My Life Story - Birth

John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the U.S. president, Mickey Mantel signed a $75K major league baseball contract, the 23rd Amendment was added to the United States Constitution, Bob Dylan made his singing debut in New York City, the Bay of Pigs Invasion occurred, the American civil rights movement was in full swing, Six Flags over Texas opened, the Berlin Wall construction began and I, Janette Cunningham, was born into the world.

I am joining with Janna at Mommy's Piggy Tales to document the history of my life from birth to age 18. As I have gathered my pictures and stories I can truly see it is "His-story".

The year was 1961.

So here it goes.....and yes, my pictures will start out in black and white, because that was the medium for most pictures back in the 60's.

I am a first-born child.  My mother is Loetta Jane Ayers Cunningham and my father is Kenneth Jay Cunningham.  I was born on January 8, 1961, in Austin, Texas.  My full name is Janette Cunningham.
My parents did not give me a middle name.  My father claimed that they did not give me a middle name so I would use my maiden name as my middle name when I married.


Janette is pronounced Jeanette.  My mother's name is Jane, so my name is Little Jane!  Jane and Janette also mean "Grace".

My claim to fame is the fact I was born on Elvis Presley's Birthday!  This was the year of his movie, "Blue Hawaii" and hit song, "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You".  Elvis had moved into what was called his irrelevant years, as soul music was making it's hit in popularity.

I was born right before my father graduated with his Civil Engineering Degree from The University of Texas.  So, I was raised a native Texan, as well as a Longhorn.

I am the first grandchild on my mother's side and the second on my father's side.

I was the fourth generation on both sides of the family, with three great-grandmothers still living.  I scared everyone by getting into my great-grandmother Powell's medicine bag and getting out her heart medicine.  So, along with eating half of a roach at my grandmother's house, I kept them all running.  My great-grandmothers, as well as my grandmothers, all lived into their 90's.  Strong countenance and long life is an inheritance I received from these wonderful women.

My life and my future husband's life would start crossing even before my birth. My parents lived within two blocks of my future husband's family before moving to the home where I was born. My mother worked in the same office with my future brother-in-law, while pregnant with me. 

During my early childhood, two of my aunts lived with us, creating a deep bond to both of these special ladies.  My Aunt Bet would take me for the weekend to my grandparent's farm.  One trip left me with a life-long souvenir when I hit the front dashboard of the car with the corner of my eye.  This became a special signature between my aunt and I through the remaining years of her life.  Throughout her life, she would be a constant encourager and mentor to me on marriage and parenthood. The Lord took her home to be with Him on the birthday of one of my six children.          

I wasn't an only child for long.  My sister was born 14 months later.  During my mother's busy days with two children under two, I established a special friendship with an older woman who lived across the street, whom we affectionately called "Nanny Bell".  I would wander over to her house by myself, so my handyman father had to construct a picket fence from throw away lumber to protect my wandering feet. I would return through the years to visit her after our move.

                                                                                                         

I would challenge my Dad's construction ability again by falling off the bed, (while mom was having my sister), and knocking out my front tooth.  My Dad then built me a small bed close to the floor for my safety.

During my early years, I spent a lot of time with my grandmother and many of my future traits would reveal themselves at my grandmother's house.  The tip-toes would predict what I would do with my feet in later years.  God's precious hand can be traced from the beginning of my conception to my present day life....what an awesome gift this life is!

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