We met at a baseball fieldhouse right here in Lubbock, Texas. Ethan was already working there as an instructor when I was hired as an instructor also. I was still playing baseball at the time, so Ethan and I would talk about strategy, plays, and history in the time between our lessons. I ended up asking him to help me train for the USA Women's Baseball Team - only because I needed someone to throw batting practice and hit me ground balls. Little did we know - this would be the building blocks of "US" We started spending more and more time together at the field house, now talking about life, family, and goals. I went to USA tryouts and made the team - many thanks to Ethan - and then our relationship started. We went on a couple dates and then our friendship grew even stronger than it had already been — fast forward to two years of dating later, and we are truly best friends ready to take on the adult world together.
I (Lea) was coming home from a long week at work and could not wait for the Friday Night date night Ethan said he had planned for us - which is usually every Friday. I told him to pick the restaurant this week and didn't think anything more about it. I left work to come home to Diesel and Ethan chilling on the couch watching T.V. "Wanna go play catch?" Ethan asked me. "Uh YES!!" I replied. Playing catch together is one of my favorite things to do - especially to unwind. We start to walk down, I have my glove and Ethan grabbed his and a ball. "Crap hold on, I forgot my hat. Meet you down there," Ethan said as we walked out the door. (Since he doesn't wear one everyday to work, now, he often forgets it.) He finally comes down, as I'm motioning for him to throw it already, he finally gets about 10 feet from me and throws me the ball... and it has something sticking out of it. I pull the paper out of the ball and start reading.... and crying HAHA. As soon as I look up - he's on a knee. He couldn't even get the question out before I'm crying/yelling YES YES YES!!! Then I proceed to facetime my mom - who was on a plane back from St. Louis (who didn't answer), then my dad who was on his way back from work (who didn't answer) so then my soon to be in-laws get to facetime me as I'm joy-sobbing for 40 min. HAHA Ethan had dinner planned for that "Date Night" - with them joining us to celebrate.