Talk of Heaven

I'm not exactly sure why, but over the last couple of months there has been a serious interest in and discussion about Heaven very often around here. Ella's experience with Heaven thus far is really limited to our dog Bandit's passing in May and then questions she asks about people. I've tried my best to give her the "theological scoop" about Heaven on a 2 year old level, but I'm not sure she's gotten it. Listed below, in no certain order, are a few of her ideas of Heaven... and some of her questions too.

-According to Ella there is a "huge-mongous" candy store in Heaven.... God told her so.

-One day she said that she didn't think she wanted to go to Heaven because she doesn't really like Bandit all that much...

-This morning she asked my grandmother, Nanny C where her mother was. Nanny told her that her mother was in Heaven and happy as could be. Ella said, "Well, who tells you if you can have candy or not then?"

-Today in the car she asked me if she was going to go to heaven. I told her that I certainly hoped she would, but not for a long, long, long time. Then she wanted to know if I would go and when. I tried my best to explain that we don't know when it will be our time but if we believe in Jesus in our hearts then we know we'll get to go there one day.

I feel like all this is a little bit much for a 2 almost 3 year old to take in, but I want to answer her as honestly and simply as I can. Any suggestions?