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."
I was relieved to read past the headline and learn that the stepfather was still alive.
What a heart-warming story! Love it!
Thank heavens he didn’t hide in a piñata.
Awwwwwwwwww.....[wiping away tear]
>>I was relieved to read past the headline and learn that the stepfather was still alive.<<
I’m so glad I wasn’t the only person to think that...
“Usually one must go to a bowling alley to meet someone of your stature...”
“I told her she needs to get a baby sitter and a new outfit,” he said. “I’ll take care of the rest.”
Hot Dang, now there’s a MAN!! OOOh, and a good daddy too... congratulations to this little girl’s mother on finding such a wonderful man for her family. Welcome home, Soldier!
LOL!
And, I always thought it was Roller Rinks.
Supplies!
Cool.
We need more these types of stories.
We, this nation half full of democrat liberals constantly trashing the honorable military, don’t deserve these men ...
This story may be on the Today show.
http://www.ourmidland.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19401443&BRD=2289&PAG=461&dept_id=472542&rfi=6
Good job soldier!
Is there a video link to this great story?
[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 Waskley wabbit writer has us thinking that there's something horribly "Amiss with Amber." ;-)
Great story. Thanks for sharing it, Cagey. :-)
I hate stories like this. The monitor always seems to get defective
Great story!
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