“We first saw each other at a Justin Timberlake concert,” Megan recalled. “We didn’t meet then, but we were in the same suite.” It wasn’t until a week later that their friends stepped in and officially introduced them, believing the two to be a better fit than Neal’s original date at the concert. “My friend Sara called and said she knew someone she thought would be a perfect fit for me — more compatible. And Megan and I hit it off from the get-go,” added Neal.

In fact, the couple shared their first official date — sushi and putt-putt golf — and a whirlwind romance quickly followed. “Our first 10 dates were very creative and well thought out,” said Megan. “We had an agenda,” confirmed Neal. “There was a cooking class, we went to the Floore’s Country Store to dance, and we even watched the Tech game.” They bonded quickly over shared values and experiences, like their love for Texas Tech.

According to Neal, the older two kids (Walker and Lexi) are fourth generation Red Raiders, as their great grandmother attended Tech in the ‘30s. “I don’t know how many fourth-generation kids are on campus, but there probably aren’t too many,” mused Neal. 

The journey to becoming a family of seven wasn’t conventional, but it was unmistakably guided. “I had Walker and Lexi, and Megan had Jaidyn,” Neal shared. “We also have two children together, Crew and Collins, so we have a blended family of five kids.” 

Walker (26) is married to Emma and lives in San Antonio. Lexi (23) just graduated from Texas Tech and is set to begin work at Ernst & Young in January. Jaidyn (14) is about to start Boerne High School, while Crew (8) and Collins (6) attend San Antonio Christian School. “We have kids in all ages and stages of life,” laughed Megan. “There’s always something exciting going on over here.”

That wonderfully diverse energy has shaped their social circle in surprising ways. “It really impacts Megan and my social group quite a bit, even within the Club,” explained Neal. “We’re friends with parents of elementary kids and friends who are empty nesters. It makes things dynamic.”

Though their road together has been defined by love and laughter, it’s also a tale of resilience. “Neal was widowed for nine years, and I was a single mom before we met. We moved pretty quickly. We were engaged within six months and married within a year,” said Megan.

Neal remembers the moment he knew Megan was the one for him. “I was about to go hunting in Montana, and we had just spent four weekends together. I thought, ‘If I come back and still feel this way, this thing has legs.’ I even changed my flight and came back early because I couldn’t wait to see her.”

Their wedding, officiated privately by Max Lucado with their children present, was followed by a big celebration two months later. “We had to make decisions about life sooner than later,” said Neal. “We’re a little unorthodox — we’re not your average family. But we knew we wanted to blend our lives.”

And what made Megan fall for Neal? “He’s funny, smart, handsome and so kind and attentive … always thinking about what was best for me and Jaidyn. He even brought her a gift early on. That’s what really won me over — it warmed my mom’s heart.”

For this couple, being intentional is everything — especially when it comes to family. “We’re planning a kindergarten graduation and a college graduation at the same time,” shared Neal. “We have to be really thoughtful about how we do vacations and holidays. It’s fun watching our 8-year-old and our 26-year-old do things together like playing wiffle ball in the driveway.”

“All of our kids are really close,” added Megan. “Jaidyn doesn’t remember life without Neal, Walker and Lexi. This is her family.”

One of their favorite family traditions is skiing in Big Sky, Montana every spring break — a tradition going back 11 years. Beloved summers are spent enjoying the lake or beach, and they’ve also taken memorable family trips to Cabo, Hawaii and on Disney cruises. “We try to think of things that all of our kids will enjoy,” she confirmed.

Until recently, the Leonards owned a lake house on Lake LBJ for eight years. “The kids really grew up there,” said Megan. “Surfing, tubing and wakeboarding — those were our weekends.”

When it’s just the two of them, Megan and Neal enjoy running together (they once ran a half marathon in Las Vegas), as well as taking time for special date nights, yoga and golf. “We just got back from Pebble Beach. We played a 9-hole par 3, walking around with cocktails and clubs — it was a blast,” said Neal. 

As you might have guessed, Neal also loves playing golf on the Cordillera Ranch course, usually two to three times a week, and is a regular in tournaments. Neal is semi-retired and working on three different family business boards, including Leonard Holding Co. He also chairs Africa New Life, which is a Christian-based nonprofit that supports schools, churches and women’s vocational programs in Rwanda. 

“Rwanda is a beautiful country — the land of a thousand hills, I think they call it. We sponsor 11,000 kids in eight different schools. It’s pretty amazing,” he said proudly. “You pull up in a van, and within minutes, 200 kids come running, smiling, wanting to play soccer. They call us ‘mzungus.’ It’s like being Beyoncé.”

Besides taking on the rewarding yet arduous job of a full-time mom, Megan serves on the board of NextTalk, a San Antonio-based nonprofit that helps families navigate digital safety, which seems to be more and more crucial as a parent these days. “They teach open communication in the home and how to cyber-parent in today’s world,” she explained. “I heard someone speak about it 15 years ago, and now it’s become a big part of our life.”

Both born and raised in San Antonio, the Leonards moved to Boerne in 2021, then into their beautiful, newly built Cordillera Ranch home in late 2023. “It was exciting to move out of the city. Our daughter was friends with a girl whose mom invited us to the Club at Cordillera for a pool day, and I fell in love immediately,” remembered Megan.

Neal’s connection goes back even further. “My dad had a membership here before the golf course was even finished,” he noted. “But it wasn’t until I transitioned roles that we considered moving to the country to build a life here.” 

Now they enjoy nearly 13 pristine acres of Cordillera Ranch land, idyllic views of the stars and access to nearby trails — perfect for running and walking Bogey, their two-year-old golden doodle who they admit is spoiled rotten and thinks of himself as one of the kids. There’s no denying he’s an esteemed member of this delightful family. Whenever they can, Neal and Megan like to take Bogey to Swede Creek River Park. “Ten or so owners all bring their dogs. Everyone knows each other’s dogs by name. It’s like doggy playdates with a global crowd — folks from England. It’s wild,” said Neal. 

The couple also shared that they’re extremely grateful for the unique sense of community at Cordillera Ranch. “I love that it’s family-friendly with lots to do, but also that we have space and feel so safe here,” said Megan. “I like the diversity of the people,” agreed Neal, adding, “Some young families like us, some older folks. Great amenities. Junior programs. And yeah … you can see the stars.”

From blended beginnings to their life of purpose and play in Cordillera Ranch, the Leonards are living proof that love doesn’t follow a formula, but it does follow intention.