The sacred space of coming home
You know that feeling when everyone you love is finally under one roof again? Julie Earlewine said something that stopped me in my tracks during our recent family podcast: “There’s something to be said when the things that you love the most are all asleep under your roof. You sleep differently.” That’s the thing about being a parent—you never really rest the same until everyone’s home.
Finding faith when life pulls you apart
Ty’s experience at GCU opened up a conversation about what it means to carry your faith into new environments. He talked about how his professors start biology classes with Bible verses about life, and debate classes encourage students to connect topics to their relationship with the Lord. The cool part? It’s all optional. That word matters. When faith becomes a choice you make rather than a task you complete, it changes everything. Ty said he feels closest to God when he’s alone, breaking down scripture by himself. That’s the beauty of creating space for people to own their spiritual journey instead of forcing it.
The kitchen counter theology that builds real community
Cole said most of the important moments of his life happened around our kitchen counter. Real relationships are built in the good, the bad, and the ugly. That’s where transformation happens—not in perfect Instagram moments, but in the messy, face-to-face conversations where people see you at your worst and keep showing up anyway. Knox is watching his brothers navigate college while he leads his own friend group through FCA at the high school. He’s taking the wisdom the Lord gave him and putting it to use with friends who are new to their faith journey. That’s what legacy looks like in real time.
You can’t manufacture those moments through a screen. You need people in the room. You need the noise and the laughter and the chaos of everyone talking over each other. You need a community that knows your story and sticks around anyway.
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Episode Summary:
Ever wonder what it’s like when your entire family is scattered across different states? In this final episode of “The Earlewine Podcast” family series, all five Earlewines reunite virtually to share what they miss most about being together and how faith anchors them through the transition. This heartfelt conversation captures the reality of family life when kids transition to college, the deep bonds that hold families together across distance, and the peace that comes from raising children anchored in faith and purpose.
Key Takeaways:
- What it’s like attending a faith-based university for the first time
- Why the kitchen table becomes the most sacred space in a home
- How college athletes navigate revolving friendships vs lifelong community
- What moms really feel when all their kids are under one roof
- Why high schoolers are stepping into spiritual leadership roles
- The brave choice of leaving home to chase what God’s calling you toward
Notable Quotes:
- “Most of my most important moments of my life were built around that kitchen counter.”
- “At home, those are the people who have seen me in some of the best and the worst times of my life, and they still keep coming back.”
- “You can’t make old friends.”
- “When the things that you love the most are all asleep under your roof, you sleep differently.”
- “Who you guys are and who you’re becoming is beyond my wildest dreams of what I thought parenting would be.”
- “The direction you lean right now into the Lord is such a testimony to who you are in Christ.”
- “I’m blessed in all the opportunities in my life to lead and hopefully step back into a position where I can lead again.”
Episode Resources:
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Links to the Daron Earlewine Podcast
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EPISODE 185 TRANSCRIPT
Julie: There’s probably not a mom in town that wouldn’t say this, but there’s something to be said when the things that you love the most are all asleep under your roof. You sleep differently when, I sleep differently when all five of us are home. And that is a weird thing about being a mom that you don’t ever sleep the same and then they’re all back home and you sleep different. And not because you know anything other than the fact that I think I lay down at night and I’m peaceful and joyful at the same time.
Daron: Created on purpose and for purpose. Hey welcome back to the Daron Earlewine podcast. Daron Earlewine here, your host, and we’re coming to the end of the line of the series that we’ve entitled the Earlewine podcast. I’ve sat down with all five of us, my wife Julie and I and our three boys, Cole, Ty and Knox, and just talking about finding faith, finding purpose in different seasons of life from college to high school, junior high. And in this episode is the second half where all five of us sat around and had a conversation. And you’ll notice there’s not a lot of silence in this conversation. All five Earlewines with the microphone. It’s scary. I think you’re going to enjoy the second half here of the conversation that we had with all five of us together. Appreciate again, downloading and being part of the Daron Earlewine Podcast. Enjoy the last episode of the Earlewine Podcast coming up right now.
