Jacque Hillman – författare

 Ten thousand hikers start the Appalachian Trail every year. Only ten percent finish.

  Whether you begin in Maine or Georgia, the trail is 2,186 miles long filled with steep climbs, deep valleys, rivers to ford, wildlife, majestic views, strangers who become friends, and swollen, blistered feet.

   I began this trek at age 66 and hiked 91 mountain peaks, went through 14 states, 464,464 elevation changes -- the equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest 25 times.

   Along the way, I acquired the trail name “Preacher,” carried a 43-pound backpack, lost 25 pounds, got lost three times, and wore out seven pairs of boots.

   Many who start the trail are in a life turning point and seek spiritual guidance from the awesome wonder of the mountain peaks, sunsets, running rivers and sunrises that offer beauty and peace. Or they may seek a voice to share some solace, or an ear to listen. As I was called “Preacher,” some came seeking counsel.

   I started the journey as a challenge to myself, but I found much more when I experienced God’s footprints already on the mountains.

   I’m sharing my experiences to help others who choose to begin the journey. I hope my descriptions of the Trail, the people and equipment that worked for me, guide someone to travel these mountain trails and find answers.

High school pitcher Landon Wilson''s goal was obvious, even to the ER doctors who told him they were amputating his arm.

 "Just leave enough of it (my arm) to hold my glove," Wilson said.

 This proclamation would begin Wilson''s ascent back to the pitcher''s mound before his senior season slipped away. A week after his eighteenth birthday, Wilson knew the opportunity to play college baseball was becoming a reality. Added conditioning could mean better opportunities. However, he was struck by a vehicle on an October jog, and his world was turned upside down.

 With the loss of an arm, nearly a leg, eight surgeries, and more than a month in the hospital, the question became not where he was going to pitch, but if he was going to pitch.

 Wilson knew the answer. He also knew, though there''s no time clock in baseball, he was on one. His recovery time was limited to months, not to mention learning how to pitch with one arm and one healthy leg to stand on.

 "Some aim to climb Mt. Everest, others aim for the height of a pitcher''s mound," said Landon''s dad, Taylor Wilson.

 In Glove Letters: A Father Recalls His Son''s Greatest Game, Taylor tells Landon''s story via notes and life lessons. Though the letters are from father to son, all readers can learn from them, whether sports fans or students of life.

 Glove Letters is a wonderful story of perseverance, courage, faith, hope, love, and the amazing power of prayer.