Joey + Rory Feek: First Easter Without Joey Prompts ‘Less Is More’ Blog
Joey Feek died on March 4 after a long, courageous battle with cervical cancer. Her 2-year-old daughter, Indiana, is living with her dad, Rory Feek, in Tennessee, and the two are trying to adjust to their new normal. It’s something that Rory never wanted to have to do, but he is determined to be strong for his little girl. According to People Magazine, Rory says that Indy not asking for her mom is both wonderful and sad.
“Indy has not asked for her mama. Not one single time since Joey’s been gone. It’s almost as if she hasn’t noticed that she’s not here. And that is so sad … and oh, so wonderful – all at the same time,” Rory wrote in his latest blog post.
Joey and Rory Feek’s love story touched the hearts of millions of people around the globe. Many of their fans have been invested in their journey since Joey’s cancer diagnosis, and have been following this family’s story for several months. Although Joey has passed away, Rory continues to keep up with his blog and to let people know how he’s doing — and how Indy is adjusting.
Indiana was diagnosed with Down Syndrome after she was born. Joey and Rory Feek never did an ultrasound when they conceived, and said that they trusted in God’s will. They both agree that they wouldn’t change a thing, even if the Down Syndrome was detected early on in Joey’s pregnancy. A few months after Indy’s diagnosis, Joey found out that she had cancer. While she did well for a while, the cancer ended up spreading, and Joey and Rory were hit with devastating news: The cancer would consume Joey and take her life.
Joey and Rory Feek turned to prayer. They depended on each other and on God as they traveled down a dark road. As the end got nearer, Joey told her husband what she wanted for him and for their daughter. Although it has only been a couple of weeks since Joey’s death, Rory Feek has done his best to make some of those wishes come true. He buried his wife on his property in Tennessee, just the way that she wanted. He enrolled Indiana in school. He’s done his very best to remain positive and to keep going, even though this is the hardest thing he has ever had to do.
And while Rory promises that he will keep Joey’s memory alive for himself and for Indy, he understands that his toddler knows very little about what’s happened.
“Indy doesn’t quite understand what has happened. Why her papa is sad. Why friends hug us so tightly, and why tears fall from strangers’ eyes when they say hello to us. But she will. She may not realize right now how incredible her mama is, but she will.”
Rory Feek misses his beloved wife, Joey, every single day, but he has shifted his focus to raising his little girl and keeping Joey’s memory alive, which he will do more and more with Indy when the time is right.
Spending Easter without Joey was hard — it was Joey’s favorite holiday, according to Rory — but Rory did what he has done every day: He spent time with his family and took time to bring Indy to visit her mom, something that they do together every day.
“Indy and I go and visit ‘mama’ every day. We make the walk or ride into the backfield, to the spot where Joey rests and we sit down beside her temporary wooden cross. I talk with my bride about what has happened that day, and what I’m worried or excited about … and I share the latest thing that Indiana is doing.”
[Photo via Instagram]
