Jill,
I am so sorry for your loss. But I agree with you, they do come back.
I lost my best buddy when she was 9 years old. A powder puff Chinese Crested. She was small, loving playful and just everything to me. One day when I called her, she would not come. When she finially did, it was obvious that there was something wrong. Then she started to go into a seizure. She went in and out while I rushed her to the vet. The vet worked on her for 3 hours, but was unable to bring her out of her seizure, so I had her put down. I cried and cired like I never have before. It was awful!!
Eventually my Mariah came back to me in the form of a 3 lb Yorkie. Bailey does the same 360's that Mariah did and acts so much like her. She is my love and she goes to all of the shows with me. I say I bought a sleeper horse trailer for her, and it is true, so that I do not have to sneak her into hotel rooms. She always has a place.
I hope your new puppy is everything that you hope for and that he fills that void in your heart!