal for 7 days in Ireland with rental car and condo. We flew from Salt Lake to New York then NY to Dublin!! The first day was spent sight seeing in Dublin then we ventured down south to Cork where our Condos where.

Ha'penny Bridge

Trinity College with the boys
Lisa and I standing guard outside Dublin Castle
Shopping center in DublinModel opportunity

The Ring of Kerry (or as Sarge calls it The Ring of Fire)
What else do you do at the Ring of Kerry
Me, still on the Ring of Kerry
Blarney Castle (sorry its sideways)
Kissing the Blarney Stone!! I now have the gift of gab!


At church in Ireland
The Cliffs of Moher ... Inconcievable
Stone Table

Aquafina Water Bottle Model in Ireland

We got to ring the bells at a local church
Eating Shepherd Pie at a Pub in Dublin
Water in Budweiser cups

Guinness Factory Becca, Vanessa and a girl that looks like me. There was a wall we could write notes on at the Factory

So that is Ireland. Upon return to the good ole US of A we stayed in New York for a few days. We had packed warm clothes for Ireland because we thought we would freeze. I didn't use my wool coat till I got to New York.

Vanessa, Becca and I

Allison Hannig, Natalie Lowe, Becca, Cami in the subway on the way to the Manhattan TempleOutside the temple

Vanessa won us tickets to see Wicked.
The next day we saw Curtains starring David Hyde Pierce. The best pizza ever. Grimaldi's Pizzaria in DUMBO (district under the Manhattan bridge overpass)

Eating Pizza with Vanessa, Natalie, and Alicia Anderson. It was so good I took the rest of the girls there later. The Brooklyn Bridge

Empire State Building at night.
Gray's Papaya home of the best hot dog ever!

Central Park


Oh the fun we had in New York.

April 2008

I got switched to a day position at work. Yeah.

I flew home April 17 to celebrate my birthday and go through the Temple for my Endowment. What a great trip and an amazing experience. After the temple my mom had friends and family over for food and fun. I love my family.
The girls Melanie, Monica, Me, Amber and Sarah
Sisters

Shortly after Returning home from Arizona. Amber and Dad came to Utah. They were performing Joseph Smith the Prophet with Rob Gardner in the Tabernacle. Sarah and Jeff DeMoss came as well along with Beth Wilcox. They all crashed in my basement. It was crowded but we had fun. Their performance was awesome. The first night President Thomas S. Monson was there with President Uchtdorf and their wives. As the Prophet walked in it was silent then someone in the crowd started singing "We Thank Thee O God For a Prophet." What an amazing experience. Melanie, Aunt Linda and Uncle Clair were able to come to the performance with us.

One day while they were in town we went to the Salt Lake Temple. This was my second time going through any temple and Sarah, Jeff, Amber, Beth and myselfs first time in a live session. Dad and Jimmy Buchanan came as well. It was a beautiful experience. Amber wispered to Sarah and I, 'think about it Grandma use to come and sit in these very rooms.' That was a neat thought, think about it everytime I go.

I also took the family on a tour of temple square, the conference center and to This is the Place Monument. We had a great trip.


This is one of many posed pictures. Sarah and I are looking for the angels. However, I like Monicas interpretation that we are the angels.

May 2008

I joined my ward for a trip to Moab. We camped and did river rafting. I love my ward and have so much fun with them. A group of us went extreme hiking. What is it check out the pictures.

July 2008

Grandpa Buchanan and Marilyn are on a mission in Wyoming at Martins Cove. Amber and Monica met up with me in Utah and we took a trek down there. Grandpa took us up to Casper Wyoming and brought us down the mormon trail into Martins Cove. He told us all the stories of the trail. One of my favorite stops was Independence Rock. I ran up the rock, if any of you think that is not a big deal you have obviously not been there, it is steep. It was neat to see all the names at the top of the pioneers that came before. It acts as a record of all those that passed by. Pretty neat. Martins Cove was neat as well. My favorite part was listening to Grandpa tell the stories of the pioneers. You could tell the stories meant a lot to him and you couldn't help but feel a deep respect for them as well. The best strory was that of Ephraim Hanks, Grandpa tells his story so well, the youth really get into his story. Wyoming, who would of thought it could be so beautiful. On the drive to Martins cove we stopped in Little America to see the gift shop where Geat Grandma Oaks worked.The next stop was in Green River Wyoming first we drove by the corner theat Grandma lived on, now there is a Dairy Queen. Then we went to the pedestrian bridge that crosses over the train tracks. Apparently, as a kid dad use to spit on the passing trains. We had to try that out. It was a great trip. Ended to soon when I dropped my sisters off at the airport.

Spitting on the passing trains. Mom, dad taught us this.


That is me at the top of Independence Rock
Devils Gate. We were reading pioneer stories one was about a woman that fell to her death at Devils Gate. Here epitaph read something like this. 'For her redemption came to late... she found her fate at Devils Gate.' Funny but sad.
Martins Cove
In July my ward hosted a Charity car wash for a guy in our stake who has cancer. We had a great turn out and raised $1000 dollars. It was so much fun. My ward is so great.

I was known as Windex Girl! In August of 2008 my ward recieved some sad news. Our dear Bishopric was being released. They have been such a great group of men our ward will miss them greatly. However, our ward does not exist any more. At the same time of the release the ward was split into four wards. It was originally made up of four stakes so now each stake has its own ward. It turned out to be a rough change for many. I was very excited about it from the day they announced it. The four wards all meet in the same building and we overlap for sunday school. In addition, we will have many combined activities. The wards are small but will grow quickly. Our goal is to find those that should be attending. I was called to be the 2nd counselor in the Relief Society. I am excited for this new opportunity to serve and meet new people.

It is now Septemberof 2008 I just finished my training in the Procedure Room. I can now work in there. The procedures we do there are typically steroid injections into the back hip foot and almost any other joint you can think of. It is fun to have more experience.

This year and 7 months has been amazing. Such an opportunity for personal growth. I have made many great friends, seen so many amazing places. I miss my family more than anything. But I would not trade any of these opportunities. The Lord has been good to me, even in my trials. I could only hope to be as blesssed in the many years to come.

How is that for a long blog.