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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 to Value Our Freedom of Speech?

Our Freedom of Speech I sometimes wonder why I became a writer. Who impacted my life in such a way that influenced my life for the rest of my life?  Though no one else in my family has written a book, two women in particular, showed me by example, that valuing our freedom of speech…

Why Bother Being Free of Greed?

Free of Greed Greed is a grasping, grabbing and gluttonous mindset. Greed is that excessive desire for food, health, wealth, or popularity. Greed grows. It starts out with one small thought such as, “Now wouldn’t that be nice to have?” But then, that one small thought can turn into a way of life that messes…

Why Bother Setting Yourself Free?

nuns smoking
Setting Yourself Free At one time, I was addicted to smoking cigarettes. I grew up with the smell of smoke in the air. All the men in my life; my grandpa, uncles, oldest brother and dad smoked. Whether cigars, a pipe, Winston, or Salem tobacco smoke surrounded me.   In the evenings after dinner, Dad would…

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