My name is Jannette C. Valdez. Im 38 years old. I was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado. I graduated from South High School. I came from a divorced, yet very loving family. My family still lives there today. My grandparents both retired from the Pueblo State Hospital. My mother was, and still is, the coordinator for SRDAs Retired Senior Volunteer Program for the past 35 years. My father is a retired Special Education teacher for Pueblo School District #60. My mother has a Bachelors degree and my father has a Masters degree. Education and helping people have always been important to my family and parents. Love, family, faith and education are staples in my family. My home was always filled with love, family and extended family. I have two older brothers, John and Jesse. Jesse and I are only two years apart. I shadowed him everywhere until about high school. Now we are still best friends. Jesse has since blessed me with a new best friend my niece, Danni Jay. Because of our upbringing we never saw the differences in people. I remember helping in dads classrooms and all the kids in the class were special needs, but I couldnt for the life of me tell what their special needs were. I can also remember all the happy faces who showed me a smile and gave me a warm hug every single time I came to visit SRDA. I never knew how close to death or how sick they were, but they always shared a smile and a hug with Jesse and me. I felt totally comfortable sitting down having a conversation with a person with a disability who may, quite possibly, not understand me or with an elderly person who may not be able to hear me. But again, because of our upbringing I knew that past our differences were our similarities and those similarities were made of love. Because my grandmother, Amada, died of Alzheimers and my connection to the elderly and children, this book holds a greater meaning to me. We knew the meaning of giving and friendship and at a young age. I thank God for my parents for teaching me to look past someones differences so I can see what makes us the same! Those similarities are what will unite this world together in peace; unity can make this world a beautiful place. Because somewhere, someone is going through a similar journey and youre never alone. Its never too late to show someone a home, faith, kindness, friendship and love. Today I continue to teach the same to my family. I live in Colorado Springs with my partner of 10 years. I have two stepchildren, Rachael and Alex, and one stepgrandson, Aizen. If I have taught them anything, its that they are never alone and always loved. I worked for 10 years as a security guard. I quit that job for a better income working at my current position as a Loss Prevention Associate. I enjoy writing, poetry, camping, music, the outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
