I have come full circle. I returned to the place I began, to the first hobby I ever had, and tothe first love of my life.  Althougha native of Decatur, Alabama, I grew up in Huntsville.  My street was in a subdivision called Belmont, in thesouthwest part of town.  We wereclose to Redstone Arsenal - a real plus for my Dad, an electronic technicianheavily involved in the space program.  Iloved watching birds as a child.  Itwas always a delight to visit my grandmother in Decatur, where together we wouldwatch red-headed woodpeckers and blue jays from her kitchen window. Soon, I had my own Golden bird field guide [show field guide], whichbecame well worn.  All my relativesknew that I collected bird statues.  Theycould never go wrong with a new bird figurine for a birthday or Christmas gift. I was active in a local church.  Attwelve years of age, I went to a summer church camp. The setting was peaceful, serene, and full of woodland beauty. Our camp leader invited us to ask Jesus into our hearts to live. As I considered what it meant to take this step, it seemed so natural andso right to agree to the strong, warm pull I felt on the inside, a pull that Inow realize was God's own spirit drawing me to Him. Later that week I publicly made the commitment that I had already made inmy heart.  I returned home, and wassoon baptized at our church.

Well, years passed.  Istopped watching birds.  I was intorock groups, movies, and my favorite TV shows.  How could a bird compare with the Beatles? And besides, no one I knew was a bird watcher. My once prized bird statues now just gathered dust on a shelf.

Once out of my teens, I moved away from my old Belmontneighborhood, leaving my parents' home to live in an apartment of my own. I did not like my old neighborhood anymore - it was a reminder oflifestyles and principles that I now considered repressive and old-fashioned. And besides, all my friends had nothing but disdain for their oldneighborhoods.

I slowly drifted away from my love for Jesus, and mycommitment to Him.  My otheractivities just seemed so much more fun.  Bythe time I left my parents' home, the God I asked into my heart as a girl hadalmost no place in my life anymore.

But luckily, the story did not end there. As I traveled the circle, my life changed, and so did my heart. Some sad times - a marriage and divorce. Strained relations with my family.  Aninterrupted college education.  Somediverse occupations - food service, driver for a state transportations agency,medical lab technician, programmer.

After my divorce, I was without a job. My parents asked me to move back home for awhile, to rest and get back onmy feet, emotionally and financially.  Whilethere they reintroduced me to someone I had known a long time ago - JesusChrist.  As I started walking withHim again, my life gained peace, stability, and purpose.

I dated a man named Rich. Rich loved the outdoors.  Oneof his favorite hobbies was - you guessed it - bird watching. Our hikes together became a source of much joy and delight as Irediscovered the beauty of God's feathered creation. Eventually, Rich and I married.  Wemoved to a house on a wooded lot less than three blocks from my parents' home in- yes, Belmont subdivision in southwest Huntsville. We plan to one day place my childhood bird statue collection in a displaycase, for visitors to see and enjoy. 

So, I am physically back where I started. I have resumed a wonderful hobby from childhood. My heart has returned to its love for the Lord Jesus. And with that, my circle is complete.