This is Me

I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs about CGA that a theme for this season of my life was going to be identity.  While that is still true, it’s taken on a different form than I would have guessed.  Rather than figuring out who I am, though there has been some of that, it’s been more about loving the identity I’ve been given in this life.  I was just coming to that realization when we were asked to compile a list of things that describes who we are. If you’ve never taken the time to sit down and really think about this for yourself, I would encourage you to do so because this has been an awesome and enlightening process. That said, here are many things that describe me and some that don’t:

1)  Water is my sanctuary.  I hear from the Lord so clearly when I’m around any kind of body of water.  Something about it opens up my heart and sets my spirit free in a way nothing else does. 

2)  Butterflies.  I’ve written blogs about this before, but butterflies hold a special place in my heart.  They are so symbolic of our Christian walk and every time I see one, I am encouraged.

 

3)  Dogs.  Meet Jasper, Gus, and Corey.  I love dogs, but really I just love animals and creatures. 

 

4)  Travel.  Seeing new places, understanding new cultures, and expanding my worldview makes the list of my favorite things that I’ve done.  More to come!  

Side note:  This is called the “been” app.  It also allows you to enter in all of the states you’ve visited.  Pretty cool.

 

5)  Books and reading.  I’ve always loved reading, especially when you can get so engrossed in a book that it takes you time to come back to reality.  Stories are powerful.

6)  Puzzles.  I’m often given puzzles as gifts and can work on one for hours on end.  Puzzles reach out to the problem-solver and observer in me.  

 

7)  Being active is something that I both need and enjoy.  Tennis is one of my favorite ways to do that and I was lucky to be able to continue the sport even into college. Honestly, it’s going to be a lifelong love.  

8)  Playing games, especially cards, is part of my love language.  My extended family often spends time together by playing games and it always makes me feel connected to those I’m playing with. 

9)  Crafting.  I love to work with my hands, especially when it comes to knitting, crocheting, painting, making picture words, you name it. 

10)  Another addition to my love language is movie quotes.  I love watching movies and often use quotes in my day-to-day language.  If you can place the quote, you become my favorite person in that moment.   

11)  Hunting.  My family is big into hunting deer, turkey, geese, and ducks.  I’ve participated in rifle season for many years and have just started learning the art of skeet shooting.

12)  Turquoise.  Favorite color.  Hands down.  Anything that looks like water.  

13)  Earrings.  I’m not big into accessorizing which leads me to wear the same rings, the same necklace, and the same studs almost every single day.  What does change, however, is wearing earrings that are delicate and dangle.  I love them.

14)  Handwritten notes.  There is something special about someone taking the time to sit down and write you a note.  I save all of them.  In the picture below are notes that were given to me as I launched on the World Race.  I carried them with me the whole time. 

15)  It should come as no surprise that if I love handwritten notes, I would also love snail mail.  Not only do I love getting mail, I also love sending it.  

 

16)  Needtobreath is one of my favorite bands.  I typically prefer male vocals and my music taste is often described as “happy music” because most of it is upbeat. 

17)  My dream car is pictured below.  Yes, it is a lot like Bella’s car from Twilight. 

18)  While I often fight it, I am a night owl.  My energy picks up around 8:00PM and I’m often my most productive at that time.  

19)  Minimalism.  This is something that is not me, though I strive to be that way more and going on the World Race with just a backpack definitely helped.  I love to create homey spaces with decorations, lots of pillows, and places that suggest comfort.

20)  I love salty food and nothing hits the spot more than salt and vinegar chips.  On the flip side, I am not as into baked goods or sweets.  

21)  In the same way, I am all about sour candy, especially Sour Patch Kids and Warheads.  The more sour, the better.

22)  Contrary to many women, I am not a chocolate lover.  I like chocolate with things like peanut butter or s’mores, but the answer to the question in this picture is my life.

23)  While I love belonging to something bigger than myself, big groups and parties just aren’t my thing.  One-on-one time with people is the best. 

