“Hold on to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave, wave is stringing us along
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home
Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble—it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home” - Phillip Phillips
In December 2015, this song popped up on the radio of my car while I had to run some errands. Prior to this moment, my wife and I had for the first time entertained the possibility of moving to Indiana, the state of which I was born and where my family currently resides. Even though my parents had lived in California for the past 18 years, something did not sit right with my wife after our first Christmas without them. For the first time in our marriage, we considered a monumental idea. This came with an immense amount of excitement, wonder, adventure and...fear. Alicia grew up in California and has never lived more than 8 miles away from her parents. What’s more, we had a one year old daughter who happens to be the first grandchild and niece to Alicia’s immediate family. With thoughts of an enchanted future came a fearful redefinition of home. I arrived home from the errands and shared the lyrics that my deaf ears managed to pick up from the song to Alicia...”It’ll all be clear, don’t pay no mind to the demons that fill you with fear...I’m gonna make this place your home.”