CKU Detroit.

I don't even know where to begin this time around.

Every event I have attended has been special and wonderful in its own way. Meeting women (and men from time to time) who are capturing their lives through photos and words and then coming together to create super cool projects that reflect the lives they are living right now. It is powerful stuff.

Something about this weekend took it to a new level again for me. I am not sure what it was about it exactly, but there was something in the air - some combination of just the right elements that made this experience truly fantastic.

Over two days I had 170 women take the challenge of creating an album based on a week in their lives. Many of the women in my classes I have had the pleasure of meeting at events in the past (always love seeing those smiling faces again). This is so much more than an event just about creating; it is also an event about connecting, about seeing that we are all living lives with challenges and successes, that we all wake up in the morning and put one foot in front of the other.

And that when it is all said and done, it is really all about the photos and the words.

So to my students, thank you. Thanks for trusting me with your time and your passion. Thank you for the kind words and the personal stories. Thank you for going with the flow. Each one of you is an amazing gift.

At this event, a wonderful group of women in my classes came together and set up a silent auction with the proceeds benefiting Autism Speaks. There were tons of cool products and projects available for bidding (I myself picked up a very cool little book made by Tim Holtz) - it was awesome to see all the cool donations. Thank you guys so much for putting that all together...for doing something so good.

The total amount raised this weekend: an awesome $4,150. Seriously so cool.