The First of 2021; Feels like 2020

There is the bullet hole just feet away from where my daughter was sitting. 

The most 2020 thing happened to us on new years day. I've not fully recovered, but God broke me into a place of submission on Sunday morning to let it go. Legally I have no way to fix what happened and if I hold onto it then it will just eat up my heart. 

Friday, January first 2021 at 5:20 pm I was sitting in the living room with the kids. A bullet from the neighbor was shot into the back wall of my house. Ryan was down the street trying to ask the neighbor to stop shooting when I heard a whirring sound and then, impact. The man had been firing a small weapon for 20 to 30 minutes. We heard three rounds, then he would take a break and fire more. Ryan went outside to listen where it was coming from. He confirmed who it was when a shot flew past he and the dog in the front yard. He came to the front door and we heard about 5 rounds and I told him to go over to talk to the man and while he was over there the man shot our house.

We live in a country neighborhood. Everyone owns 1 acre or more but they have recently been selling lots much smaller. Our house is almost an acre away from where the man was shooting. It is not a fancy neighborhood, most people are working class with mobile homes. We have an old single wide mobile home and the walls are extremely thin. Only by the grace and mercy of God, the bullet DID NOT go through the wall.

Cora was sitting on the couch 2 feet away from where the bullet hit the house and Ryson was on the opposite couch in line with the hole. I know what you are thinking, and I know what you are feeling as you read this. Trust me, I have thought it and felt it myself. In the moment I was panicked. I stood up and Cora could tell there was something wrong. I grabbed Ryson and we went to his room, the only spot I could think of furthest away from where it happened. I was afraid to bring the kids outside to the car. I tried calling Ryan, no answer. So I left the kids and the dog, closed the door and ran outside in my socks yelling for Ryan. I called nine one one. Ryan came around the corner and I yelled at him what happened. I went inside the house grabbed the kids and put them in the car. Cora was a wreck; she was so scared and couldn’t quite understand what was happening in all the commotion. Ryan went around to the back of house and saw the hole. I was still talking to the emergency dispatch so it’s all recorded. We drove down to the neighbor’s house and Ryan told him he hit our house and the sheriff was on his way.

The sheriff effectively told us without the bullet we cannot press charges and if we go to court he won’t be prosecuted because of a lack of evidence. We combed the backyard with a magnet and a metal detector but we cannot find a bullet. I guess any legal advice would be appreciated. I’m not ok, but I’m working toward ok. Cora is sleeping in her own bed, but she still gets nervous when she hears fireworks or anything that sounds like gun shots.