In Celebrating the Temporary, Paula Severe recounts her life as a mother, daughter, teacher, and traveler.

Being the wife of an itinerant United Methodist minister required packing and unpacking on short notice. Paula was an avid public school teacher, and each move meant finding a new job to fulfill her passion for teaching children. Soon after the fall of Communism, she was among the first in a team to visit and meet local Russian people who had never seen an American. Her travels in Central Europe representing the Oklahoma United Methodists helped raise funds for pastors' salaries as congregations struggled to survive Communism. Her stories are humorous, poignant, and peppered with moments of grace and humility.