Happy New Year 2016! It is day one and I am feeling quite grateful, most hopeful and optimistic as I consider the year ahead. My mother wants to experience her 100^th birthday on July 22. Her youngest great grandchild, my great niece will turn 2, our oldest son will turn another decade and join the 30 somethings. There are a lot of ages in the middle, lots of family looking forward to another year, desiring everything from good health, better income, new career, new home, school, toys and the list goes on. Contemplating life at almost 100 yrs. of age however must be utterly extraordinary. The look back takes her to 1916, which to me seems like a millennium ago, and yet, a mere 37 years later, I was the last of four children born to the family.   She is strong today in her faith and convictions, her roots are deeply fused to an Irish and French heritage, her vision for all of us is steeped in a love unwavering, which I know remains her continued, heart felt desire for 2016. read more