AN ODE TO MY SEEDS

My namesake, my son, Adam Christopher White, Jr. will be 17 years old in a few hours (April 9th, to be exact).  Couple that with my daughter Adrienne hitting that "magical" age of 18 two weeks ago, it's become apparent that I'm entering a new phase in my existence on this planet.  It's a blessing indeed to witness my children grow, develop, and mature into responsible individuals.  The process is ongoing for them, and it's just beginning, to be truthful.  They are starting to realize that they have to really REALLY buckle down and be serious about their goals and futures.  My stepson Dorian is 15, so he is starting to see that dim light at the end of the teenage tunnel too.  All in all, it's a blessing from the Lord above to be healthy, sane (ahem ahem), and vibrant enough to witness their respective transformations.  My daughter with her lofty AND attainable goals of a political career, and my son AJ looking at that next-level progression with college, music, and athletics.  I've always instilled in my kids that education is key and vital to their success in life, not just putting all their eggs in the proverbial basket when thinking about sports and/or entertainment careers.  My daughter has always been a "diva in the making", so to speak.  Here's Exhibit A:

She's not only grown into a beautiful young woman, but she has the intelligence to rival that beauty.  I am sure that whatever she conceives in that "beautiful mind" of hers she will be able to bear fruitful results.  I am so very proud of her, and am looking forward to her success with college life.

AJ, as we've always called him, has always been a different individual from his older by 54 weeks sister.  Laid-back.  Reserved.  Observant.  At times silent.  Over the past few years though he has emerged from the shadows of The Diva In Training to become his own person, separate from her aura.  He has always been an amazing athlete:  baseball (don't ask me why he doesn't like it anymore), basketball, football, and now track and field.  He's been able to excel in each of these areas at one time or another, but at times he didn't apply the same vigor to the academic side.    Being an A student is part of his DNA, but he has been comfortable in his skin with B's and C's.  Now in high school he is a renaissance teen of sorts, performing in plays, participating in athletics, being an emcee and musician.  Others around him are taking notice of the person he is becoming, and it's good from a father's standpoint to see his maturation.  He's becoming very serious about his college career looming on the horizon, and schools such as University of Maryland at College Park and Temple University in Philly are on his immediate radar.  All this from the quiet one himself:

Happy Birthday wishes to you AJ!!!  I love you more than words can express son, and I am very proud of who you are as a young man.  Happy Belated Birthday to my beautiful and intelligent daughter Adrienne...you bring joy to my heart whenever I see what you are capable of achieving in life.  Dorian, don't be dismayed, you are a few months away from having your very own birthday blog posting, so smile young man, I have some very positive things to say about you about these almost 13 years I've been a part of your existence. I hope and pray that I've been that positive influence I've always tried to be.  You are truly loved by those near and far son. 

I leave this poem below as an ode to my seeds:

AN ODE TO MY SEEDS

THE SEEDS WERE PLANTED, AND FROM GOD'S GOLDEN RAYS YOU EMERGED
ENERGIZED, READY TO ENCOUNTER LIFE WITH A VIGOR AND PURPOSE
GIFTED IN DIFFERENT WAYS FROM ABOVE I LOVE YOU
I SUPPORT YOUR NEEDS TO BE DIFFERENT AND INDIVIDUAL
INTELLIGENT BEINGS WITH RELEVANT REASONS
ABLE TO ADAPT TO ANY CHANGE IN THE SEASONS
READY TO BE PRODUCTIVE CREATURES ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH
A BLESSING TO WITNESS EACH OF YOUR BIRTHS
KNOWING THAT MOMENT IN TIME NEW STARS WERE APART OF THE HEAVENS
EXISTING ON EARTH TO BRING GIFTS TO FRUITION
ON A MISSION TO MAKE OTHER LIVES BETTER
YOU'VE MADE MY LIFE BETTER JUST BY BEING
ME JUST SEEING YOU GROW AND DEVELOP IS A JOY TO BEHOLD
THIS ODE TO MY SEEDS TO LET YOU KNOW YOU TOUCH MY SOUL
NO MATTER WHAT WORDS I SCRIBE
ALWAYS, ALWAYS KNOW THAT MY LOVE FOR YOU I WILL NEVER HIDE


PEACE AND BLESSINGS-----YOUR FATHER (WISDOM)