Daron: So Ty, got a question for you that just popped into my head as Cole talked about this. So one of the interesting things environmentally, Ty, obviously our whole life, you guys have gone to public school. That’s been kind of a core belief, I guess, for mom and I have wanted to raise you guys to find your faith and represent Christ in the public sphere. It’s not right for everybody. It’s a decision that we made, but now in college, GCU does have a strong faith component, but what’s that been like, Ty? Now, only for four weeks or whatever, but first time in your life, you’re in a school that talks about Jesus and has a chapel service. Has it been better, worse, different, odd? What’s been that experience?
Ty: I think it does definitely change things. Opportunities here for your faith to be practiced and there’s also just a lot of things that are nice about it because not everything is required, it’s very optional and everything that they do. The cool part is that I have noticed in a lot of my classes that I take, this is any of my classes but majority in the classes that are like English or like a debate, classes that you would openly have discussions and talk and connect things to an article or a story or something, they encourage you to bring your faith into it and connect it to the Lord, which has been cool. A lot of times, before a lot of topics or presentations, they have a Bible verse to start it off that kind of goes with it. So like biology, something about life or health, something about being mentally focused on the Lord and structuring yourself.
I have Mondays off completely. So being brutally honest, I’ve slept in through chapel just because I have early morning stuff on majority of days. So I just have it and then a lot of my roommates are the same. It’s kind of our day to chill. So we just don’t do a lot on Mondays, just kind of chill, finish up our homework, get ahead on some things. So it’s been nice. But it’s definitely different for sure. In certain aspects of school, I feel like I need to get a little bit more into it to fully understand. I have a presentation in two weeks for one of my classes and it’ll be cool to be able to bring my faith into it and talk about it when it’s not as equally apparent in a school like HSC, which is just because it’s a public school, that’s how things are.
But yeah, it’s very different just how things are. But that’s the thing I love about it, that it’s all optional. If you got a lot of stuff going on or if you have other things, you don’t have to rush out and put things to the side to go do it. So it’s a choice for yourself to do, which is cool. So yeah, I just think as of right now, it’s definitely a little bit different, but it still feels very like it’s school. It’s not as apparent in those things. But I’m hoping to check out chapel soon and then GCU has Camp Love here. So that’s next weekend. I’ll be going to that off campus for that worship night camp thing. It’s on Saturday next week. It’s one night. Me and Jackson and Toby are going as of right now, Nate might go. So we’ll be out in the middle of Arizona, we’ll be sleeping in a tent, which is exciting that they offer that.
Other schools offer it too, but just having that ability to, went to Grace Church out here last week. That was cool. And just the persona of the school is that you have a lot of things that go on that you don’t even know about. You just walk out and there’s people doing worship or stuff. And then with everything going on in the world right now with certain situations, schools acted on it in different ways, with prayer circles and everything for what’s going on. So I just think it’s cool. There’s so much to do. And there’s different things that you can do as a group. For me, a lot of times that I feel the closest with God is when I’m alone. So just being able to get my word when I’m by myself and break it down has been good for me too, which gets kind of hard when you’re running around having people over, out.
But I’ve done it a couple times, so that’s good. And just never ashamed. There’s no shame into being a Christian here just because how it is. So it’s been nice to be able to wear my label as a Christian proudly and never worry about the devil trying to creep up on me and pull me away from my faith. Just to have a community of believers and people that truly do love the Lord. And obviously you’ll find people that are here just because it’s college and other things, but majority of people here do have a strong faith and it’s really nice to see, especially when you have regular conversations with people and you can bring it up. You just work on your faith so much more than you actually would think you are. The other day in class, had a conversation with this guy about a book of the Bible because it aligned with our presentation or whatever. So it’s been cool, definitely different. I like it.
I don’t really see any negatives of it. I think it is what we’re told to do and brought to do. That it would be a thing that I would like to see in certain places, obviously legally. I think you can’t do it anywhere, but making it optional is just huge for being conscious enough to do it and not having it feel like a task.
