The Final Update for the Pedraza Project

This post is literally to scream from the rooftops….

THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH!

I thought that the last update would be the final one (read that here) but then you guys blew the GOFUNDME out of the water for the Pedraza’s and I think we all cried and were just flabbergasted at how fast and how generous so many of you were!  As you may recall, the Pedraza’s were matched with their son Zane and drove down to get him in Florida.  On the way, their transmission blew and this last speed bump in their adoption journey was at the worst time.  They could not be late!

Well, Danny & Charity got towed to a local repair shop, grabbed a ride, got to the meeting spot in the nick of time, met the cutest and cuddliest boy ever and the two years in the making had its sweet happily-ever-after.  At that point, all they had to do was get home.  And that is where the night in shining armor came sailing in to save the day….that’s you by the way….you are the hero here….all 166 of you who donated toward their car repair.  It was because of you….because of your generosity….because of your kindness, that they were able to focus more on that sweet little guy and less on the stress that comes with blown transmissions and crazy delays.

I realized that I was updating the GoFundMe page but I wasn’t doing it here so I wanted to share some of the pictures I snapped on Zane’s birthday and tell you that the Pedraza’s are so happy to be home and doing great!  Charity was very homesick in Florida as she waited for the car to be repaired and so being able to come home was SUCH a blessing.  The older kids – Nicky & Natalia are so great with Zane and he loves them right back!

And if you want an update on the man of the hour….you should know that this kid is the most amazing child.  He literally will give out hugs and stroke your cheeks and lean into the cuddle like a teddy bear.  Getting to meet him in person, I was a little nervous.  I didn’t want to be too excited and frighten him.  And yet, he ended up making ME feel like a million bucks!  This guy should teach snuggle seminars because he has it DOWN.

As far as the campaign goes….it was a raging success!

On the day we launched the campaign, you guys all responded to the effort with so much kindness.  Some of the highlights for me were…..

• it was fully funded in 24 hours!
• it had 59 shares on Facebook!  (sharing is so important for these campaigns!)
• we had TEN donations over $100 (WOW!)
• we had 166 donations (THAT IS NUTS!)
• Most donations were between $5-$20 which goes to show that even the smallest gesture makes a HUGE impact!
• At one month, we had a total of $4,360 and all extra money went directly to the adoption fund!

WHAT AN AMAZING TESTIMONY TO THIS COMMUNITY!  YOU ARE THE BEST!

Charity texted me and said “I looked at the GoFundMe last night and I thought that it was wonderful!  I was blown away to see so many people who donated!  Most of those names….I don’t even know.  That is crazy!”  Even Danny teared up a little at the generosity of strangers.

Guys – this was my first ever time to spearhead anything on GoFundMe or on the blog – and I know that I already get so much out of this virtual relationship.  You are so encouraging.  You are such faithful friends.  You are kind and uplifting.  You put up with my drama and my mistakes.  You make it possible for me to do what I love.  And now I can say that I got to experience firsthand this amazing community PROVING to everyone else what I already knew about you….I have never been more proud to call you my friends.  Seriously.  I mean it.  And I think that Zane is now ready to give you some hugs too!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Sincerely The Bowers & The Pedrazas