Published: July 19, 2008 08:49 am      

Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight...

Danie M. Huffman

wdreporter2@yahoo.com

Most 3-year-olds wish for Barbie dolls and dress-up clothes for their birthday.

For Piper Arabella Jordan, 3, this year’s wish was a bit difficult to make happen. She only asked for her daddy to come home.

The task seemed impossible, since her father, Spc. Jeremy Jordan, was deployed in Iraq for a 15-month tour.

She said she would give back every present if she could only see her daddy.

Today, her wish came true. Piper turns 3 and her daddy is home. He is an Army medic with Charlie Company 1st Bat. 14th Infantry with the 25th Infantry Division Striker Brigade in Camp Taji, Iraq.

Fellow soldier, Spc. Bobby Weaver, was scheduled for knee surgery, and gave up his leave for Jordan to fly home to be with Piper and his family.

“My daddy’s coming on my birthday?,” Piper asked her mother, Brooke Jordan.

“It’s the only thing she asked for,” Brooke said. “‘Just cake and daddy,’ she told me.”

Jordan will get to spend 17 days with Brooke, Piper, Ireland, 10, and Jax, 17 months.

“He was excited because he wasn’t sure if he could make it,” Brooke said. “His plane came in from Germany, but we’ve been waiting for days not knowing what flight or what time he would be here.”

Piper sleeps with a stuffed monkey her father bought her when she was born and first joined the Army.

He recorded a message and she presses the monkey’s belly each night to hear her daddy’s voice.

“Hey baby, it’s daddy. I love you. You’re such a beautiful girl,” the message repeats each time she squeezes the monkey.

Ireland is equally happy to see her dad.

The pair started writing letters seven months ago, since they last saw each other.

Each one writes a paragraph, continuing a story about a princess who is lost and can’t find her way home.

Ireland said it made her sad to see her dad leave, and feels the stories are a way to connect the pair.

The last entry was by Ireland, who sent her dad a map of the kingdom, so the fair prince can locate the princess and bring her back to her castle.

About 20 letters have been sent overseas to date. They promise to continue the story until Jordan returns home for good.

The Jordans are spending the first part of their vacation at Gordon Lake, where they are staying with other family members.

Jordan said he loves being home and knows he was missed as much as he missed his family.

“Knowing I was coming home was exciting,” Jordan said. “The best part of it is being able to make it back for [Piper’s] birthday. That really made it special.”

Tonight, she won’t have to squeeze her monkey to hear her daddy’s voice. Piper can simply lean over and hear him say, “I love you. Happy birthday.”