May Angels Lead You In

My dear sweet Grandpa Jake has passed away.

"Joaquin N. (Jake) Alva
Born June 11, 1931 in San Bernardino. Joaquin was called by the Lord on August 10, 2012, at the age of 81 years old. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Stella Alva and six children; Elizabeth Leticia, Joaquin Jr., David, Edward Rudolph, Fernando and Jay, brother, Felix Alva, 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren." -part of his obituary.

Reading it this morning in the newspaper made it all too real. He passed Friday morning around 3am. Thursday I was supposed to go visit with him and my grandma because it was her birthday. However, the day got busy and I ran out of time. Later that night I felt guilty for not going because something told me to go. So instead I prayed. I prayed for our Heavenly Father to give him the strength to hold on, or if it was His will to just take him as he was in so much pain. When I woke up the next morning and got the phone call, I felt like I could breathe again. I know he's happy. I know he's safe and well. I know he's smiling again. Explaining it to the kids was something else. They knew who he was, they knew he was sick. For a couple days Ava insisted he was at the doctors and that's why his bed was empty. And then it clicked and she said that he's with the angels and Heavenly Father and will look at the sky when she says it.

This weekend will be a tough one but we will get through it as a family. May you rest in peace Grandpa.