Welcome,

I'm so happy you're here

Now Available

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 to Learning About Our Spouse?

mariage
Keep Learning About Our Spouse My husband proposed to me three times before I said, “yes,” because the idea of marriage scared me. I wasn’t sure what to expect from it. But, I’m glad I did say, “yes,” that I’m elated and I’m still in love, and at ease with our marriage.  Though I did…

Why Bother Revelling in Our Friendships?

two women walking together outdoor during daytime
Revelling in Our Friendships As a kid, making friends was not an easy endeavor for me. Just when I was getting the hang of what it was like to have a friend, we’d move.  It wasn’t until I was in my early twenties that I met someone whose friendship with me has lasted more than…

Why Bother Knowing How to Navigate Unfamiliar Relationships?

three woman and a girl
Navigating Unfamiliar Relationships Though I am not sure why, being a daughter-in-law did not seem quite as complex as being a mom-in-law. My daughter-in-law days are long gone, but my mom-in-law days are still unfolding which means I’m still learning about my role as a mom-in-law. I knew of my mom-in-law, Berniece, because my husband-to-be…

Blog Categories

An Elderly Women Eating Salad in the Kitchen
Communication
two women walking together outdoor during daytime
Relationships
Family
Woman Sitting on Gray Rock Near Body of Water
Mental Health
Person Jogging
Health
selective focus photography of woman holding yellow petaled flowers
Faith