Virginia is for Wine Lovers

Wine is such an interesting industry; a unique combination of art and science, that either pleases or disgusts. The more I learn about wine, the more interested in it I become, and I really wish I hadn’t dropped that Wine class I was taking in college. James stayed in his Beer class, and he learned how to brew his own beer! I think I'll take a class in wine when I get a chance. Last year, we began the annual girls wine trip away in North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley, and we continued it this year in Charlottesville, Virginia! Charlottesville is the center of Virginia 's wine industry, so we thought it would be a great place to start. We had been planning this trip for weeks, and then when we went to get a hotel room, we realized it was UVA’s graduation weekend! What horrible planning! There was nothing available within an hour of Charlottesville, and the one hotel we did find about that far away was $300 a night! Thankfully, Grandpa and Grandma Gouger have a farmhouse in Louisa, which is only 30 minutes from Charlottesville, so not only did we get to enjoy a weekend of wine, but we also got to enjoy the farmhouse! And I absolutely love the farm! It is such an awesome treasure in our family, and I love being able to spend time there. The only problem was that the wineries were packed because of graduation, but we were still able to visit five. On the first day, we made it to three, and on the second day, we invite James to join us for the last two! We began at Jefferson's Winery (of course), and then headed to Oakencroft vineyard, until we ended up at Whitehall vineyards.

Precious Blooms!

Friendship and Flowers bring me such Joy!

Bountiful Seas

James and I have recently discovered the awesomeness of sushi. The funny thing is that our friends have eaten it for years, but our preconceived notions of eating the raw fish has kept us from trying and enjoying it. My freshman roommate Cathy ate sushi all the time, and I was always like…ew. Even at her bridal shower I only ate the cooked stuff! At Japanese steakhouses, we would completely skip over the sushi menu. But our food palates have expanded over the last few months as we have been trying more and more kinds of sushi. I will admit that I began with fried sushi (yes….fried), but then we went out with a friend who wouldn’t let me order it. And…he was right! Sushi is incredible. James would describe it as weird, but awesome, and he sometimes thinks it’s slimy. But, for the most part, we are enjoying the awesomeness of sushi!

MMMmmmm....strawberries

There is nothing quite as sweet as eating a freshly picked strawberry right off of the vine on a beautiful spring day in Pungo. Unless you are James who doesn’t eat them due to pesticides and too many agriculture classes in college. Though I am cognitively aware of the chemicals and bugs, I still enjoy the warm sweetness of the fresh fruit! This year, we celebrated Colin’s second birthday by going strawberry picking, though I think we enjoyed it a bit more than Colin did. Colin even had a tiny Longaberger basket to himself. It was the perfect toddler size and it was just too cute. As we were having our baskets weighed, a woman came up to James and whispered to him where the best picking spot was: “You just keep going on past the pickers, walk all the way towards the road, and then come back. That’s where we got all of these…” Apparently, no one ever taught her that it’s weird to go up to a stranger and whisper in their ear, and I think she picked all of the strawberries in her super secret area. We still got some awesome ones though! Colin picked about two, and then waived goodbye and ran back to the car, so we continued without mama and nephew for a while. I never really thought that people had strawberry picking styles, but Brent only picks big ones that are shaped like the perfect strawberry, while Abigail prefers small strawberries, and I prefer weird looking ones that are ripe. James just likes ripe ones. And Colin prefers that other people pick his strawberries! It was a beautiful day, and James and I picked a ton of strawberries to enjoy.

Hurray new toys!