Daron: Awesome. It sounds like they’re doing a good job of helping you work it into a worldview, kind of a natural way and the different classes and different courses and stuff like that.
Ty: Yeah, as an 18 year old or whatever, 22 when you’re a senior, you still don’t fully understand, like you feel like there’s a spiritual world and there’s the earthly part of everything, the worldly part of everything, but they just really connect it to everything that you go through and you talk about. So it is super cool. Like, oh, I got to go to biology right now. And then you get there and it’s like, well, here’s a verse that aligns with what we’re learning about today. And just like the smallest part, you get your scripture reading going into class. So it’s cool, your verse of the day or whatever is on the PowerPoint for your class.
Daron: It’s awesome. It’s good to see you, Ty. I miss you, man.
Ty: Yeah, I miss you guys. It’s been good here though. I’ll be home soon. It’s been exciting. I’m excited to see home and to drive a car. I drove a car for two and a half years, never had a single problem. Got here and popped a scooter tire inside of a week. So after this podcast, I’m going to go back to manhandling a scooter tire back onto the back wheel of the scooter. So wish me luck on that. Not going to be fun.
Daron: What are your tips on scooter repair?
Ty: YouTube. Yeah, I’ve been YouTube and it’s all on the floor, every part of my project. Yes, apparently to my right on the floor. I don’t know, never crashed my scooter. So lost a scooter lock one time but never crash. Funny story about scooters though, side note very quick. The other day during our first in real game, Nate forgot his ID to sign in to the game and took my scooter, not my scooter back to our room and took the lock off someone else’s scooter. And I didn’t realize that he took a certain person’s scooter until after the game. It was the exact same model as mine, same lock, same everything and it had a piece of tape that said Ty on it and he was like, it was definitely yours. So I was like, no, it’s not mine. So yeah, we stole a scooter on accident. That was fun. Hope that kid got it back. I really did. I felt horrible. I was like, dude, what are we doing here?
Daron: Well, you need to meet that guy. His name is Ty, you know what I mean? Connection.
Ty: Yeah, horrible first impression. Hey, I’m the kid that my roommate stole your scooter. But it was funny. Hopefully he got it back.
Daron: All right. Scooter stories. Knox, so you’re back in school. You had Young Life tonight here.
Knox: Young Life.
Daron: And that’s exploding here at HSC. I mean, hundreds of kids showing up to WyldLife, the junior high version and Young Life. What has been some of the positive that you’re going to think? Did you go to FCA as well?
Knox: Yeah.
Daron: Okay. So what’s that been like as far as starting high school and having that kind of growth? And you guys started the year off with the 21 Days of Prayer at one of the local churches, and there were hundreds of kids showing up to that. So what do you see happen at HSC as far as faith and stuff like that happening?
Knox: It’s kind of cool to see how I have a community of people around me that have helped me grow my faith, especially just my core group of guys were built from WyldLife and Young Life. So it’s just kind of nice to know that I have brothers in faith that’ll guide and lead me through those type of things. And I feel like me and my friend Buddy Williams have been in a leadership role for our group at FCA. So it’s just kind of cool to have something I can do like that to take my wisdom that the Lord has gave me and just put it to use and just help other people that are kind of new to their journey in faith and just help them to just find ways that they can spend time with the Lord.
I just met so many new people through FCA that I’ve never met before or I’ve heard of but I’ve never really gotten to just met them. So it’s just kind of, I said, it’s just really nice to know I have so many people, a huge community around me that’ll just help build me up in my faith whenever I’m up or down, whatever. It’s just good to know that I have people around me.
Daron: Yeah. No doubt. Awesome. All right, here’s a question. This is the first time we’ve all five seen each other since everybody went to college. What’s something that you guys are looking forward to when we’re all back together? I guess next time will be when Ty comes home. So when we all get back together, who knows, because Cole may have to have Thanksgiving football. Who knows when we’ll be back together. December? Can we talk today a little bit about how you guys are, you know, just kind of missing the family vibe? What’s something you guys are looking forward to being back together?
