Today is my birthday and I am taking the whole post to just… celebrate that. Because honestly? I think we should celebrate birthdays more, not less, as we get older. The candles matter more, not less.
So — happy birthday to me! And thank you, genuinely, for being here to celebrate with me.
I want to do a little reflection, because that’s what birthdays are for.
This time last year, I did not know that 2026 would become the year of an album every single month. I did not know I’d write 31 songs based on the Book of Proverbs, or an 8-track Neo-Soul album based on Song of Solomon, or a full concept musical about the Babylonian exile, or that my own son would co-write a Halloween album with me. I did not know I’d commit to writing a blog every single day and actually do it.
If you had told me all of that a year ago, I think I would have laughed and said “that sounds like a lot.”
It WAS a lot. It still is. And it has been one of the best years of my creative life.
I want to spend my birthday doing the things that fill me up: time with family, maybe a little quiet, definitely some music, and probably way too much cake. (There’s no such thing as too much cake. I don’t know who told you that.)
If you want to give me a birthday gift — and you absolutely don’t have to, but if you’re feeling generous — here’s what would mean the most to me: stream an album of mine today. Add a song to a playlist. Follow me on Spotify if you haven’t. Tell one friend about my music. Leave a comment telling me which song has meant the most to you this year.
That’s the gift. That’s always been the gift. You, listening, connecting, being here.
Thank you for an incredible first seven months of 2026. The next five are going to be even better. I can feel it.
🎂 Here’s to another year of music, stories, stitches, harps, spooky season, and everything in between. 🎶
Follow me on every streaming platform. Sign up for my email list. And if you’re celebrating anything today too — happy day to you as well! 🤍