Girl Opens Birthday Present, Finds Soldier Stepdad Inside

KIRO TV NEWS ^ | 3-19-2008

[USMC Brat]

Thanks for the PING, Flyer.

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

[spotbust1]

This one from last year still tears me up:

Will somebody come fix my screen? I can't see, its all blurry.

[444Flyer]

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.

[Marysecretary]

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

[Saoirise]

Awwwwww! My Irish eyes are crying!

[Marine_Uncle]

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

[brityank]

'Twas a joy to read.
Curious, though. Damn rain tasted salty -- like being at sea.

[GRRRRR]

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

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

[Marine_Uncle]

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.

[USMC Brat]

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!

[USMC Brat]

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.

[Cagey]

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.

[Xenalyte]

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