Kitchen floor. 4:23 AM. Cereal and curriculum emails. Found another one promising to "Transform Your Ministry in 30 Days!" Opened it like an idiot. Countdown timer and everything.

Marcus asked today if we could just tell more stories like last week when I forgot to prep. Sat in circle told David and Goliath with sound effects. Kids more engaged than anything I've done all month.

But my brain goes "what if I had CURRICULUM with actual slingshots and elaborate Philistine costumes?" Insane because zero-prop version worked better than expensive stuff.

Target today buying toilet paper somehow ended up calculating poster board costs for resurrection lesson I saw on Pinterest. It's November. Don't even have resurrection lesson planned. Stood there ten minutes muttering about poster board prices.

Confession time. Been hiding curriculum purchases from husband. "Just supplies" instead of "I spent $127 on fruits of spirit curriculum that required banana costume." Had to wear it teaching about joy. Kids called me banana teacher for weeks.

Jennifer texted asking if next week's lesson is complicated cause her teenage son might help. Instead of finding simple story started googling "easy prep engaging bible lessons" until I'm adding $89 lesson series to cart.

Moments kids remember aren't elaborate activities anyway. It's when Tommy had meltdown and I sat with him. When Sarah told me about parents fighting and we prayed together. When Marcus made up ending where whale and Jonah became best friends.

None required special curriculum. Just required being present.

Unsubscribed from 23 curriculum companies. Deleted saved carts. Making rule no purchases for six months. God's word and genuine care for kids should be enough.

*For anyone drowning in curriculum marketing promises, leaders who've worn fruit costumes in pursuit of engagement, people discovering that presence matters more than programs.
Check out KidsMinistry.Blog for more ideas, tips, and resources to help your Children's Ministry thrive!"