5 years later PJ developed cancer. After a couple weeks of treatment I realized she was already 30 years old, and the quality of her life was not going to get better. I agreed she had to be put down.

I didn't want it done in front of the other horses so my dear friend Radie Evans offered to pick her up.

We picked up Radie's truck, drove straight to my barn. I went, put a halter on PJ and began walking her away from the barn. I swear she knew something was up because as PJ and I walked around to the front of the house where the truck and trailer waited, she snuggled her little body up against my side. My eyes filled up with tears & they strained to roll down my cheeks but I tried real hard to hold them back. Once in the truck's passenger seat I cried the whole drive back to his farm. Poor Radie.

Now I had to tell my 5 year old nephew. Is there really any good way to tell a child their favorite pony has died? My nephew lived in Phoenix, AZ with his Mom. I had to be the one to break the news, so I prayed & prayed about how the best way to do it. As I was driving the idea & words came to me, piece by piece.

I wrote Jacob a letter from PJ in heaven. The letter went on about how she, "PJ" was Barbecuing with his Uncle Gary (my brother) and his Grandpop Abe (my Dad) and they were "watching him from heaven". They told "PJ" how pleased & impressed they were with Jacob. Together, they started watching Jacob take his riding lessons and they were all so proud of him. Especially Uncle Gary who was an International Rodeo Bare Back Bronc Champion.

In the letter, "PJ" described how they all laughed when Jacob kept insisting his dressage instructor let him jump after only the 2nd lesson. He didn't realize no instructor is going to stand on the other side of the fence just to catch him when he falls like his Aunt Sharon.

"PJ" told Jacob she was having fun in heaven galloping and jumping the clouds; so whenever he sees the clouds moving he'll know she's jumping them and thinking of him. I put the last peppermint he forgot to give her in the envelope along with the letter.

Of course, the letter couldn't arrive by regular postal service because THIS WAS A VERY SPECIAL LETTER FROM A VERY SPECIAL PLACE. So My sister-in-law, Allison, dropped the envelope on the front lawn, as if it had dropped from heaven. That's where Jacob found it. He still remembers it fondly many many years later. Thank you Lord.

A month later. I was in a saddle shop looking for a used bridle. I found a nice one; price was great, but. the only problem was there was brass name plate with another horse's name on the crown piece. Without my glasses I couldn't read what it said but that didn't matter; I really didn't want another horses name on my horses bridle, but the price was so inviting I decided I'd deal with the name plate later, so I purchased the bridle.

After getting home I checked the brass plate only to be thunderstruck when I read the engraved name:'WATCHING FROM HEAVEN". Eerie, yet felt magical!

The nameplate remains on the bridle!

There's still one more very special person in PJ's life that needed to be told; Eva Wylie, the sweetest young girl in the world, The hardest part for me was telling Eva. Eva rode and learned on "PJ, She also helped me take care of the horses. My only regret with Eva was letting her talk me into erasing the video of her falling off PJ at a jump. I thought she might change her mind, but I needed her to trust me, so I erased the video. Sure enough 30 minutes later Eva wanted to see the video. I knew it, I knew it! I felt so bad because I wanted to agree and leave it alone. The heck with trust, ha ha I knew she'd get a chuckle once she got over the shock & embarrassment. Next time I promise to try and follow my instincts. We had a lot of fun with "PJ".

The Wylie's home was adjacent to the property where the horses were boarded. Her dad Dr. John Wylie thoughtfully & lovingly installed a gate in the fence so Eva could have easier access to the barn. For all intents and purposes Eva belonged to PJ as much as PJ felt she belonged to Eva.

When it came time to tell Eva, I couldn't do it. I didn't have the strength to hear her heart break too. Her Mom, Ann Wylie generously offered to tell her. I was so very grateful. Eva was at the barn when her mother called.

After her Mother told her about PJ, Eva cried the entire way home from the barn. I called her that night to see how she was and this is what she said:

Tonight Eclipse took care of Eva's heart.