The Missing GrandKing

Some of the greatest stories go left untold. People hide amazing stories from the world out of pride or even spite. Many of us are afraid that we might be ridiculed, or treated badly because we feel the way that we feel about some things in our lives. God is the one true judge, and the only one that can see every facet of every situation. As some of you may know, I don't try to hide much, if anything. In fact, among my circle of friends, I am quite well known for my transparency. The fact of the matter is that due to the fault of an elder queen that was dismissed from her duties many years ago, the Three Princesses have a Grandking that doesn't know that they exist. He may not even know that I exist as his child.

I, the child of the missing Grandking, have been searching for answers since high school. A few weeks ago, during my time of prayer, I prayed a prayer that I have prayed many times. I asked to at least see a picture of my father, and declared that I don't have any hard feelings toward him. I know that his absence is not entirely his fault. I would never ask for money, or try to cause harm to any family relationships that he has.

With each prayer, I remember asking my mother when I was 16 years old if she would help me find him. She said, "You know what they say about drunk Indians. He was diabetic and alcoholic, so he's probably dead." That was supposed to make me forget, but it didn't.

My grandparents who raised me contacted the Bureau of Indian Affairs to try to get some assistance in this matter, and were treated kindly, though offered no assistance. My birth certificate says that my father is "unknown", and I found out that my christening in the Episcopal church was really a sham, because the congregation was told that my father was in the service, and therefore could not be present. Back then, teen moms weren't as "cool" as they are now, and the churches would sometimes refuse to christen children born to unwed mothers. After I had been married with two Princesses, my grandmother gave me my baby book. I was ecstatic. Unfortunately, on the pages that list family names, my mother entered the names of her boyfriends, then scratched them out as the relationships ended. Truly, I hope that she is reading this, because I want her to know that I didn't grow up ignorant of these things, much as she hoped that I would.

This story gets pretty long, so I'll conclude that I have jokingly told close friends that I am a direct product of the love revolution. BUT.....it's not funny, and wasn't really as lovely as everybody makes it sound.

Last night, a dear friend who has a genealogy business found him in a very short while. She sent me a picture and other information, and I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that it's him. I have lived 35 years, and I finally got the picture that I prayed for. Thank you to Jesus, and thank you to my friend who was the vessel that he used to help me with this very special request. I may never see him in person, and I can accept that. If it is meant that he should be part of our lives, then God will make it happen, because nothing is too big for God.

Just in case there is a Grandking that is looking for us, and so that search engines will pick this up, I am Laurel Lee Chipp, born to Kathleen (Kathy) Chipp in 1976. You ran into her a day or so after she graduated from a reform school in California. Your name is Kenneth Fred Gray.

Thank You For Reading,
Laurel Santiago