"Shaking in My Boots"

As many know, Josh sometimes travels with work. Well last week,he was away and I thought I would spoil myself at the red box and watch a chic flick. I knew it was late, but hey why not? My head hit the pillow at midnight. I woke up to a gunshot sound 5 minutes later. I thought I was dreaming until I looked at the clock and realized that it was only 5 minutes since my head hit the pillow. Now coming to here from the Richmond area gave me some really bad thoughts. So the first one, I wasn't freaking out yet. I thought, huh, that was weird, got out of bed...but didn't go far! Then I heard them again and it sounded like it was right underneath me. Now I was shaking!
Home alone with no husband and three kids,not ideal! I don't know anyone very well in the neighborhood.What am I suppose to do? So I check outside the windows and nothing is happening...so we do have a family in the subdivision who are church members and I call her. I said you are never going to believe this but...she finishes my words 2 gun shots. Now mind you, she is at the front of the neighborhood and we are at the back. Now I am truly paranoid!!She tells me to get the kids ready and she will come get me and we can stay with them tonight. So I moved all the kids in my bedroom, while doing so I notice car lights slowly circling my street.
Next call is 911, no one else has called yet, but an officer did come by and check out the house for me. I called Josh and told him I was going to the neighbors to stay and he said, Why don't you just stay with my parents. In all the commotion, I forgot I have family that lives nearby. So I was chatting with the police officer when a third shot fired. He took off said it sounded like it was right behind my house. My friends waited for me to load up the kids and I took off. Logan is mindful of everything happening. Scared out of his mind, we said a prayer and he insisted on holding my hand while he slept.
The next morning I drop the kids at school and head home. I bolt all the doors, while I jump in the shower. Once I get out, the doorbell rings. I approach the doors, two guys stand on my front door about the age of 19 or so. I was debating...should I open the door, should I not! I did open it and went out to the front steps to see what they needed.
Turns out that they were apologizing for noise. They don't own firearms. They have never been in trouble before...they were at home and bored, mom and dad were supposedly sleeping, they got online, found out how to make your own bomb and were setting them off in their backyard, by throwing them against a shed. One of these boys was my neighbor, and they were hoping I would not press charges. I told them thank you!!! I was so happy to know that I still lived in a nice neighborhood. They offered to do some community service, but I told them apologizing in person was enough for me!I was so excited to use this lesson with my kids and help ease their panic as well.
I have learned life is always full of lots of excitement, sometimes even when and where you don't expect it!