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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 Taking Note of Our Family’s Culture?

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Our Family’s Culture Regarding our childhoods, whether an only child, one of many, wanted, adopted, abused, or abandoned our childhoods shaped us. During our formative years, beginning in infancy and ending when we finally flew the coop, our lives took a particular shape based on our family’s culture.  Culture, in its simplest definition, is the…

Why Bother Regarding Childhood?

kids in a bed
Regarding Childhood It is a new month and I get to choose a new theme! I choose the theme of, regarding our childhoods. Whether we are an only child, one of many, wanted, adopted or abused, we are better adults if we regard our childhoods instead of disregarding them.  Our childhoods shape us. During our…

Why Bother Considering, God Stays the Same?

God Stays the Same Today my quote comes from a Fat LiL’ Notebook dated 2009. “The trials may be different, but God is the same.” Back in 2009, my husband and I were launching our last born son. He’d graduated from high school, decided to head to Portland, live with a friend, and see what…

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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