Cole: I guess I can start. I think just the sphere of our house, and I just like the way the Holy Spirit moves within it. I’m excited to sit back on our kitchen counter again. That’s one of my favorite places because most of my, most important moments of my life were built around that kitchen counter or conversations or some of our favorite people in the world have been around that counter and the good, the bad and the ugly, which I think is really what real relationships are. I think the biggest thing is I’m just excited for our family to be back with our community of people from home, whether it’s my friends or Ty’s friends or Knox’s friends or even your guys’ friends. We just have a lot of people that I know we mean a lot to and it’s one of my favorite things to go back and see those people. Just because I know they care about us, but I also know that they all understand how much we care about them and really do want them to be better and just to know Jesus the way that we try to.
I think just for me, it’s just the community of home. I love my community here and I love the people here, but especially now with college ball, it’s kind of a revolving door. It’s like your friends are in and out. Guys are coming in and leaving, whether it’s graduating or the portal or whatever, but at home, those are the people that have seen me really in some of the best and the worst times of my life, and they still keep coming back. I think for me it’s just being back in our community and just having everyone be together. I think when we’re all together and the people we love are around us, it’s a really special thing that a lot of people don’t have that I’m very thankful that we do.
Daron: Yeah. Ty, what about you, man?
Ty: I think I’m most excited for a home cooked meal. I have had Qdoba like a hundred times in four weeks. Still good every time, you know, just ready for when I was, I think also kind of what Cole said, just kind of how the dynamic of our family is. Just, you know, that kitchen counter, kitchen table. I talked about it in my podcast, just being able to sit around a kitchen table and eat with people. Especially your people, it’s a big deal and it’s a lot of fun. It’s really good conversations and I miss that about having the fam together. And then I also think just getting to see, like Cole said, my friends. Just getting to see my buddies would be huge. Just texted them some, but everybody’s transitioning, everybody’s going through their ups and downs and figuring out who we are without each other. But kind of ready for that comfort of seeing the guys again and getting to hang out with them and just checking and figuring out how their first semester or so went.
Thanksgiving, so there’s probably exam weeks left. But majority of their first semester went. Just my friends that are all doing different things. Got guys playing college basketball, got guys playing college baseball, got guys rushing fraternities, and just a bunch of different things that are going to be talking points for a good conversation with all my friends. And then just being home, being in your safe haven and knowing your way around places and just being around Indiana and everything that goes along with that and getting to see weather change and just the small things about Indiana that I don’t get here anymore. But for sure, definitely like Cole said, just the persona of our household and just being able to be there for those people in person and not through a phone call or a text message.
I’m just looking forward to getting to talk to people face to face and really check in. Because I can only feel so much through a text message or a call. And I know the majority of people that are back home are probably thinking the same thing as me. Just kind of count down the days so we all get to see each other again, no matter how great the people you met in college the first couple weeks are. Because like mom always says, you can’t make old friends. So it’ll be good to see all those guys and just kind of be back and meet my dog, I guess that we bought that I haven’t met yet. So I’m excited to meet our new family member that I have still yet to meet. But I did get to miss all the puppy stages. That’s fun. There’s no bodily fluids I have to clean up off of our floor. So that’s the dog before you see him.
Yeah. So I’m excited. Just basically kind of like Cole said, just getting to see the people and have time where I’m blessed in all the opportunities in my life to be there and hopefully step back into a position there where I can lead again and maybe affect the little communities I held back there and just keep doing what I was doing.
Daron: Yeah. Knox, what about you? What are you excited about your brothers being here?
Knox: Just kind of having their friends in and out of the house and just kind of taking the quiet away around here. It was pretty quiet just being us three and I just missed the noise and the talks and the laughter and just all those things. And I miss sitting around our couch watching a movie or watching college football or NFL football. I just miss the little things that our family do that just make our family special.
Daron: No doubt. I can’t wait. Julie, you got a question? You bring us home?
