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Girl Opens Birthday Present, Finds Soldier Stepdad Inside
KIRO TV NEWS ^ | 3-19-2008

Posted on 03/19/2008 12:13:49 PM PDT by Cagey

SANFORD, Mich. -- At her seventh birthday party, Amber Birdsall thought the huge gift box wrapped in pink paper likely hid a pair of bicycles.

She was wrong. Inside was something she wanted even more -- her stepfather, a soldier who had been deployed overseas.

"This is way better than bikes," Amber said.

The surprise began a few weeks ago when Amber told her inquiring mother that all she wanted for her birthday was to have her stepfather return home from serving 10 months in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Her mother, Trisha Johnson, 34, relayed Amber's wish to her 39-year-old husband the same day that the girl expressed it. Army Spc. Glenn Johnson immediately started on the paperwork, not expecting his request for a leave to be granted because he is scheduled to come home for good in June.

Much to their surprise, his request for more than a week of leave was granted.

The soldier's flight arrived in Flint, Mich., early Sunday afternoon and he was whisked away to Northern Lanes Recreation, a bowling alley in Sanford where his stepdaughter's birthday party was taking place.

Northern Lanes employees were in on the ruse and kept him hidden in the bar.

When Amber and her 9-year-old sister, Kathy Birdsall, opened a colorfully wrapped refrigerator box, Glenn Johnson was inside.

In addition to spending a lot of time at home with his family, Glenn Johnson and his wife planned a late celebration of their five-year wedding anniversary, which was on Valentine's Day.

"I told her she needs to get a baby sitter and a new outfit," he said. "I'll take care of the rest."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Michigan; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: army; happybirthday; military
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To: 444Flyer; Cagey

Thanks for the PING, Flyer.

What an absolutely fantastic good-news story. It brought tears to my eyes.


61 posted on 03/19/2008 2:00:12 PM PDT by USMC Brat (Set the example.)
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To: RabidBartender
This one from last year still tears me up:

Will somebody come fix my screen? I can't see, its all blurry.
62 posted on 03/19/2008 2:01:16 PM PDT by spotbust1 (Procrastinators of the world unite . . . . .tomorrow!!!)
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To: USMC Brat

That picture of the little girls wondering what’s in that big box is priceless, but the one with her tiny little arm around her warrior Daddy is the tear jerker.


63 posted on 03/19/2008 2:10:47 PM PDT by 444Flyer (The decent to hell is easy,and those who begin by worshipping power soon worship evil-C.S.Lewis)
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To: Cagey

What a great and heartwarming smile she has. How cute is that??


64 posted on 03/19/2008 2:49:06 PM PDT by Marysecretary (.GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL)
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To: 444Flyer

Awwwwww! My Irish eyes are crying!


65 posted on 03/19/2008 3:10:53 PM PDT by Saoirise (From the halls of Montezuma to the streets of Berkeley)
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To: brityank

With all the crap we wade through at this site, it is always refreshing to see something like this happen.


66 posted on 03/19/2008 8:42:02 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle (Duncan Hunter was our best choice...)
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To: Marine_Uncle
'Twas a joy to read.
Curious, though. Damn rain tasted salty -- like being at sea.
67 posted on 03/19/2008 8:44:44 PM PDT by brityank (The more I learn about the Constitution, the more I realise this Government is UNconstitutional !!)
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To: Marine_Uncle

"Daddies are Better Than Bikes, maybe even better than Ice Cream!!"

This is why we can't let the Rats have the White House.

68 posted on 03/19/2008 8:53:26 PM PDT by GRRRRR (2008- A Year That Will Live in Infamy...)
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To: GRRRRR; brityank
The picture reminds me of some thirty six years back when I held my little cute blue eyed blonde daughter in my arms.
God is good. HE knew just how to fashion us out of the dust of the earth.
69 posted on 03/19/2008 9:10:42 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle (Duncan Hunter was our best choice...)
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To: Cagey
Cagy, thank you for this heart-warming post. It brought back memories for me. Thank you also for sharing the priceless pictures.

Welcome Home Army Spc. Glenn Johnson!

TYcoin

70 posted on 03/19/2008 10:29:36 PM PDT by USMC Brat (Set the example.)
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To: Cagey; 444Flyer
This is the full story that Cagy posted the link to, for folks who may have a weak internet connection (like I did at work today).

Local family's story to be on 'The Today Show'
By Angela E. Lackey 03/18/2008

One little girl's birthday wish to see her soldier father touched many local people.

Now it will touch millions on "The Today Show."

It's been a hectic week for Spc. Glenn and Trisha Johnson and their family.

It started with Sunday's surprise birthday party for their daughter, Amber Birdsall. The 7-year-old girl's biggest and best present was her father wrapped in a bright pink and orange box. The family had planned a quiet week of videos, visits and games for Glenn's leave.

Then the phone rang around 4:30 p.m. Monday. It was "The Today Show."

"I was floored," Trisha said. "I couldn't believe that it was going to get that big. I was expecting it to be just our little town.

"She said 'The word's out and we want to talk to you. We heard all about Amber,'" she continued.

Trisha said the interview will be scheduled in the next few days. She said it appears that "The Today Show" will come to their Midland home for the show, but that she wasn't given any details.

"Amber was kind of giggling," Trisha said. "She's like 'Mom, that's like regular TV.'"

Their middle daughter, Kathryn Birdsall, 9, is holding out for "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

"She loves Ellen," Trisha said. "She like 'Mom, we'll go on Ellen.' She made me e-mail the (video) to 'Ellen.'"

The Johnson home still is scattered with Glenn's suitcases and Amber's birthday presents, and the pending interview means an even more hectic time coming up.

"Now it's kind of hard-core clean," Trisha said.

She said the idea of being on major TV is exciting, but that she is "scared to death."

And what does Glenn think about all this?

"He just thinks this is absolutely out of control," Trisha said.

See the soundslide.

71 posted on 03/20/2008 12:03:55 AM PDT by USMC Brat (Set the example.)
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To: USMC Brat

Thanks for taking the time to format that.

I watched the first hour of the Today Show and this story wasn’t mentioned. Maybe tomorrow.


72 posted on 03/20/2008 6:25:17 AM PDT by Cagey
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To: gondramB; murdoog

Y’all are disgusting, and I’m proud to be like you.


73 posted on 03/20/2008 6:26:46 AM PDT by Xenalyte (Can you count, suckas? I say the future is ours . . . if you can count.)
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