Over the past few years I have felt an increasing need to slow myself down, to remove the RUSH from my life. For me, that has involved keeping a journal. I used to write in the spiralbound notebooks that I had leftover from college. Then found one of those Composition books. The next step in the progression was a leather-like bound journal from the Christian bookstore. That too me a while to finish--like 3 years. But I wasn't writing every day. When I started to realize the benefits of tracking my thoughts, hopes, dreams, and prayers I bought a leather journal that I could refill. I try to write every day.

Another growing development is my fascination with pens. I have been writing with some type of black inked roller for about 5 years. I've liked the Uni-Ball Vision, Pilot's P-500, and Pentel's Hybrid Gel Roller. I've been contemplating the purchase of a fountain pen for a few years.

But today, I am excited to say that I will soon be the proud owner of 5 antique fountain pens. 4 belonged to my Paw Paw (that's Southern talk for grandfather), and the other belonged to his father. My mom found the last one while cleaning out a farm house that was part of the family farm. I told her that I had been thinking about buying a fountain pen, and that I thought there were some in a desk drawer from when I was a kid. She's rounding them up and sending them to me! I'll tell you more about stuff I have from my Paw Paw that I absolutely love...

Scot McKnight broke out 3 posts about fountain pens this week, and it got me thinking about fountain pens. Soon I'll be trying my hand at writing with one--slowing down, thinking, breathing, simply being still...I'll let you know how it goes.