Hidden Treasures

Amidst endless stoplights, backed up traffic, crowded neighborhoods, and the infinite number of strip malls in Virginia Beach lies a wonderful getaway called Back Bay. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge renews my spirit and gives me hope that despite the chaotic mess of every day life, there is peace and joy just down the road. Soon, tourists will flock into town to cover the beaches and buy saltwater taffy, yet we still have an oasis away from them all nestled in Sand Bridge. If you haven’t been to Back Bay, I strongly encourage you to visit. It is a natural refuge along the Virginia, North Carolina border, covering over 9,000 acres of dunes, shoreline, and marsh. James and I often spent summers riding our bikes and walking along the beach there, but our lives get so busy, we often forget that this uplifting park is there for us. Every time I visit, I am reminded that I picked the wrong majors in college. I love animals… I love the wilderness… I love the sea… I just love God’s creation. Despite all of this, I majored in Communication and Political Science… hmmm. A little known fact: James and I both began college as Biology Majors. And our first semester Biology professors were both awful, providing enough encouragement for us to both drop out into something else. Our second semester Biology professor was incredible! His name was Dr. Simmons, and he only taught Biology to non majors, which is such a shame (and he only taught at 8:00 in the morning… hence the reason I began to drink coffee). Despite going into a field that has nothing to do with the outdoors, I still have the comfort of knowing I can enjoy God’s beauty nonetheless.

Row, Row, Row your Boat...

After wintering in the Ocean State, the Lady Kaye finally ventured down the coast and up the Thames to settle into its summer home at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT.

Semper Paratus

Because we have been so crazy recently, we haven’t had much of a chance to update the blog as much as we would have liked, but we are going to try to catch you up a bit! A few weeks ago, Jamie, Benjamin, and I flew up to visit Tony at the Coast Guard Academy. Little Benjamin was only 6 weeks old, and he was awarded an adorable certificate for his first flight! He was absolutely amazing, and he made it through 4 flights without fussing or crying. In fact, he slept through most of them, and when he was awake, he was all smiles. I think the smiles were all due to his airplane outfit he wore for his first flight. I absolutely love New England, but sadly, we weren’t able to make it to Rhode Island. A weekend just isn’t enough to fit everything in. We went to this awesome restaurant called Iggy’s that has some of the best clam chowder I’ve ever had in Connecticut. They also have these awesome clam cakes that are completely worth the drive! Tony was sailing most of the weekend, so we didn’t get to see him much, but we did get to see the boat and experience the freezing “spring weather” in New England. I think Benjamin prefers warm weather…he is from the Beach after all. Jamie got to see the campus for the first time, and we went to the infamous Mystic Pizza for dinner (though I still haven’t seen the movie.) The pizza is delicious though, and the walls are covered with pictures of Julia Roberts. Really…it’s amazing how good the pizza is, because you would think they would only focus on the movie aspect versus the food. On Saturday, we spent the day sleeping in and getting ready for the dance. Jamie looked absolutely amazing, and Benjamin and I got lots of bonding time! He was wonderful, and then he got a little bit sad when he realized his mommy wasn’t there anymore. But, overall, he was just precious, and I used the opportunity to take tons of pictures of him! Ben is adorable and we had an amazing time on our short trip to New England!

Esperanza Means Hope

Dear friends and family,

For the past three years, it has been on my heart to travel with a group called Project Esperanza to the Dominican Republic to serve a small school in the Dominican Republic. The past two summers came and went with too much going on for me to commit. But with everything that has been happening in our lives, I realized after April 16th that life is too important and short to wait, and I have too much to give to not serve. So this summer, I will be spending two weeks in the Dominican Republic to teach English in a school run by Project Esperanza and to build a home for a very deserving woman who has been nothing but faithful to her church, yet has been without a home for many years.

Project Esperanza is a nonprofit organization that was formed by students at Virginia Tech, and it has been strongly supported by our home church in Blacksburg, New Life Christian Fellowship. The vision of Project Esperanza is to unite through service the communities of the New River Valley in Virginia with the community of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. PE has projects happening throughout the year in both communities, and it has many amazing projects underway both here in the US and in the DR. I encourage you to visit our website, www.esperanzameanshope.org.