24)  What is a happy flower?  You’re right! Daisies!  

25)  Adventures – I have been skydiving, bungee jumping, and canyoning.  All are welcome and have been some of the coolest, most exhilarating experiences I’ve had.  

26)  Michigan.  I love being from the Mitten and my love for water comes from growing up in a state that houses many lakes, including the Great Lakes.

27)  I attended Hope College which is located in Holland, MI.  Being a small liberal arts school with a Dutch influence brought with it a wonderful, little bubble to attend college in.

28)  I am not an external processor unless you count journaling.  While on my World Race, I went through 8 journals.  It’s a way of life and how I often communicate with the Lord.  

29)  Nothing gets me fired up as much as teamwork and unity.  I love seeing a group of people bond together for a common purpose.

30)  Fall.  That’s my favorite season.  I love the change, the colors, and crisp air. 

31)  Odd Numbers.  I used to really not like the fact that I was born on June 19th because it was an odd number.  When I had to get stitches in my leg, even under laughing gas, I told my dad that I wanted an even number (I ended up with 5, ha).  Hope College has awesome traditions, two of which are called Pull and Nykerk.  Both involve competitions between the freshmen and sophomore classes.  Since I graduated in 2013, I was Odd Year and it stuck.  Now, I even set my alarm to 6:31 or change the volume on a TV to an odd number.  

32)  Sibling, more specifically a sister. I have a younger brother who is one of the coolest people I know.  I dare you to guess which one of us is the rule-follower…

33)  Nicknames.  I can tell how quickly I’ll become close to a person based on how fast they start calling me by a nickname.  It makes me feel loved and known in a way that is unique to my relationship with that person.  

 

34)  Flip-flops or barefeet.  I am happiest without socks and refuse to sleep with them on.  If it is at all appropriate, I will have my shoes off because it’s more comfortable and somehow eases stress.  

35)  Swimming.  Any chance I get and even if it’s freezing.  

36)  Up for the challenge, though not a runner.  I love goals and working towards something which was why I signed up to do a half marathon.  I finished, but it was a rough deal. Challenge accepted, although, maybe let’s choose something that doesn’t involve running next time. 

37)  Campfires.  They are so mesmerizing and have a way of getting people to talk more freely than they might in another setting.  I love learning about people’s stories and campfires offer a great way to hear them. 

38)  Thunderstorms, especially those booming storms that come with summertime.  When I was in school, I loved having a storm on a Friday because you could come home, snuggle up, and relax the rest of the night away.

39)  Twilight.  No, not the books or the movies.  I love that time of day because the air feels charged with anticipation and also a little sad because the day is coming to an end.  

40)  Late night chats, especially on docks, are my jam.  Water makes an appearance again, plus, the dock allows you to see the stars at night.  

41)  Slippers.  The goofier and crazier the better.

42)  I am not a shopper, but I have an impressive collection of hoodies.  They are so comfortable, and each one has a story to tell. 

43)  I really like tea, especially in a great mug.  What is it about a good, solid mug that suggests everything will be fine and stress is not welcome here?

44)  Synchronized dances.  I was able to participate in a number of these in college and they bring me such joy.  

45)  Being goofy.  When I know you well, this side comes out far more so while it may not be me with a first impression, it definitely is me when I’m comfortable.  

46)  While I do have emotions and am learning the importance of listening to them, I am not an emotional person.  In fact, I value logic, which is perhaps why being Erudite for Halloween last year was so appropriate. 

47) I love music and am musical, although, this is a part of my life that has been set aside for a few years.  Piano, marching band, jazz band, youth group worship team…I loved it all (even if my face in the picture contradicts that statement).

 

48) Quotes.  I love saving quotes and getting to relish in the gift of someone stringing a group of words together that explains or describes something in just the right way.

49) I am a daughter, sister, cousin, second cousin, granddaughter, niece, and friend.  Family is important to me and I am blessed to have so many incredible people in mine.

50) I am Casey Elizabeth Baxter, and that is enough.