From the Corral

Still In Love With You (A Daughter's True Story)... the only personal and true biography of Hank and Audrey Williams. Written by daughter Lycrecia Williams Hoover with co-author Dale Vinicur.

20th Anniversary Edition: With updated information, new photos and stories, PLUS Bob Pinson's Hank Williams Itinerary (career timeline).

Lycrecia was not Hank's biological child, but Hank loved her as an extension of his love for her mother Audrey and raised her as his own. She was almost 12 years old when he died; her little brother Randall (Hank Jr.) was only three.

"I want to start this book by saying that Hank Williams was not my blood father. I never knew that man. He left before I was born. Mother married Hank when I was three years old, and from the time I was about two, he was just always around. He bought my clothes, paid my doctor bills, carried me to school, and gave me a home, love, and understanding. To me that's being a father. Hank Williams was as much my father as anyone could ever be. I called him Daddy, and I loved him very much. And he loved me."

Lycrecia, from the Preface

Read about Hank's family at home, at play, and at work. Feel the love and laughter. Share the tears and sorrow.

A vivid picture of Hank's meteoric rise to super-stardom and the backside of fame... a personal account of the ravages of alcoholism and co-dependency in a far less-informed age.

Carefully researched and documented; rich in country music history. Told in the words of Hank and Audrey's daughter, other family members, and closest friends.

The only biography recommended by the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery Alabama.

It is my pleasure to announce the winners of our 2nd annual Hank & Audrey Valentine Poetry Contest.

The winning poem was submitted by Robert McLaughlin, founder of the exciting new Hank Williams Tours at http://www.hankwilliamstours.com

"I am so honored. The poem was easy. Just close your eyes and think of what Hank was feeling in 1975. I think Hank wrote this, not me." Robert McLaughlin [note: 1975 was the year Audrey died; Hank died in 1953]

A Valentine Poem from Hank to Audrey

It's Heaven with you here.
No stressful days or lonely nights,
No more sorrow, no more fights.

It's Heaven with you here.
Look at how our family's grown,
Our children have children with children of their own.

It's Heaven with you here.
I'm surprised the folks still long
To hear ol' Hank sing another Hank loves Audrey song.

It's Heaven with you here.
Beyond the sunset, beyond the blue,
Forever and ever, I'm still in love with you.
That's why it's Heaven with you here.

Isn't that just BEAUTIFUL??

Runners-up & excerpts of their terrific poems (due to the number of submissions, we have chosen only 3 runners-up this year):

"I Can't Help It If I Love Hank Williams Songs The Best" by Kevin Stevens of Melbourne Australia & the late Don Martin

"...Since that lonesome singer's gone on to his rest,
The blues still haunt my troubled soul.
Since Hank joined that heavenly fold,
I can't help it if I love Hank's songs the best."

"The Night I Met Hank Williams" by Ron Losey of Las Animas CO

"We talked of songs of long ago,
He told me things you'll never know.
We talked of seeing the light,
Of things that are wrong and some that are right."

"I'm A Friend of Hank's" by Sherri Hartsoe, artist

"Some people think I'm crazy,
But the truth is that I ain't.
'Cause I'm still alive
And I will survive,
And you can take that to the bank.
'Cause I'm a friend of Hank's."

Thanks to ALL for your submissions.

It might take a week or two to get your books signed by Lycrecia & sent out. Please be patient!

:)dale & lycrecia

It's time for our 2nd annual Hank & Audrey Valentine Poetry Contest!

Everyone has poetry inside of them. The inspiration can come from everyday life or from a wonderful or terrible event.

When Hank Williams died in the wee hours of January 1, 1953, his fans poured out their hearts into sympathy cards, letters, & poetry sent to his family.

These cards & letters were published in book form as Dear Mama Williams (Sympathy Cards & Letters to the Hank Williams Family) by Audrey's Dream Inc. in 2005. Available online at http://www.hankandaudreyscorral.com

Here's a sample:

(Thanks, Joe!)

Audrey also wrote quite a bit of touching poetry to Hank after his death (see Hank Family archives for Are You Writing Any Songs For Me Up In Heaven?).

On Valentine's Day I always think about Hank & Audrey Williams... how much they loved & how much they lost.

