My wife’s greatest dream came true today. She is in Heaven.
The cancer is gone, the pain has ceased and all her tears are dry. Joey is in the arms of her beloved brother Justin and using her pretty voice to sing for her savior.
At 2:30 this afternoon, as we were gathered around her, holding hands and praying.. my precious bride breathed her last. And a moment later took her first breath on the other side.
As I held her hand and kissed her goodbye one last time… I was reminded of another dream of hers that came true. A few months ago through gracious help of Kathy Olen, a friend of ours in Nashville, and many others… I had been sent a short video that Dolly Parton had made for Joey.
From the time she was four years old, Joey had been singing Dolly’s songs and dreamed of one day meeting her. Coat of Many Colors was a regular part of our show and at home she loved to put on Dolly and listen to “Hello God”, “When I Sing For Him”, “Me and Little Andy” and many others. She never got the chance to meet her in person and had no idea that Dolly even knew who she was. But that changed one Friday evening this past November.
Joey’s family, Russdriver and I gathered around Joey’s bedside to watch the movie “Hope Floats” (one of the few movies Joey knew and loved) with her. But instead of pushing play on the DVD, I pushed play on the video I had received… and we all watched Joey watch. It was the most beautiful moment I have ever been part of…
Though this is, and has been, a time of many tears of sorrow, it has also been a time of countless tears of joy. There have been too many beautiful moments to count or even begin to share in this blog. But I try.
When a person has been through as much pain and struggle as Joey’s been through, you just want it to be over. You want them to not have to hurt anymore, more that you want them to stay with you. And so, it makes the hard job of saying goodbye just a little easier.
After four-and-a-half months in Indiana, we will soon be back home in Tennessee. Me, and our little one, with our older daughters. It’s hard for me to imagine being there without Joey, but at the same time… it is where she wants us to be. It’s where she will be… She’s gonna be in the mint growing beside our back deck, the sweet-corn frozen in our freezer and a million other places that her hand and heart has touched around our little farmhouse and community. Joey will still be with us. Everywhere.
So if it’s okay, I’m gonna close, wipe my tears and pack our bags to hit the road headed south.
She’s already got a head-start on me.
My name is Rory. I want to live a great story. I want to be a better man. I film. I write. I show up. God does the rest...
Rory
My heart breaks each time I see this video of Joey watching Dolly, but seeing Joey’s face light up like a child’s face on Christmas morning is priceless. This meant so much to her and brought comfort in her time of need.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Joey and hope to have an opportunity to give her a big ole hug one day. I know it’s hard letting go knowing they’re not coming back, but that’s part of being human.
I think about your family every day and have bought tickets to see “To Joey, with Love” on September 20th at the Carmike theater in Franklin.
I pray that our Father in Heaven will give you the strength to go on and raise Indy as her mother wanted and to bring comfort in your times of loneliness.
Peace.
Rory
Over the past few months I’ve developed an appreciation for the inner strength that’s in you and Joey.
Joey is such a sweetheart and courageous woman.
Just as the Apostle Paul, Joey has fought the good fight. She has finished the race, kept the faith, and now is in Heaven receiving her award from the Father.
so inspiring could not help but cry as i was reading.i believe God has a plan for us .thanks for sharing your story.
Thank you once again Rory. Your words are always comforting to me. God bless you and your family. Joey was so beautiful and talented but you know God only takes the best. We will see her again someday.
Thanks for sharing this article was very informative and educative.
i sometime see people do what we call instant miracles let them be told that Without repentance of sin and a decision to obey God the anointed or blessed water won’t work. They go together.
Thanks very much for sharing
She will forever watch the growth her family makes and be there through trials and tribulations. I thank you both, personally, for inspiration and justice through my own life and struggles. God bless
To be absent in the body, is to be present with the Lord.
I can only Imagine, and Carrie Underwood’s, I Will See You Again!
God will give you Joy and peace forever. Love the song
So touching. Happy Fathers Day to all
This Video is touching
pLEASE’ I DO NOT DO UPPER AND LOWER CASE.
