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Monday, December 31, 2018

ROAD TO LOFE | WE ARE ENGAGED

ROAD TO LOFE | WE ARE ENGAGED
Monday, December 31, 2018
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On April 20th I had a student approach me after school. He said, “Ms. Megenney, are you religious at all?” And the timid first year, fresh meat English teacher responded, “ You know, I’m not sure if I can tell you, but what’s up?” He laughed, smiled, and replied, “ Because I have a feeling you would really like my church...”


I made a promise to that student that “regardless of my religion” I would check it out. God sure does place you right where you need to be, and His timing, well, you’ll see what I mean.


That next Sunday, on April 22nd, I had a feeling that I needed to keep that promise. I told my mom and grandma that I had this weird feeling about going and so they agreed to tag along. The first sermon (well actually like 5th) I had ever heard from Pastor Matt Brown was on the enneagram. It happened to be on type 2 that day, the helper. Again, God’s timing, because as soon as the sermon started, the three of us started nudging each other, poking each other, laughing, and even at one point cried a little, because guess what our numbers are... you bet we are all 2s and I was hooked right then and there.

A day later Facebook decided to tell me that I may know an Edwin Trujillo. What a blast from the past! I was stoked to see him doing so well and he happened to also go to Sandals. I asked him about community groups and a few Tuesday’s later I attended, poured my heart out, and “found a place to be real,” with the most incredible group of people I’ve ever met. Community group at East Valley became my safe haven but I continued going to Hunter Park, our main campus, by myself for several weeks.




On May 6th I went over to our community group house formally known as the ZEN house for a celebration. Two of the leaders in our group had gotten engaged and arrived only moments after I did. I can remember being so genuinely excited and thinking they were just the sweetest people. We walked into the house together, I ran over to my friend Edwin, and slammed a box of honey bunches of oats on the counter. I had a bet going that cinnamon was way better than chocolate. I won. In the background there was this super cute guy cooking Dino nuggets. I remember thinking he was so handsome but hearing from someone else that he was off limits. Daniel and I never really talked much, even at group, until one summer night in July when we said goodbye to the ZEN house once and for all.

Fast forward to the night of the last ZEN house party. I was irritated with someone in the group and decided I needed to take a minute for myself. My best friend Tegan agreed to let me vent while we went on a walk. As I was complaining, and contemplating how to handle the situation at hand, Daniel pulled up in his blue Corolla, waving, with that perfect quirky, scrunched nosed smile. He asked what we were doing and we said we were walking over to ACA. We told him that he was welcome to join, so he did. It was the first time seeing him in a new light, running, racing, dancing through sprinklers, and up close and personal. That night I can remember moments where my heart was gravitating towards him, and I guess he felt the same. After consuming way too many snacks and then dancing them off I decided to say my goodbyes and head out. Little did I know that Daniel went and told my friend Bekah, the one who got engaged that first night I had ever been over to the house, that he almost walked a pretty girl to her car... me! Now, I didn’t know any of this until about a month later.





On several occasions Daniel and I talked about our mutual love of all things Disney and that we both had passes. He asked me to go a few times but there was always a reason I couldn’t. On August 1st he helped me, along with several other friends, move into my first apartment downtown. My mom claims that the moment she met him, she knew he was supposed to be there. I can remember her stopping him and asking where she knew him from. She kept saying he was so familiar, and that it was the strangest thing. What’s even crazier, Daniel’s mom said something similar about me when we had first met.

Later that day, after all the moving had been done, after Daniel insisted on going with me to a house to checkout a Facebook marketplace item so I wouldn’t be alone, after exchanging glances and laughs, he asked if I would go to Disneyland with him and his mom. Now that’s an entirely different story for an entirely different time, but long story short, I didn’t end up going.

He went with his mom, brought me a Christopher Robin pin back, and asked me to coffee two days later. What should have been an hour long coffee sesh with a friend turned into an all day event of moving items to a new school I was about to start teaching at, a long walk at Prospect Park, another coffee date at stell, and ended with him asking, “unless Facebook is your absolute favorite form of communication, can I have your number?”

