When I started taking a pottery class 29 years ago, I had no idea that getting my hands muddy would clean up my heart!

In 1998, my husband and I had purchased a piece of property in Sequim and decided to plant lavender in the big, open field. Before we knew it, we were overwhelmed by a farm, gift shop and busy website along with our day jobs as a building contractor and high school science teacher.

I sold my pottery in our gift shop and was getting ready for the busy summer season…. in frustration, sitting at my wheel with an awkward little vase twirling in front of me, my eyes suddenly welled up with tears and I began sobbing uncontrollably. I finally “got it”.

That night, the Lord showed me that The Potter and The Clay is about an intimate, lifelong relationship between Creator and Creation. It’s about being embraced by The One who knows us completely and has His hands all over us inside and out. It is about being known absolutely by a God who acknowledges every flaw in us and yet never gives up working with us; whose intent is to perform a lifelong miracle of turning a humble hump of mud into a beautiful vessel –- a perfect work of art -- and then filling us up with Himself for His eternal glory.

We have this treasure in earthen vessels to show that this power is from God and not from us.

Now, every time I sit at my wheel, I am closer to God and He is closer to me. Often, as clay is sliding through my palms, I learn something new about my Master Potter, and He reveals something new about me and the loving relationship we share.

Thank you for inviting me to share this revelation with you and I am convinced that you will be blessed to realize the masterpiece that the Master Potter is shaping in you.

History

Jennifer moved from Kent to the Peninsula in 1983 to teach biology at Port Angeles High School. She has had summer internships in Seattle at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research, NOAA Fisheries and Institute for Systems Biology almost every summer over her teaching career, enabling her to bring cutting-edge biotechnology experiences back to her PAHS students.

Her pottery journey began in a small studio, then expanded it to her own busy studio with 15-20 participants regularly coming to get muddy. For the past 10 years, she has been sharing her message of Master Potter, Simple Clay to churches and women’s fellowships throughout the state of Washington.

Jennifer married Dennis Taylor 30 years ago and together they have established a custom home construction company and a lavender farm. They are now semi-retired in Sequim with their two lazy cats -- Jennifer in the pottery studio and Dennis selling real estate. Together they are enjoying some travel adventures, good gardening and bad golfing.