I FOLLOWED YOUR BEAUTIFUL STORY. I AND MY HUSBAND,LLOYD;
HAVE PRAYED THAT JESUS WOULD TAKE JOEY TO HEAVEN AND RELIEVE HER OF ALL PAIN. AS A RECENT NURSE AND HAVING LOSING SOME FAMILY I KNOW THE MIXED FEELINGS OF NOT WANTING TO LET GO AND TOOKNOWING
THACH
GOD WILL FOREVER GIVE JOEY THE PEACE AND JOY SHE HAS EARNED.
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR LOVING CHILDREN.
JOANNE AND LlOYD CARLSON
Joey’s sudden illness and her passing afterwards left me with many questions. All kinds of questions. It motivated me to search, to investigate. Maybe I could find some answers. The most urgent question I had was about how to find God’s power to heal incurable diseases, terminal diseases. All the regular methods of Christian faith, like praying , praising and hoping, did not stop the disease for Joey. In my search for something that would work to heal humanly impossible cases, I found a method some Christians are using in Africa. They are using water, plain water, to heal HIV/AIDS. The ministers of some Christian churches pray over the water and the patient takes it home to drink some every day, until healing is achieved. There is another important thing to do as part of this process of miracle healing. It is the examining of the heart to find if there is sin that needs to be repented of. Without repentance of sin and a decision to obey God the anointed or blessed water won’t work. They go together. According to some testimonies this method has worked miracles, people have been healed of HIV/AIDS. I believe that if that method heals HIV/AIDS, it can also heal anything, even terminal cancer. I think it is worth the try for all sick people who feel like they are losing the battle. The daily act of drinking the blessed water can strengthen a weak faith and eventually have a miracle manifested. Joey is now in heaven, the best place to be. But for all those who don’t feel ready to go to heaven yet and are battling disease, I recommend to look into this method of healing currently used by Christians in Africa
Rory I am so sorry about Joey.She seemed to be a wonderful lady.Our prayers are with you and your family.I love your music.Hoping you will still sing and write.Indy is a doll.Thank you for sharing.God Bless
Hello Rory,
I’m french girl, 50 years, and i love your songs
I always think Joey and your entire family for this loss.
she be blessed
be blessed too.
Rory,
God Bless, comfort, and restore, you, your daughters, Joey’s family and friends/fans.
“To be absent in the body, is to be present with the Lord.”
Listen to the song, by Mercy Me, “I can only Imagine, and Carrie Underwood’s, “I Will See You Again!”
Thanks for sharing your most intimate photos and thoughts. We have All come to Love you both, so much, and you made us feel as if we were there.
I assure you that we all Were with you in prayer, and that this blog has helped, healed,inspired,and comforted Many.
God Bless You, dear brother in Christ.
Draw your loved ones near, and take your time, to heal.
Romans 8 : 28 & 23rd Psalms
I have followed you to read about your love story. So heart warming so sweet. She is in the arms of our Lord, and forever in the hearts of her family, friends, and those of us who she and you, have inspired. Indy is the luckiest little girl in the world to have the opportunity to call her mom, and you are just as lucky to have had the opportunity to call her your best friend. She will forever watch the growth her family makes and be there through trials and tribulations. I thank you both, personally, for inspiration and justice through my own life and struggles- helping me to remember my struggles are far less than others and the Lord our Savior- is the true tour guide through this life we claim our own, and it is He, who determines which stop this train our love and life takes makes its first and final stop, and to fear not- for it is He, who helps us of the carrier and walks us to our destination. Thank you. Bless you all.
Hi Rory; You & Joe’s Beautiful Story Touched My Heart Every time I Watched You Two, Who Were So In love!! you Both & Indy & Your Two Daughters Also Taught Me A lot About How to Love & Stay in Love!!What an Awesome Love True Story! I loved all of You!! & Miss Joey Allot! You Both showed Me How to Love! I Lost My Husband 15 Years Ago to Cancer!! How I Wished We Had Had a Love Story Like Yours!!
A wonderful Family You All Are!! I Miss Joey Lots? Love Seeing the Updates!! So Special You all Are!!
So painful