A few moments later I got a text from him and I remember calling several friends asking what they thought. “Was he flirting? Do you think he likes me as more than a friend? What does this mean?”






August 8th was the night we finally went to Disneyland. He picked me up and we were on our way. Shortly after walking through the park, Daniel reached for my hand. I freaked out to be honest, ha! I guess I pulled away pretty quickly, but ended up not letting each other go the rest of the night once I realized there was a bit more there than just friendship. We walked through the Disneyland hotel lobby where once upon a dream came on and he asked me to dance. It was like we were the only two people in the room, because we actually were, minus a security guard. I thought for sure he was going to kiss me right then and there, but didn’t because I ran away. Any of you who know how quirky and weird I am can probably envision this just as it happened... yes, actually physically jogged, well, trotted, a bit away to mutter the words, “holy shit” under my breath and take a moment for myself. 

We eventually made it back to the car, told each other literally everything about our lives, the good, bad, ugly, really ugly, and when I got home I decided I didn’t want to leave the night without knowing for certain if we were more than just friends. I kissed him, he kissed back, and the establishment of 40 days of no kissing was implemented. About 10 days later he told me he wanted me to be his girlfriend. 2 days after that he told me he loved me. 2 days after that he said, “life, change one letter and that’s what I’m going to make you someday...” and that’s how the word “lofe” was created.



3 days or so later, Daniel proposed we go to financial classes and premarriage workshop. I was in shock that he was so direct and straightforward, but loved it. I agreed, so we signed up for Financial Peace University first. Daniel decided we needed to be on the waitlist for premarriage, since the spots fill up quickly and we wanted to make sure we got in for the spring. Just as planned, he received an email about his inquiry and onto the waitlist our names went... for about 24 hours.


Daniel leads a group of 8th and 9th grade boys at our church. One evening, the devotional was on being radically obedient and saying yes to God no matter what. After writing down that the next thing God placed in front of him he would say yes to without questioning, Daniel received an email saying there was one spot available for premarriage if we wanted it. I let him make the final call and so off to premarriage we went! Was it trying? Absolutely. Did we both lose sleep over hours upon hours of discussions about our future? You bet. Did it pull us closer and make us realize this was really it and we weren’t crazy? 100 %.






Now... for the part you’ve all been waiting for... how did he ask?

Remember the two sweet people I mentioned at the beginning of the story who got engaged the night Daniel and I had met? We scheduled a for fun bridal session for sunrise in Big Bear. When we arrived to the hiking trail we were supposed to go on, but the snow had melted and refrozen so many times we decided hiking with a wedding gown wouldn’t be the best idea. We found a nearby park that was perfect and so we threw an audible and adjusted as necessary to still get that yummy morning light. 


We skipped rocks across a frozen lake, which makes the coolest sound ever by the way, wandered around marshy ground, and eventually found the perfect spot to shoot. About ten minutes in, Nasi said, “okay we have to get some of you and Daniel really quick, the light is perfect.” And me, being me said , “ no no! We need this light for you guys!” But of course, I got over ruled and Daniel walked over to meet me.


We took a few photos, and then Daniel looked me in the eyes and said, “I have something for you.” It was one of his moms delicious sugar cookies in the shape of a bread slice. It asked “ lofe?” on it with a guy down on one knee, and before I knew it, there was Daniel, on one knee too.


It was honestly such a blur. I can remember him saying my name and asking me if I would marry him, but it took the video to realize I once again was saying, “holy shit” under my breath while shaking and accidentally smashing the cookie due to my excitement.








Looking back, nothing has been coincidence. There have been so many confirmations and intricate moments that have lead us here. What if I would have moved to Texas? What if I never listened to that student? What if he didn’t ask me to coffee?








Our entire relationship has felt God lead, as if he is cheering us on. It’s indescribable and so incredible.

We couldn’t be more thankful or excited to spend the rest of together forever. And guys... I’M GOING TO BE HIS LOFE!!!!




Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Lost in Waco | A Confessional Story

Lost in Waco | A Confessional Story
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
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I wrote this months ago and forgot to post it... something tells me I should... here we go.. 




It was 5am on June 10th that I decided I needed to go to Waco as soon as possible. I had gotten a job offer to teach at Conally High about a month prior and I needed to see if the move was just the change I had been searching for. I needed clarity. 

June 13th, I hopped on a plane with adventure on my mind. I flew into Dallas Love Field and drove for an hour and a half to get to Waco. It was everything I remembered it was... beautiful. 


My first stop was Common Grounds, a local coffee shop that makes you feel as if you are living in an eclectic tree house. The sign outside read, "now watch me sip," and I must say, I like a town with a sense of humor. 

I stayed until they closed shop and then headed for my air bnb. The house was a grayish blue with a single cedar wood accent wall with silver mid century house numbers and a metal cut out sign that said "home." It sure felt like it, my little craftsman sanctuary. 

The first day or two seemed to pass by at an average pace. My mind was filled with all of the what if's and whys, but as time passed, friends were made, and all of a sudden I felt at home. 



One of the first nights I was there, I went to an event called Analogue which was a confessional story telling showcase at Pinewood Roasters. It was the perfect introduction to this journey of mine. The theme of the night was "Lost in Waco." Which was funny because at the time, I felt lost everywhere. Many told stories of love and loss, and all the while I felt lost for similar reasons. I wanted to feel like myself, unapologetically me. 

The wildest realization that I had come to was that I was the same person, no matter where I went. Outgoing. Quirky. Adventurous. Me.
I even got up on stage and told them that I was currently lost, trying to decided between a city that excites me and a town that I am proud to call mine. 

I have been struggling with the "not enough" bug...you know, that one that crawls under your skin when you least expect it and tells you that you are not "good enough, smart enough, strong enough, pretty enough..."

I squashed that bug the moment I stepped on stage and put that microphone up to my mouth in front of a bunch of random strangers while holding my topo chico. I felt refreshed to let it all out and I was proud to say that I am a 2 & a 7, an ENFJ, both Slitheryn and Giffindor. In short, I'm a bit of a clustery, contradictory mess and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am strong. I am sassy. I am brave. As Walt Whitman once stated, "Do I contradict myself, very well then, I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes."



The following days consisted of having a full on tug of war constantly playing out in my mind. I felt almost as if that song by The Clash was on a continuous loop of a broken record, "Should I stay or should I go." 

There were so many things that I loved about this little town. It was cozy and different. The people were incredibly kind and welcoming everywhere you went. I liked that people would just pick up a conversation and that they weren't consumed with their cell phones. 



I went to two coffee shops a day, journaled, tried amazing restaurants and bars, went a concert, shopped the silos, I even asked cute Baylor boys on photoshoots... You could say that I was, "living my best Texas life." I wouldn't have traded a moment of that solo trip for anything in the world.




I love my hometown. I'm actually kind of obsessed with it... I love the community. My friends. The businesses. My photography business. My University. My church. My family. The coffee shops. The houses. 

Everything. 





I enjoy meeting new people, going new places, and doing new things. That's why I enjoyed Waco so much. The entire time I was there, I found myself thinking, "This is exactly what Redlands needs, maybe I could be the one to bring it back." So keep an eye out for a story telling event, some southern hospitality, and a whole lot of coffee shop hangs with strangers/new friends. 

Although I may end up in Waco one day,and I am already planning my next trip back, now is a time for me to flourish and grow here. 


Lost in Redlands if you will...


I am choosing to stay because I want to. That is enough. 


I am enough. 
So are you.





So catch me at Cope Middle School teaching 8th graders how dope English is while coordinating their EL program. On the field at Citrus Valley photographing my former students kick ass during football games. At church every Tuesday night and Sunday morning with the best small group ever. Around downtown with my family and friends. And of course, at Augies writing short stories, poetry, and blogging about all of my crazy adventures. 