Look how sweet! (On an airplane to or from Germany, 1951.)

Note: Above design available in notecards at our online store http://www.hankandaudreyscorral.com

So...

In honor of what should have been Hank & Audrey's 65th Valentine's Day together (they met in late summer, 1943), we are pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Hank & Audrey Williams Valentine Poetry Contest!!

Contest Rules & Prizes:

1. Write a poem about Hank &/or Audrey Williams (happy, funny, sad - whatever moves you...)
2. Send it in an email to info@audreysdream.org
3. The winner will receive a special, hardcover edition of Dear Mama Williams (Sympathy Cards & Letters to the Hank Williams Family), with a personal note from Lycrecia ($200 value) plus additional, surprise gifts.
4. Five (5) winners will receive autographed copies of the paperback Dear Mama Williams
5. Selected submissions will be posted on the blog & if we get enough poetry to fill a small book, Audrey's Dream Inc. will publish one & dedicate it to Hank & Audrey from their friends & fans. Proceeds will go to Audrey's Dream Inc. & The (future) Hank & Audrey Williams Center of Nashville.
6. Judges: author/poet Dale Vinicur & Lycrecia Williams Hoover, daughter of Hank & Audrey.

DEADLINE for entries: February 28, 2008 (which would have been Audrey's 85th birthday).

For more information about Audrey's Dream Inc., the Hank & Audrey Williams Center (a support & informational center for addiction & recovery), Hank & Family, natural healing for people & animals, visit our websites:

http://www.audreysdream.org
http://blog.audreysdream.org
http://www.hankandaudreyscorral.com
http://myspace.com/hankandaudreyscorral

:)dv

Following are notes I took on a conference call with Cherie Ross, Young Living executive & expert in the use & science of essential oils.

Don't even think of using any other oils but Young Living! They set the world standard for purity & safety in therapeutic grade (healing grade; ingestible) essential oils.

If you have any questions about this information or any other articles in this blog, please email me at audreysdream@youngliving.org

ARTHRITIS & YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS

• Since arthritis is a degenerative condition, need to bring a lot at it to regenerate quickly
• Diet has EVERYTHING to do with arthritis
• Food choices single most contributory factor to inflammatory process
• Avoid processed, refined foods, flours, high fructose corn syrup (this disturbs metabolism)
• Learn to distinguish good/bad carbs – sugar, high fructose corn syrup, processed flours lead to inflammation, spike blood sugar, cause pain
• Sugar/flour products/white potatoes = pain
• Olive oil/coconut oil very good
• Omega 3 oils are critical for heart, eye, brain, & joint health... Use Young Living's Omega Blue (metal/dioxin/pcb free fish oil with essential oils of lemongrass, myrrh, clove, German chamomile) with no mercury & rapid bioavailability due to essential oils
• Some causes of arthritis: inflammation, improperly healed injury, dehydration
• We should drink an oz of water per pound of weight every day (about a gallon)
• You know you are fully hydrated when you drink what you need & have normal amount of bathroom visits (when dehydrated, water runs right through our bodies, like the dry soil of a plant)
• For every 8 oz of coffee we drink we lose 64 oz of cellular hydration… coffee is acid, lowers frequency of body (life force), & slows healing process
• If not eating properly &/or dehydrated, we only get 10% of the results of the essential oils… if want the oils to work well, must have hydration
• The more acidic the body is, the less the oils work – they use all their energy just neutralizing the acid
• Reverse osmosis & distilled water is DEAD – add drop or two of essential oil to bring back to life
• Foods in the nightshade family (white potatoes, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes), smoked foods, chocolate create inflammation
• Eat fresh greens, sweet potatoes, carrots, whole grains, sprouted grain breads
• Watch consumption of red meat or non free-range chicken
• No microwaves! (changes the molecular structure of food)
• For inflammation: Young Living Sulfurzyme (containing wolfberries, MSM, FOS) & NingXia Red Juice (nutrient-infused wolfberry drink with other nutrient dense juices such as blueberry & pomegranite, & essential oils of lemon & orange - see website http://www.ningxiared.com for more information), essential oils such as oregano, frankincense, & peppermint... a good combo is oregano with peppermint over top
• Regenolone cream (contains pure pregnenolone from soy - this is not a hormone, but a precurser to a hormone - plus MSM & essential oils of wintergreen, peppermint, douglas fir, & oregano)... Regenolone alone helps arthritis… Study of 100 people with arthritis – adjusted diet, used Regenolone 3x a day & in one week had 80% decrease in pain; after 90 days down to Regenolone once a day
• Supplements: BLM (Bones, Ligaments, Muscles - with glucosamine, collagen, MSM, manganese, potassium, & essential oils of clove, peppermint, Idaho balsam fir, & wintergreen) – double or triple dose for arthritis
• Sulfurzyme 12-15 caps per day (divide into 2 or 3 doses), Mega Cal (over 45) or SuperCal (under 45) (with calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, potassium, manganese, & essential oils)
• Essential oils for arthritis (use every few hours at first): wintergreen, lavender with Idaho balsam fir & Panaway (blend of wintergreen, clove, helichrysum, & peppermint) on top, Relieve It (blend of spruce, hyssop, black pepper, peppermint), ginger with Relieve It on top, Idaho balsam fir topped with peppermint (peppermint is good to use last, as it is very powerful & drives the other oils deeper, faster)
• Tree oils (such as fir, spruce, cypress, pine) good for respiratory problems & bones
• Spruce – favored for bone density… increases body’s cortisol levels… good with Idaho balsam fir & Panaway on top
• Essential oils with arthritis meds… consult your physician... can increase oils as decrease pharmaceuticals

