When I Look

When I look at my mother, I see strength. I see the battle wounds of past arguments and the surging bright light of passionate beliefs. I see the love of a soldier fighting for her world-- her family and the beat of a woman's heart that has been shared 12 times over.

When I look at my father, I see unshaken foundation. I see the brimming love he possesses for my mother and the hardworking back he throws into his job for his family. I see the passion he applies to every weekend project, every farmland duty, every carpentry job, every handyman labor.

When I look at my brother Michael, I see leadership. I see a man who has carved the way, the way into a full life of love and family. I see the misgivings of the past washed eternally away into the promises of the future.

When I look at my sister Mary, I see valor. I see the courage that spouts from her actions through her daily duties as a mother and as a servant of social work. I see her eyes alit with a happiness that is sought for years by strangers, obtained by few.

When I look at my brother Bill, I see unbending work ethic. I see a man who has always seemed to understand the value of hard work and commitment. A man of the law, a man of his two strong hands and capable mind.

When I look at my brother Rob, I see freed passion. I see an artist, a businessman, a preacher of sorts and a believer of life. A man of unsurpassed intuition and never-ceasing longing. An eclectic soul with a brilliant future ahead of him.

When I look at my sister Evelyn, I see a beautiful desire for balance. I see her heart passed along in eagerness, a book that lays open yet with invisible ink, readable to only those who possess the blacklight. I see a heart that bursts for those she loves.

When I look at my brother Joe, I see great faith and fortitude. The only person in the world that I know who has stuck to his 12 year-old self word. A person who always surprises me with his knowledge, his foresight and his understanding of the world around him.

When I look at my sister Sarah, I see acceptance and heartfelt understanding. I see a woman who opens her eyes each morning with positivity and embraces the sunlight, and even the passing storms, with her heart.

When I look at my sister Christina, I see a heart swollen with the art of giving. I see a young woman who has taken great pride in her life, her relationships and her abilities. I see a person who holds onto the key of life and guards it for those who truly need it.

When I look at my sister Nell, I see compassion. I see someone who rarely thinks of herself before others, a young woman who truly appreciates the world around her and wants great things to happen not just to herself, but to others.

When I look at my brother Sam, I see fiery conviction. I see a young man who wants more for the world he lives in, and more for the world around him. I see an unmet desire to grow into a person of not personal value, but worldwide value.

And when I look at my sister Gabrielle, I see wisdom. I see the final building block of the Powell family; she has absorbed the pasts of her older siblings and has taken part in the final growth. I see soft giggles that carry the tribe of 12.