Along the Way with Pastor Paul and Laura Harris
 
Family, friends, sisters and brothers in Christ, we write to share news of Pastor Paul’s retirement from full-time ministry in the United Methodist Church. On January 1, 2025, we shall begin a new phase of life and ministry as we set out for new adventures along the way. As Paul’s status changes to Retired Elder in the Rio Texas Conference UMC, we give thanks for all the many relationships we’ve shared in this (25) years of itinerant ministry.
 
We have been truly blessed to share in ministry with some amazing people and churches. We have worked with wonderful teams of lay and clergy sharing life along the way. We have sung praises with saints among us. We have shared at table with folks and families desiring to be closer to Christ. We have been available as pastor and partner. Paul’s role has been to lead, baptize, equip, preach and preside. Laura has been along-side every step of the way. From our sending church in Corpus Christi, we have lived in ministry with folks in San Antonio, Austin, Laredo, Hunt (Kerr County), and now back in Austin. Here at Manchaca UMC, we have been blessed to share in a season of celebration with the 150 years in ministry. We depart knowing that you are blessed with a strong laity and an experienced church staff.
 
We are finishing out our Lofted Barn Cabin placed on the DuBose Family Farm in San Patricio County. It will serve as our primary residence and launch station for retirement. The Coastal Bend of Texas has a special place in our hearts and with joy we return to begin again. We plan to share time on the farm with family helping as we can, wherever we can, as long as we can. We also plan to travel to Virginia starting with a spring-summer trip in 2025. Our son Ben and daughter-in-love Rebecca make their home in Afton, VA. We will enjoy being close to them while using the RV to visit the scenic and historic sights of the land east of the Mississippi. We hope to log some of our travel adventures within our website Along the Way with Laura and Paul which you may find at www.pauleharris2017.com. Paul has been making a list of things to do in retirement. Laura’s only item is to not participate in list-making. Spending time with family and friends is the priority. Laura and her sister will have plenty of time to find trouble and enjoy laughing about it. Friends on Galveston Island stand ready to welcome us into retirement.
 
We give thanks to all with whom we have shared life Along the Way.
Much love and many blessings!   
Pastor Paul and Laura Harris

Ceiling boards are being installed now in the Lofted Barn Cabin. We chose a tongue and groove 1x6 pine board that has staggered joints and will be sealed with a clear polyurethane wood finish. It is looking good!

In the background, the bathroom and bedroom walls are up and the bathroom shower unit is installed with green board on all walls. Contractor will install our LVP flooring in the bathroom and set the toilet. Our goal is to have a working bathroom by early October.

More work for the Harris family to begin after the October wedding: Kitchen cabinets, farm sink, pantry, under loft ceiling boards, wall paneling, and some additional lighting. 

​This August in Texas it is too hot. Combining climate change and lower heat tolerance in our bodies, we have decided to invest our future months of August in cooler places.
Yesterday while the low temperature was 81 degrees F in central Texas, I investigated two other options. Afton, VA where my son and daughter-n-love live had a low temperature of 48 degrees F.
​Truckee, CA where we also love to visit had a low temperature of 41 degrees F. That is a 40 degree temperature differential. Lest I go on too long about the weather, the decision has been made. Next year: Truckee, CA for several weeks in early August and then Afton, VA for the remainder of August and September to enjoy the wine harvest season of Albemarle County, Virginia. The preparations have begun.

Laura and I celebrate this weekend as partners, spouses, and best friends. We met in high school and grew up together. Many blessings along the way have empowered us together to share our lives with each other and with family, friends, colleagues, and parishioners. This year we celebrate an important milestone in our lives. We give thanks for the years past and look forward with great anticipation to the years ahead in our marriage. Right now in this moment, we celebrate being together. Much love and many blessings!

Earlier this year, we purchased a Lofted Barn Cabin shell and are in progress of its finish out. As we speak, Laura is at the farm purchasing materials for our contractor who is helping us complete the ceiling boards and get the bathroom set up for use at the October wedding of our niece Kaelyn to Miles Pace. We hope to complete the interior by December 2024 in time for Christmas at the DuBose Family Farm. 

Welcome to our travel log page which is now under construction. Laura and Paul are making big plans for travel in the near future and we can't wait to tell you all about it.