My name is Sunflower Michelle Dawson.  I am 11 years old.

I live with my family in Cripple Creek, Colorado.  I have a mom and a step dad (my real dad walked out of the picture when I was only two years old; I barely remember him), as well as two sisters (Rose Marie and Hyacinth Michaela) and three step brothers (Carter, Sage, and Maddox).  The only time I really hear from my dad is on my birthday or on Christmas (and that is IF he remembers; he usually doesn't).

I don't know why I was given a weird name like Sunflower, but that is my name, so I'd better get used to it.  I'm stuck with it for the rest of my life.  Mom says it's because I have such a sunny disposition.  Maybe so, but I am still not sure as to whether I like it.

I am in the sixth grade at Cripple Creek Primary School (or will be, once school starts back up on the day after Labor Day, September 3).

Some of my favorite things to do are dancing and singing, hang out with my best friends Riley O'Marin and Mackendra Joy Simmons, swim, go to concerts, snow ski (in winter) and water ski (in summer), go hiking in the mountains with the family, travel, write stories and poems, read, and do arts and crafts.  My mom says I am a very "crafty" person.  LOL

I also like to go to church.  I go every Sunday.  I go to Roadhouse Cowboy Gathering, a nondenominational church.  People are all faiths are welcome to attend.  I'm Baptist; it's what I was raised with.  

I like it because we're free to worship as we see fit, and we can wear blue jeans or tee shirts or tennis shoes, and people who like to get dressed up real fancy don't frown on us.  Our pastor is Mike Shiplett; he usually wears golf tees and long shorts or western wear.

I accepted Christ when I was seven, four years ago, and got baptized, too.  I'm the only one who is saved in my family.  My mom and sisters were saved, but they have lost interest in going to church.  That makes me sad.  They say they have more important things to do (yeah, like sleeping in, for instance).  I pray they get back to Him before it is too late.

I go to church with Dad and the three kidlets (what I call my step brothers; they're triplets, and they're two years of age).  

Hate to go, but Mackendra Joy just called and invited me to go with her family to Elitche's Gardens.  I'll have to ask Mom and Dad if it's okay.  I hope so; I'd like to get away from the chaos that is our home and have some REAL fun for a change!  Take care and God bless!  Will write again soon!

~Love, your new friend in Colorado, Sunflower.  :)