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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 Wedding Rings?

wedding rings
Wedding Rings “With this ring I thee wed…” Those are the first words in the traditional vows when a husband and wife exchange rings.  I remember that part of our wedding ceremony as being quite poignant. I held my husband’s hand while repeating the vows, trying not to tremble, holding back my tears and sliding…

Why Bother Receiving Love?

Receiving Love Without the help from the pastor who presided over our wedding, I could not have said my wedding vows. But, as he cut the words into bite sized pieces for us to repeat, we said the traditional vows to each other: “To be my wedded husband to have and to hold from this…

Why Bother Learning from Experience?

Learning from Experience Marriage is a good place to learn from our mistakes. Marriage is a good place to learn from our experiences. And marriage can also be an education in hard knocks.   There was a time when I acted as, “The blessed controller of all things.” I actually believed I could direct and control…

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