Welcome
Hi, we're Chris, Bill, and Issa.
We believe life is meant to be explored.
Sometimes that means hiking a new trail.
Sometimes it means being still and giving grace.
Sometimes that means planting a garden.
Sometimes it means rebuilding after everything falls apart.
Whatever season you're in, we're glad you're here.
We Believe...
Curiosity leads to discovery.
Creativity makes life more meaningful.
Nature helps us slow down.
Knowledge can change us.
Adventure doesn't have to be far from home.
Hard seasons don't define us.
Learning never ends.
Strong communities matter.
Joy is worth pursuing.
Chris
Storyteller, gardener, designer, artist. Always planning the next adventure.
Favorite place: Anywhere outdoors and my garden.
Favorite book: Impossible to decide.
Currently learning how to bake sourdough bread, grow potatoes, and take better care of myself.
Bill
Maker, builder, problem solver. The best homeschool dad.
Loves: Legos
Favorite book: Anything Star Wars
Currently learning to stay positive in the face of what seems to be insurmountable odds.
Issa
Explorer, swimmer, reader. Never not in the pool.
Favorite animal: Elephants
Favorite book: Warriors Series
Currently learning time management.
Why "Stronger Than Fire?"
On February 10, 2017, we (myself, my husband Bill, and our daughter Issa) watched our house burn. We said goodbye to our dog on the front lawn while people watched. We almost lost Bill, who was asleep in the house at the time.
Day two after the fire, I borrowed my mom’s computer (mine was nothing but ash) and started writing. I’m still writing. I’m in awe of this story and what has happened to our family in the wake of tragedy. I'm dumbfounded by God's hand and the kindness and gentleness of humans. It’s important that I write it, it’s important that I share it. It's important because this tragic experience has reframed how we do and see life and I believe it can help others.
Today I am a writer, artist, marketing consultant, and adventurer; working from the home we rebuilt or from the woods with my family in our self-renovated camper. We've picked up our pre-fire goal of visiting every state park in Texas. I stand up paddle board and I'm fascinated by American history and how the government works. I also admin the Facebook group Houston Women's Hiking.
We went through something really hard, and now we're practicing living brazenly.
— What You'll Find Here —
Stronger Than Podcast
Our podcast Stronger Than is about real people telling their stories of hard stuff, their journey, and the beauty that was birthed out of it, and how they became Stronger Than.
You can find our podcast Stronger Than pretty much wherever you get your podcasts (links below).
Adventure starts with curiosity.
Get camping ideas, Texas travel inspiration, outdoor tips, new adventures, and our latest guides delivered to your inbox.
Thank You
Thank you for reading our story, for loving us, for supporting us and for walking this road of live with us. It is the love of family, friends and oddly enough strangers that kept us going when it is so much easier to let ourselves spiral. This experience has propelled us forward to live a life that brings us joy and meaning.
Today, hearing from the people who are uplifted and encouraged by our story brings us more joy than anything. We hope to encourage others to do the thing, to reach out, to make the move. It makes all the hard work worth it. We see you. We know you. You are stronger than fire.
Thank you.
The Shop
You'll also find our shop. In the before (what we refer to as before the fire) we had different career paths. The fire really forced us to look at all aspects of our lives, it cleared everything, and we used it as an opportunity to truly curate what we wanted to let back in. The shop is a collection of my art illustrations and stronger than fire gear.
Where Else You Can Find Us...
We own our own marketing agency, focused on helping businesses communicate their brand.
Check out our Etsy shop which has vintage products and instant downloads.
Together with my mom Bridgette Mongeon, we admin and organize Houston Women's Hiking.
We are an explorer family for Kids Who Explore. You can find articles by us and posts on their Instagram.
Chris is a regular contributing writer for Houston Moms.