As many of you know, I am currently working on a Masters Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and I will begin to put those studies to use in the community of Munoz, an impoverished area outside of Puerto Plata. I will be teaching English and other skills in the local school, The United Brothers School of Munoz, which serves as the only school for all the children of the area. In addition to teaching, PE is teaming up with a church in Puerto Plata to build a home for a very deserving woman who serves the church but has been without a home for years.

I am asking for help in funding that will not only help fund my service, but will also help support the organization as a whole. My two weeks in the Dominican Republic will cost close to $900.00. PE is a non-profit organization, so all donations are tax-deductible. If you choose to contribute, please send a check made out to Project Esperanza to the following address. Be sure to write “Volunteer Trip: Angela Gouger” in the memo line.

Project Esperanza
413 Clay Street SW
Blacksburg, VA 24060

Thank you for your support! I am excited about sharing all of my amazing experiences with you!

Always, Angela

Thank you JMU!

Adorable Duke dog donated by JMU that is now displayed in Squires!

Spring Tailgate 2008

After not holding a Spring Game last year, Angela and I felt it necessary to be there this year considering we will not be in the VA for at least a few years. We organized a large tailgate, as we had several alumni and student friends who would be in town and wanted to see, so several weeks ago we started to plan. The weekend was a great success of seeing old friends, a little football, and getting a break from the insane routine we call our lives. I have been in the middle of a very time consuming area of study at work, and Angela has been working half days while taking a full load of graduate courses. Getting away to SouthWest VA is well needed after putting up with traffic and allergies that define Hampton Roads. As exhausted as we were, we took naps Friday before leaving, but made it to Blacksburg before 1am. The next day was sublime, as we headed to Kroger as Frank Beamer and our boy CJ Neagle would approve of. After loading down on beer and ice (also boxed wine, which is a recent tailgate hit!), we parked in the Litton Reeves lot and carved out a space. Soon, grills arrived and meat cooked while we caught up with friends and played tailgate games. “Screech” flew in from Bahrain to be at the tailgate and was a pleasure to catch up with. Angela saw all of her girls, and the Wyse ladies were in town (congrats to Jennifer and Laura Wilson who were accepted into the VPI&SU Ph.D programs!) It started to rain, but that was ok! The actual scrimmage was the low point of the day, as the poor weather distracted us. The team obviously lost some good talent last year, but has MANY young players ready for action. Glennon played well, so we hope to score some points with a more proficient offense this year?! We took naps after the game, but had dinner with friends and spent the late evening hanging out with friends from Angela’s old office during a thunderstorm laughing at drunken students getting their cars towed for parking illegally! It was a vacation unto itself and made us want to stay in Blacksburg for good. Nonetheless, we are still REALLY excited to be moving to San Diego in just 2 months!!

The wonders of I-81

There is no interstate quite as breathtaking as I-81 on a beautiful spring day. Though I have driven this road hundreds of times over the last six years, I am continuously struck by the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and of the serene country side. When driving, I have to be careful to pay attention to the road, as the rolling hills and lush landscape draw me in…even in the wintertime! (No…I wasn’t taking pictures while driving…) Of course there is usually a semi running me off the road and ruining my sightseeing, but I love it nonetheless. After a call for thunderstorms cancelled our hiking plans and sent us back to the 757 early, James and I took to the road to enjoy the beautiful views of I-81 and to be harassed by semis.

April 16th, 2008

525,600 minutes
525,600 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In 525,600 minutes –
How do you measure a year in the life?

How about love? How about love? How about love?
Measure in love.
Seasons of love.

525,600 minutes, 525,000 journeys to plan
525,600 minutes, how do you measure the life of a woman or a man

In truths that she learned or in times that he cried
In bridges he burned or the way that she died

It's time now - to sing out
Though the story never ends
Let's celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8iTeDl_Wug&feature=related (Seasons of Love)


For Valentines Day this year, James bought me tickets to see RENT, one of the most incredible Broadway productions ever performed (according to me). I can’t think of any better way to capture what this last year has been like for us….how do you even begin to look back at a friend’s life? At the lives of 32 members of our family? 525, 600 minutes…a year of questions, struggles, moments of normalcy, and a focus on living and celebrating the life that we have.

