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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 Believing?

man on top o a mountain
Before I was very old, I had three strikes against me. First, I was a child of an alcoholic. Secondly, I was a suicide survivor. Finally, I lived in a single parent home. Not the best of circumstances for one to grow and thrive.           Struck Down, But Not Out Alcoholism and…

Why Bother With Tranquility?

Woman Sitting on Gray Rock Near Body of Water
Unlike objects that can be touched or felt such as a cup of coffee, a book, or a comfortable chair, tranquility is intangible. Yet, we know when we are tranquil and when we are not.         At Peace Being tranquil begins with being okay with ourselves and being okay with who we…

Why Bother Nurturing Contentment?

woman at the beach with a hat
Contentment is an attitude that starts out small, but like any other attitude, when it is nurtured, it grows. As we promote the idea of contentment within ourselves, we also experience the fruit of contentment. With practice, our lives fill up with a sense of contentment.          Consider Contentment Marketers know how…

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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