Goodbuy Ross..

Our Goldfish, Ross, died last friday.  He was 9 years old and I really loved this little guy.  So friday morning we had to have a little funeral.  Mouse was so upset about Ross.  I tried to explain to her that Ross is sleeping now, forever and that he is with Jesus. 

She kept saying that Ross is supposed to be in his tank, sleeping in his tank and not in the garden.  It broke my heart to see my little girl so upset.  Since then she also went to bed with a plastic bath fish for a day or two. 

I cleared the tank away, but when she passes the place where it stood she will stand still for a moment and I sometimes hear her say that "the fishie is dead". 

How do you handle a situation like this?  I need to teach her about life ending and the wonderful life that awaits us in heaven, but she is only 2 years old and losing a pet really impacted her so much.  She loved standing on her little step in front of his tank and watch him swim.  It is better already, but she still asks me about Ross sleeping in the garden...