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For Terese Luikens, a picture-perfect childhood it was not. Frequent moves. An emotionally absent mother and an alcoholic father. Suicide.

The sixth of seven children, Terese grew up in an unstable and chaotic household—invisible to her mom yet cherished by her alcoholic dad, who took his own life when Terese was thirteen years old.

This heartfelt memoir documents the chain reaction of a tumultuous family history. From her stormy childhood to the far-reaching effects of her father’s suicide, Terese shares her inspiring journey to escape the shame of her past, find healing and love, learn to trust, and discover faith in a real and personal God.

Terese Luikens

Meet the Author

Writer Terese Luikens contributes articles for Mother Earth News, The Secret Place, Decision Magazine, The Upper Room, Hearts at Home, and the Epoch Times and publishes her own blog, Why Bother? A schoolteacher and a yoga instructor, Terese lives in Sandpoint, Idaho, with her husband and enjoys being mother to three grown sons and grandmother to her much-loved grandchildren.

Latest Blog Posts

Why Bother With a Risk Free Relaionsihp?

Woman Sitting on Gray Rock Near Body of Water
I’m Not Risk-Free Relationships are always a venture. We never know for sure what may or may not transpire when our lives merge or affiliate with others.  There are a handful of people who know me well enough to know that a relationship with me is not risk free. Over the years, my husband, best…

Why Bother With a Good Rescue Story?

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Survival I am a voracious reader. I read about six books a month and of those six books a month, I find myself reading a few books from the WWII era. I may be drawn into a WWII biography, memoir or a historical fiction. But no matter which of those genres grab my attention, I…

Why Bother Being Unafraid?

kids
Fearful  Presently, I have the privilege of teaching adults how to swim or how to be better swimmers. Now, instead of teaching reading, writing and math to fourth graders, I now have the privilege of teaching group or private swim lessons to adults with varying skills.  But, before we ever get our feet wet, I…

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Communication
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Relationships
Family
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Mental Health
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Health
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Faith