It feels so good to be lost, in Redlands.



Joe | Waco TX

Joe | Waco TX

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Ever since I got home, I can't seem to get Waco off of my mind. It wasn't merely the excitement of being in a completely different state miles away from anyone I knew, but the joy I found in meeting new friends and exploring new places.

Joe was one of the last people I met. It was two nights before I flew home at a Shakey Graves concert. I had just finished stuffing my face with a decadent pokey os ice cream sandwich, when I spotted Joe and said to my friend, "wait a minute, I totally messaged him on instagram and he didn't see it yet, I wonder if he'd be down to shoot..."

About ten seconds later, I was talking to Joe about where I was from and what the heck I was doing in Waco. We talked for a few minutes, exchanged information, and met up early two days later to shoot.

During the session, I quickly discovered that Joe was a guy that possessed not only the ability to model, but the ability to chain smoke until I got the perfect shot (sorry Joe). His seriousness only lasted in front of the camera. Behind these photos is a goofy man with a damn good soul.


Although I only met with Joe twice, one thing I am looking forward to most about visiting Texas again is meeting up with this guy to talk philosophies, essential questions of life, and of course,  dive into the nitty gritty of world views. If I have it my way, it will hopefully be over a cup of Joe (see what I did there) and a burger at Milo All Day where he happens to work.

I am currently planning my next trip to Texas and couldn't be more excited. I don't think there will ever be another trip again in my life quite like the first. My advice, just go. Travel alone, see the world, and experience the places that set your soul on fire. Oh Waco...

















Saturday, June 16, 2018

Dave | Waco TX

Dave | Waco TX
Saturday, June 16, 2018
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It's not everyday you travel to Waco Texas for a job offer and end up photographing a barista from your favorite local coffee house... 

Meet Dave. Texas native who knows how to shake it like Paris Hilton on the front of a thunderbird, you think I'm kidding... I am, but he did offer. "Anything to get the shot..."

Dave and I met at Common Grounds two days ago when I ran into my friend Marissa from high school. It was so surreal being in a random town and not knowing a soul, but then meeting and making friends due to the universe being so small. I am so thankful we bumped into each other years later in Waco. 

Anyways, back to Dave... he's a Baylor boy (Go Bears) and is such a sweet soul. To randomly agree to a photoshoot, then to hop in the car with a total stranger, and to put up with my shenanigans, that takes a special kind of person. Although we only got to hangout for about an hour at an old gas station and then at Pinewood Roasters, I'm thankful to know that I have made another friend here in Texas. My adventures in Waco are only just beginning.

Here's to new friends, new coffee shops, and new adventures.




Sunday, December 17, 2017

Reynaga or Nada | Laura and David Reynaga

Reynaga or Nada | Laura and David Reynaga
Sunday, December 17, 2017
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That warm autumn light...that cool southern Californian breeze... it is no wonder why so many couples are getting married in the fall...

Laura and I met in middle school where we became good friends. We worked together in ASB and then later in life our paths crossed again working weddings together at a venue in Oak Glen. We both have always shared a mutual love for weddings and events, so when Laura announced she was engaged and contacted me, I was beyond ecstatic. I knew this wedding would be beautiful but I was and still am blown away by every little detail.

Anyone in the wedding industry knows that we view weddings a little differently. We see everything that goes on behind the scenes and we understand that there is a method to the matrimony. Weddings to us are not simply events, they are a representation of the characteristics that bring two unique souls together to make one. They are the beautiful beginnings that make up a forever.

Laura and David share a sweet love that makes me smile from cheek to cheek every single time I think about them. They have this tenderness about them that can only be described as gentle and calming. They complement each other in humor, wit, and playfulness, but my absolute favorite thing about them is their compassion and genuine love for others.Although this is only the beginning of their love story, I anticipate it to be absolutely magical in every way imaginable...

Congratulations to Laura and David, who not only had the sweetest love and the cutest details, but also the best wedding hashtag ever... #raynagaornada





























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