I can’t believe it’s been a year. I’m not sure I can even remember most of what has happened this year that wasn’t April 16th...and since then a lot has happened…my freshman roommate married her best friend, James and I celebrated being married for an entire year, AJ had his first birthday party, James became an Ensign in the Navy, Jamie had a beautiful child…

It’s a beautiful reminder that life can go on despite such a life changing event. Though it doesn’t really make dealing with the pain any easier…they seem like such different things…not part of the same life. I miss Stack so much…and not a day goes by when I don’t see his smile. I miss thinking of our awesome years at Tech…staying up to toast the sunrise, random road trips on the blue ridge, the breath taking burgundy and orange fall leaves, that first crisp snow that sparkles in the sun, the sleepless, coffee filled nights of writing, the 8:00 classes you only took for a good professor, the mist filled practice field on game day, the cheesy MV dances that Stack choreographed, the hours of fun and friendship…

We still treasure these memories, but they are filled with other memories…with hundreds of sirens, with memories of lockdowns, with thousands and thousands of teardrops…with a ribbon to remind us of what we lost and why we can never ever forget.

I’m reading a book right now written by a pastor at our church in Blacksburg...When Answers aren’t enough…Experiencing God as Good when Life isn’t. It’s a simple and powerful reminder that God is good…despite the evil in this world, and the evil that scars our lives forever.

It’s hard not being in Blacksburg when that tiny town nestled in the Blue Ridge is such a huge part of our lives. As we meet new people and start new jobs, as soon as anyone hears that we went to Virginia Tech, it’s always the same: “Were you there?” “Did you know anyone?”

It depends on the day, on the emotional strength we are possessing, on the tone of voice and who is asking…they ask, yet they don’t want to know the answer. The Y word ends conversation…it’s a truth they can’t handle, nor can they understand it. And…I’m beginning to come to peace with the fact that that’s okay. We are okay talking about it…if you are willing to listen and you care. The reactions have been amazing…why do you ask a question if you aren’t prepared for the answer?

We are thankful for all of your love and support over this year that has absolutely sped by…Virginia Tech still needs your prayers…

525,600 minutes
525,600 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?

Two little trouble makers

What do all little boys do?? They play in the dirt! And they probably eat bugs!

President Warner?

Or Governor Gouger?

The Great Commonwealth of Virginia

A few weeks ago we spent the day in the Commonwealth’s capital and capitol. I had not visited the capitol building since it was renovated last year. Angela and I met up with Sarah and visited the hallowed building. There is a new visitors entrance underneath the front hill. Inside, restoration experts completely gutted the building and gave it a real overhaul for the first time since 1905. The building was properly wired with modern lines, rooting walls and ceilings were replaced, a new café was installed, and art was preserved. An elevator shaft used in the late 1800s but covered up by walls in the 1905 expansion was discovered. Covered up wallpaper was rediscovered and duplicated. Outside, the building was given a whitewashing and presented to the Queen of England herself last May. Designed by Thomas Jefferson, the Virginia Capitol building houses many historic artifacts including busts of all eight Virginia born US presidents. The centerpiece of the Capitol is the world famous marble sculpture of George Washington by Houdin housed in the rotunda area. Looking at the capitol, you would not know that the building has a dome in the center! After taking a guided tour of the statehouse, we traversed Hollywood Cemetery on the bluffs of the James River. It is a beautiful area with great monuments to the dead. Notable people buried there is former President James Monroe surrounded by beautiful metallurgy. Also in the cemetery are thousands of Confederate war dead and veterans taking up a whole wing of the grounds. It is a very peaceful place. The three of us then went downtown to Shockoe Slip for some dinner while perusing trendy furniture and bookstores. Angela fell in love with some blue antique cognac glasses, but we talked her out of the high price! We had such a good time. Richmond has much to offer and we look forward to exploring it more!