You can learn more about all these essential oils & oil-enhanced nutritional products at our Young Living website http://www.youngliving.org/audreysdream

Young Living is a wonderful, 14-year old debt-free, $100M fast-growing worldwide company founded by D. Gary Young, a man of passion, integrity, & leadership who is blazing new trails in health & disease prevention. The cutting edge products include an unparalleled line of the purest essential oils on earth, NingXia Red anti-oxidant drink (the secret of the Chinese olympic team), & a full line of essential oil-enhanced personal care products & nutritional supplements. Work at home, use the products to boost your immunity & energy, & be part of the health revolution! For more information go to our website http://www.youngliving.org/audreysdream or email me at audreysdream@youngliving.org

Wolfberries

From the Essential Oils Desk Reference, from Essential Science Publishing:

Babies and children respond very well to oils and supplements. The only difference from adult use is smaller dosage.

Babies: Put 1-2 drops of oil in your hand and rub them together until the hands are practically dry. Then hold them over any particular area of the baby. This works very well without direct application.

Direct application: Mix 1-2 drops of an essential oil in 20 drops V-6 Mixing Oil or Massage Oil Base and apply to bottom of feet.

Children: Put 1-2 drops on bottom of feet or anywhere else on the body as long as the oil is diluted in V-6 Mixing oil, Massage Oil Base, or any vegetable or massage oil. The dilution is always the important factor in comfortability.

The following notes are from a conference call with Dr. Mary Starr (a chiropractor) & 25-year teacher & mom of 7 Martha Wertz. Martha's 4 youngest kids (ages 7-12) were adopted through foster care & were high risk babies, although no one would know that today!

All essential oils (singles & blends) cited here are Young Living therapeutic grade (healing grade; ingestible).

Martha's daily routine with her kids using Young Living oils & oil-enhanced nutritional & personal care products:

• Start day with 1-2 oz NingXia Red per child for immune system, energy, whole body health
• 2 caps per child Omega Blue (omega 3 fish oil) for improved brain function, blood sugar regulation
• Occasionally KidScents vitamins or minerals or other supplements as needed
• Body balance shake for fiber & protein (any of Young Living's protein superfoods) with rice or almond milk, fruit, & a drop of an essential oil like lemon, tangerine, cinnamon, or Thieves [blend of cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary] together with a healthy breakfast... she makes up fun names for the drinks, like Lucky Lemon, Silly Cinnamon, etc
• After morning shower (with KidScents bath gel & lotion), rub oil like lemon, Harmony [blend of geranium, angelica, bergamot, lavender, spruce, ylang ylang, sandalwood, hyssop, palmarosa, rosewood, sage lavender, rose, frankincense, jasmine, lemon, orange, chamomile], Valor [blend of spruce, blue tansy, rosewood, frankincense], Highest Potential [blend of Australian Blue (see below) plus jasmine, ylang ylang, cedarwood, Gathering blend of lavender, frankincense, spruce, geranium, sandalwood, rose, galbanum, ylang ylang, cinnamon] on backs, feet, hands
• Brush teeth with KidScents toothpaste (with Thieves oil for healthy gums & teeth)
• Getting into car - she always has oils on hands & pats hair, clothes
• In car - keeps lunchbox in car with extra NingXia Red individual packets, Wolfberry Crisp (if someone missed breakfast), sprays with Peace & Calming, Thieves, lemon oils
• Back from school - wash with Thieves soap products
• Bedtime - if bathe in evening, salt baths with oils good for clearing energy (see bathtime above)... pat pillow with lavender, Peace & Calming [blend of tangerine, ylang ylang, blue tansy, orange, patchouli] or Valor on feet... she might have diffused oils in the room earlier.... add calming music (most children are over-stimulated)

The Classroom:

• Make sprays with water, oils, a drop or two of liquid soap - spray in air, on surfaces everyone touches like desks, tables, computer keys, etc. - use Purification for cleansing the air & surfaces [blend of citronella, rosemary, lavendin, lemongrass, tea tree, myrtle], antiseptic Citrus Fresh [blend of orange, grapefruit, mandarin, tangerine, lemon, spearmint] or lemon alone, Harmony, cedarwood (calming), Valor, peppermint (for perking up)
• If not acceptable to use oils in classroom, at least use on yourself as teacher
• White Angelica [blend of bergamot, rosewood, melissa, geranium, ylang ylang, rose, myrrh, spruce, sandalwood, hyssop] counteracts the effects of fluorescent lighting (great oil to wear as perfume)
• As teacher using the oils, she had highest attendance record (fewest sick kids) in the school
• Many parents said their kids hardly got sick
• Many parents loved the smell - even said allergic kids did better than ever
• Wear clothing with pockets to hold oils

Special situations:

• ADHD - she controls with diet, Omega Blue (omega 3 fish oil) & essential oils like lavender, vetiver, cedarwood, & sandalwood... these oils were used in a landmark study by Dr. Terry Friedmann for more info see our blog on ADD & ADHD, Omegas, & essential oils)
• Teenagers often do not like to smell like the oils, so she sprays on doorknobs, counters
• Patchouli is great for skin & fungal issues
• Have fun with the oils with kids
• The secrets to overall health for kids is to eliminate traditional, chemicalized cleaning & body products (which damage the immune system & the brain)... she knows she can trust non-toxic & pure Young Living products
• Use smells kids like (e.g. citruses, spices, flowers) - children don't want to go to school smelling like oregano or thyme
• Autism - Australian Blue, Peace & Calming, Valor
• Be a blessing every day

Behavioral/emotional issues:

• For children with special needs, gifted children (including Indigos), abused children, all children really... school & life are challenging &, being calming to the brain, the oils are a great help
• There's a great book by Carolyn Mein called "Releasing Emotional Patterns with Essential Oils", where you can look up either a physical ailment or an emotional component & use reflexology points with oils & words to create healing frequencies
• It's not about being happy all the time, but about going with the flow, getting tantrums & anger over quickly
• There might be an emotional trend in a family - if parents or grandparents are going through something, kids often act out
• Jasmine is great for self-esteem - apply under the nose, on the big toe (reflexology point for brain)
• Peace & Calming for abandonment - drop on palm, rub left to right on forehead & say "I am wanted & lovable" - turns around negative emotions
• Australian Blue [blend of blue cypress, cedarwood, white fir, ylang ylang, blue tansy] - good for Indigo children & creativity
• Also great - Highest Potential, Valor
• Don't forget to work on YOU with the oils, too - whatever you do for YOU, you affect others
• Oils work on layers for physical & emotional issues
• Sacred Mountain [blend of spruce, balsam fir, ylang ylang, cedarwood] at bedtime for nightmares (Gary Young says nightmares are related to acidic conditions - too much sugar, stress, for instance - oils are alkalizing)

To see all Young Living products, to order, to become a customer or distributor visit our website http://www.youngliving.org/audreysdream

For questions or additional information, email us at audreysdream@youngliving.org