This page is dedicated to my "spiritual mother," Vicky Albert. Vicky was saved in November 1979. After being saved only six months, Vicky obeyed God's command to travel 1,000 miles to witness to me. Because of her unselfish and yielding attitude, I can now be included "when the rolls are called up yonder"!

          For those of you who are wondering what a "spiritual mother" is, that is the person who leads you to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. If it is a man, it would be "spiritual father." I have been asked that question many times and wanted you to know why I refer to Vicky that way.

          To me, Vicky is more than a "spiritual mother." She is my closest and dearest friend, next to my dear husband. I met Vicky when she was born and I was three years old. We have been best friends ever since. We have been through so much together. Vicky's father passed away when she was very young. She adopted my father as her own. I was very close to Vicky's mother as well... I even referred to her as my second mom. Vicky's mom passed away 2/28/93 and my father passed away two days later! The two of us mourned together. Isn't it just like the Lord to allow us to lose our parents together so we could comfort each other? Praise the Lord for her dear friendship!

          This friendship is so unique and so blessed of God! Vicky suffers from an illness called fibromyalgia. This disease causes one to be in chronic pain 24 hours a day... yet, you would never know it with her. I praise the Lord for her friendship. I thank HIM daily for providing me with a friend that comes once in a life time. She not only is there for me emotionally (despite living 1,000 miles away), she has always been there for me spiritually. If I were to define a Christian friend and place it in the dictionary, it would be someone who is always uplifting but tells you the truth Scripturally when you are wrong. This definition would be found next to Vicky's name!

          Vicky, if you ever read this tribute, please know that it came from my heart and I can only pray that it would encourage you! Ours is the true meaning of friendship!
 

          I wrote the following poem especially for Vicky.
 

Friendship

There are different kinds of friendships
That we encounter along the way
That vary with each different person
And change from day to day

There is only one kind of friend though
That is worthwhile waiting for
The kind that always stands behind you
And provides you with so much more

Much more than mere companionship
Much more than a bending ear
But the kind that always holds you tight
Whenever you're close to tears

The kind that understands your ways
Without a question or a word
The kind that just cannot be bought
And if so, I could never afford

And this, my friend, is a story of you
That I hold dearly to my heart
I thank the Lord for your sweet friendship
And pray that we'll never part!

      God bless you, Vicky for being a “true” friend! I love you! Your daughter and sister in Christ, Kate