I was born to Dave and Kathy Cottrell

I should start by giving credit to whom credit is due, my folks, Dave and Kathy. Though they’re biological parents only to my brother, David, and me, they’ve had a ministry of parenthood to hundreds of others, possibly thousands.

In fact, my brother and I didn’t even have our own rooms until we were teenagers, because we always had people living with us who needed a safe home to stay in. I’m grateful for how they parented us all, but especially me. I couldn’t be more grateful for the consistent love they’ve given and example they’ve set. It’s quite a legacy.

I married Nicole Llin Goings

It’s impossible to convey in a couple paragraphs the full extent of who Nicole Cottrell is. She is a fierce lover and gentle fighter who will always do what she says. She is kind, dedicated, resolved, and worthy of respect. On the enneagram scale, she’s a hard 8, but with a clear 7 wing. If you prefer the MBTI, she’s an INTJ.

The fact that she said “Yes” to me is a fact I am daily astounded by and ridiculously thankful for. You’ll hear me say her name a lot if you stick around, because, I’m pretty obsessed. Learn more about Nicole Cottrell, or if you’re up for a (much) longer read, feel free to read our love story.

We had Riley first

Riley Cottrell has talent in spades, but more importantly, she has character. While I could speak of her untamed creativity, her melodic voice, and her natural acting ability, I would be remiss were I not to mention her faithfulness, her compassion, and her love for Jesus and others. That I get to be her dad is one of my greatest honors, and I am grateful for every moment with her.

Then came Tolan

Tolan Cottrell is as uncommon as they come in young men his age—or any age. Like his dear old dad, he too is an entrepreneur through and through. But much more importantly, he is a lover of all people, he demonstrates empathy, he perseveres and commits to goals like few people I know, plus, he’s a sucker for cute babies, animals, and videos thereof. He has taught me more about healthy sonship and fatherhood than I could have ever learned on my own.

Beckett stirred the pot

What a pleasant—and exciting—surprise Beckett Cottrell was to Nicole and me. We thought we were done with having kids, but not because we wanted to be. Beckett was the direct gift of God to us in response to our prayers, and what a gift he is! If you hear me telling stories, it’s probably a story about our bold, blond-haired, blue-eyed Beckett, because he has no shortage of them. He is the most tenacious person I’ve ever met (truly), he cares deeply about justice for those who are less fortunate, and, quite frankly, he is hilarious. I learn and grow so much getting to be his dad.

We’re also a zoo

Okay, I’m exaggerating, but we do have other family members I should mention. Lolo and McClane are our pretty pooches, Pepper is our feisty feline, and Maverick is our dwarf hamster. Between our family of 5 and these 4 furballs, our house can get…rowdy.

We’re on a mission

Our mission as a family is to live and love freely. We have a clear set of values, too. I’ve shared our mission elsewhere, with some tips for how you might go about crafting your own, too. If you’re interested, check it out.

We also love to travel

In fact, we even changed up our life in such a way that it enables us to live in other countries during the summer. Follow along with the #cottrellsabroad.

My family is amazing—and I expect it to grow

With a full house (and heart) like this, who wouldn’t want to add more to the mix? Though Nicole and I are finished having biological children of our own, we look forward to the day when our kids start having their own kids, even if that’s a ways off. In fact, I’ve already told my kids that I have a 10 grandkid quota. However they divvy up the quota amongst themselves is up to them, but I want 10. 😄

As you can see, I’m a family man through and through, and it’s one of my greatest honors getting to learn from and grow with these amazing humans each and every day. Thank you, Jesus, for my amazing family.