Julie: I don’t think I have a question, but I think the thing that I’ll be glad about when everyone is home is there’s probably not a mom in town that wouldn’t say this, but there’s something to be said when the things that you love the most are all asleep under your roof and you sleep differently when, I sleep differently when all five of us are home. And that is a weird thing about being a mom, that you don’t ever sleep the same and then they’re all back home and you sleep different. And not because you know anything other than the fact that I think I lay down at night and I’m peaceful and joyful at the same time.
And I don’t have a question. I just want to say to the three of you, how incredibly proud I am of you, that you’ve handled this unique transition season with such strength and godliness. Cole, you’ve faced adversity, your story of adversity with a spiritual aura, that’s a weird word to use, but just in spite.
Cole: Sorry, thanks. All right. Thank you for coming. My aura. Thank you.
Julie: You have so much. Anyway, you’re here. Whatever. You have a sense about you that’s changed over three years of your life where before when it was difficult, the direction you lean right now into the Lord is such a testimony and to who you are in Christ and it’s something to be proud of and something to be confident in that in the difficult, other people are seeing how you’re walking and growing and I just really admire that about you.
And Ty, I think you did something super brave by leaving this awesome life that we have here in this town that we just talked about. The thing about all gathering here and having people in our home or in our town or being with these people that we do all love so much. And we do have an incredible community. And I think you’ve really been brave and just being willing to step away from that for a while or for who knows. Though, you know, it is funny the way you say it, and maybe I’ve just been too busy cleaning up dog pee, but I’m too distracted. But there are a lot of days you don’t seem that far because of the unique closeness of our family and the simple calls or text messages. Just, yes, I would much rather you’d be sitting in my living room right now than sitting there. I’m not gonna lie, I’m still a mom and I wish you weren’t there and I wish you were here, but that’s not what I really wish.
I want you to be happy and doing, chasing something that you believe you’re supposed to do. And I’m proud of you for the courage. Knox, you’ve handled this transition far better than I thought you would. And it’s tough to be the only one around here besides that thing. And I’m just, I’m continually amazed at the leader you’re being in high school already. And so the only thing that I wish was different for you is that your brothers had a better view of you doing it because you are making them proud and they would be really proud if they were here seeing it the way dad and I are seeing it. So I’m proud of you and just keep it up. And yeah, I think that’s all that I have today because it’s almost 10 and I’m sleeping.
Daron: Yeah, that’s a great way to bring it home Jules. Guys, I really am. I’ll try to tell you this as much as I can and just to echo what mom says, you guys are my three favorite people on earth, except your mom. Man, I’m just unbelievably proud. I find myself just thinking of the three of you and what you’re accomplishing and the men that you’re becoming. We’ve been doing this thing for 21 years, raising kids and who you guys are and who you’re becoming is beyond my wildest dreams of what I thought parenting would be. And I believed you’d become the men that you are becoming. But you guys are doing an amazing job and I’m just so proud of you as your dad. And I can’t wait to have you guys all here. I agree with what Cole said. I love all your groups of friends and the families that come with it. And the times that we’re gonna get to have when we’re all home together, it’s gonna be special. And you guys make that special. So I love you guys.
Thank you so much. I know everybody’s busy. Knox wants to go to bed. Cole’s got to study. Ty’s got to go watch football. And it’s only, what is it Ty, like seven o’clock?
Ty: Six fifty seven. I gotta go pick up a pizza for me and Jackson in five minutes.
Daron: So this went down perfectly. Yeah. So guys, thank you so much for taking time out of your schedule to be here. Thanks for the people that you’ve encouraged through this series. It’s by far been my favorite series that we’ve ever done on the podcast. So thank you guys so much. Don’t hang up right away. Don’t hang up right away. Yes. Don’t hang up right away. Don’t hang up right away. So please wait. All right. We got. Thanks, guys. Hope we could get out of that. Love you.
Thank you guys so much for being on here. Until we talk again on the Earlewine podcast. Next episode will be in our new studio that’s currently being outfitted and it’ll be not quite done. So I’m excited for you to see the new studio. And until we talk again from all the Earlewines, including Reggie and old man Theo that’s on his chair taking a nap. Remember these three things: God’s for you not against you. He’s near you not far away and he’s created you on purpose and for purpose.