“ If I Needed You ”
a love story
by caroline lusk
Click here to watch Joey & Rory ’ s music video
“ If I Needed You ”
On March 4 , 2016 , Joey Feek ended her battle with cancer and went home . She was only 40 years old and , while she left behind a family and an adoring husband , Rory , it wasn ’ t the end of a love story ; it was just the next chapter in a story Rory is continuing to write , literally . His recent book , based on hundreds of posts of his own blog , This Life I Live : One Man ’ s Extraordinary , Ordinary Life and the Woman Who Changed it Forever , chronicles a love story for the ages . Most of us came to know Joey and Rory through their music . Rory has been an esteemed , beloved songwriter for years and after two wed in 2002 , they became a duo , releasing their first collaborative album in 2008 , singing their way into the hearts of fans across the country . A few years ago , the two decided to step away from the spotlight and take on a simpler way of life on a farm outside of Nashville . Rory went from songwriter to blogger , not knowing the gravity their story was about to take on . He shared stories and images of their life together , the birth of their daughter , Indiana and , after Joey ’ s diagnosis , their walk through cancer . Even in the worst of days , though , it wasn ’ t cancer that was at the center of the story ; it was a love that was unwavering . A love that believed in healing , but could withstand loss ; a love that hoped for happily ever after , but stood firmly upon the eternal . It is a love that we can all learn from . It ’ s a love that we should all strive for . And it ’ s a love story that ’ s not finished yet .
29 PAGE | ICONIC MAGAZINE