As some of you may know, I've been traveling and teaching in Japan over the last week. These teaching experiences are memorable in SO many ways, but the biggest joy BY FAR is making real, live, face-to-face connections with Cookie Connection members. It's so wonderful to finally put faces to names, and to talk in person with those people I've grown to admire and appreciate from afar. This week, I've had the good fortune of meeting at least four Cookie Connection members (@Ryoko ~Cookie Ave., @salon de Masyu, @sweets decoration Tink, and, of course, my incredible host Keiko Campbell, aka @Sugar Sugar), and the experience has left me overjoyed - to the point that I've shed a few tears! It's amazing to know that this simple, little site can forge such strong emotional bonds.
So, wiping my tears of joy aside for a sec, I am sharing some photos of these recent encounters. I'll post more as they come in!
I also hope that those of you who have met in person will share some of your photos and experiences of meeting in the comments below, so we can all put more faces to names! 
My incredibly organized, fun, and all-around amazing host, Keiko Campbell (aka @Sugar Sugar):
The students in my first one-day class in Kobe with @sweets decoration Tink to my right (in the black shirt) :
And, last but not least, the charming @Ryoko ~Cookie Ave. getting ready for my two-day 3-D decorating class in Ashiya:
Hugs and kisses to all of my "old" Cookie Connection friends, and to the new friends made along this life-changing cookie journey!