Idell Stenger - My Personal Walk With God

Dedication

To Elohim, God of gods, Lord of lords

To Christ Jesus my Savior, Redeemer and Friend.

To my children, Carrie, Richard, and Connie: That they

Continue to learn to live by Faith and Love in God, and

In Christ Jesus and the Holy Ghost.

Whom all dwell within you, to teach, guide and direct your

Paths of life daily.

Love Mom

My Story

This is written to give honor to the Lord God Almighty, the giver of lifemy life. Most of all, its how God worked in and throughout my life. From the moment I was conceived, unto this very day seventy-three years later. By the time you actually (read) hear this, I will have turned seventy-four. God has never left my side and has guided my life through the good and the bad times.

People need to realize God gave them their life. He gave you his own breath, and he has never left your side even when you may have turned your back on him. God wants you to accept his Son, Jesus Christ, as your Savior. You have never ever been alone, except by your own doing.

Life is full of trials and temptations from which you have to chooseyes or no. If you chose wrong then there is a price to be paid; and if you chose right, then you are greatly blessed. It is our choice, but God is still standing by your side, waiting for you to choose his way, rely on him, trust him, accept his Son, Jesus, as your Savior. Life is much easier this way. You still have the same trials and tribulations, temptations, but now, you have help in making the right choice.

Sometimes, you are called to lay your whole life on the altar and wait to see what God has for you! I have found when this happens, it is never as bad as Satan wants me to think it will be. It is usually far better than I ever thought it to be.

You may wonder why nowseventy-two years later? There are a few reasons:

One:All those that my story could hurt are gone from the scene now. In fact, I am the only one left.

Two:God has said it is time to give my witness and tell how he has worked in my life and the blessings I have received from him.

Three:A couple of people whom I admire and respect suggested I should do this to help give hope to others such as I.

Four:To give honor to my Mother.

Five:To my children who already know the story since they were sixteen, so no one could disrupt their lives.

So remember this as you hear my story; it a story of lifecould have been anyones life, but it was mine. This was the path God had given me to walk, never alone but with Jesus living within me and walking by my sidemy Savior, Redeemer, Companion, and Friend! I also had a family that loved me unconditionally from the day I was born until they each left this earth.

These are the people that have played a big part in my life and at different times in my life:

• To my Lord, Savior, and Friend, Jesus Christ and God my Father
• My mother whom I adore, Frances G. (Myers) Tune
• My dad, Ford M. Tune
• Grandparents who loved me unconditionally, Oliver and Eunice Myers
• Moms brothers and sistersLuetta, Doris, Herbie, Gene, Donald, Lewis, and Charles (Myers)
• My beloved husband (deceased), Richard G. Stenger Sr.
• Our three children whom I adoreCarrie Jo, Richard Junior, and Connie Sue
• Our (deceased) son, Michal Ray Stenger
• My Five brothersFred, Robert, Richard, Ford Junior, and Kenneth Tune
• My Eight sistersJune Paulette, Pattie, Darlene, Debbie, Genny, Nancy, Lori Tune
• My One brother and one sisterKeith and Donna
• Friends who encouraged me, Pastor Wertz and Dr. Edward Martin
• Grand ChildrenMatthew, Ashtyn, Conner, Garren and McKenna
• Great-GrandchildrenBraydan, Rhyder, and Parker
• My helper, Matthew John Weber

The Beginning

This is about my life and a great secret that was never spoken of nor even hinted at by the Myers family.

Its about well-meaning friends and words spoken just within my hearing, about coded comments I wasnt supposed to understand.

Its about a great price one had to pay, over and over and over again, for years of abuse because I was a constant reminder of the great secret.

Though I learned the secret, I chose to guard it with my lifenot for my sake but for my mothers sake and for the other family involved.

I am telling this story of my life in stagesstages of importance to me. The first stage was told to me by my grandmother Eunice Myers, only because I continually asked her. Why her and not my mother? My mother could not speak of it; it left her in tears and depression. So I never asked or spoke of it to her ever again. Mom could tell me stories of my size and other things that happened but not about my beginning. Then my aunt Doris filled in the other details because she thought I should be told the truth, and she knew the other family real well. She was best friends with the guys sister.

Most important, the story is about the Lord my God who loved me, and he was there at the very moment of my conception. He knit me together in my mothers womb, and to this very moment, he is by my side.

For you created my innermost being. You knit me together in my mothers womb, I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Your works are wonderful I know that full well (Ps. 139: 1314).

This tells me that God knew me even before I was conceived, thus he has been by side every second of my life. May all the honor and glory be thine, oh Lord!

The story begins on a late afternoon in the spring of 1942. The sixteen-year-old girl believed she was all grown up now and was able to care for herself as she headed out to go to the skating rink up town. (It seems so many at that age fall into the same trap.) The handsome young man chose her from all the other girls. She couldnt believe it; she was in love. As she headed for home that night, unknown to her, a child was developing and slowly growing within her.

Now what was she going to do? She was not allowed to see the young man anymore because he was too old for her, her mom said.

She was gaining weight and was not yet aware of the life within her; but her mother was starting to suspect that something was going on, and she questioned the girl. Of course, Frances didnt know any thing, and she didnt do anything.

Frances continued to gain weight, so Grandma called the country doctor to come to check on her and see if her suspicions were right or if something else was wrong.

When the doctor left, he told Grandma and Frances that she was indeed with child; he assumed it would be late fall, even Christmastime. Since Frances wouldnt admit anythingas all young girls dothey had no real due date.

The small community they lived in was aghast at this sixteen-year-old. Taunts, ridicule, and being ostersized by everyone puts quite a stain not only on Frances, but also on the rest of her brothers and sisters. So Frances stayed home and did her schooling there, then she finally quit school because they said she needed to attend. And in her condition, her family said no.

Time seemed to drag on and on, and Frances got larger and larger; they were starting to think twins because she got so large. They joked they couldnt tell if she was coming or going.

On November 25, 1942, Frances turned seventeen, and she wanted to have a picture taken to celebrate her birthday. They took one with her head resting on her hands on top of a large ball. She was absolutely beautiful with such a young face, sweet smile, and the look of innocencewhich she was really.

What happened to the boy? His parents sent him into the Navy, so he wouldnt get mixed up with that bad girl across town. I never saw him, nor did I want to see him. And he never made any attempt to see me, and that was how it stayed.