Annette Durfee

Cultivate Leader

Annette and her family have enjoyed living in Utah, Illinois, Oregon, and now beautiful upstate New York.  In each place, she has felt privileged to know and learn from many family and friends who are wonderful mothers.

Although her nest is now empty, her heart is not!  She and her husband, Curtis are thrilled to have five children with the addition of three more as their children married.  And their hearts have just about burst with bliss with the entrance of 2 sweet grandchildren (and 1 on the way!)

Annette spends time each week connecting with her family via texting, letters, Zoom calls and the like, and loves to travel to Utah regularly for new adventures with them!  Who ever knew it would be this much fun to be a grandma?!

As a mother with 30 years of experience, Annette understands that mothers often do the impossible.  And, while at times, nothing may be more time consuming, exhausting, and even frustrating than raising a family, yet there is also nothing that is quite as fulfilling as teaching, training, and loving them and watching with wonder as their personalities, talents, and character develop.

Annette is so grateful for the time she was able to spend with her family during their growing up years and treasures special memories as they worshipped, worked, played, learned, and explored together. She feels like motherhood is a partnership with the Lord and she and her husband constantly look to Him for strength and guidance in raising their family as they face the roller coasters of life. 

Annette feels that mothers have an especially noble calling in their homes and society and a unique influence for good.  She hopes that, along with their many responsibilities, mothers will feel the JOY of motherhood as well as the delight of creating a home where beauty, love, and peace abound.

Annette honors her own mother who blessed her with such a home.  It was there that her mother instilled in Annette a love for music and the performing arts, which spiraled her along the way to Brigham Young University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts with an Emphasis in Violin Pedagogy and Performance.  It was also at home that her mother taught her, among other things, such skills that make a house a home such as baking and cooking, sewing, home decorating, and even (dare I say it?) cleaning!  Thanks Mom!  You’re the best!

In her spare time, Annette likes to work in her garden, to preserve family memories, to dabble in various and sundry crafts, to write, and to discover her family heritage through family history research.

Annette is willing and available to give presentations to your mothering group, whether in upstate New York or over zoom! Contact her through email!