Reflecting on Charlottesville: Looking for light in the darkness August 14, 2017By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Uncategorized It forced me to recognize that racism is real, not just under hoods, but in so many large structural ways and in small daily encounters we take for granted. And I realized that I do not know how to respond to racism, even when I am confronted by it.
A trip to the beach, a slip and slide, a peach cake realization, and what we’re reading this summer (7 Quick Takes) August 12, 2017By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window We are just back from an amazing trip to the beach, where we saw some beautiful sunsets. You might think I would have more time to write while on vacation, but every night we sort of forgot about putting our children to bed until it was so late that all I wanted to do was fall into bed myself.
Weigel’s new book recounts “unexpected” connection to St. John Paul II August 10, 2017By Christopher Gunty Filed Under: Behind the Headlines, Blog, Commentary How did a Baltimore boy get connected to Pope John Paul II, and how did he come to write “Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II,” published in the fall of 1999, and “The End and the Beginning: Pope John Paul II—The Victory of Freedom, the Last Years, the Legacy.” Listen to George Weigel talk about his new book, “Lessons in Hope: My Unexpected Life with St. John Paul II,” on “Catholic Baltimore.
When Mama becomes Mom August 9, 2017By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Our older son decided to start calling us Mom and Dad. Part of me isn’t surprised. I knew this would probably come—at least for Mama to transition to Mom.
Squirrels eat mushrooms, Pokemon tournaments are long, and other things I learned this week (7 Quick Takes) August 4, 2017By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Some weeks are both long and short. This was one of those for me. Thank goodness it’s Friday. But I can’t believe it’s already time for quick takes!
An umbrella for the rain August 2, 2017By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window It was such a simple act of kindness, just a small moment of thoughtfulness. But witnessing that spark of compassion in our child gave me such hope and joy.
Taste summer in Baltimore with a peach cake recipe July 29, 2017By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Recipes It’s summertime, and Baltimore peach cake is a local tradition. There are many different versions, and I’m not sure how you can go wrong with any combination of peaches and cake.
Teleportation, steamed crabs, birthday gifts, picking a mascot, and more (7 Quick Takes) July 28, 2017By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Talking teleportation, steamed crabs, Pokemon cards, and other highlights from the week in this week’s 7 Quick Takes
Birthdays are the best July 26, 2017By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Each birthday is like a moment where you’re standing at the top of a mountain. You marvel at how you’ve reached this point, and you look up and down and around and try to imagine what will follow.
Cousin visits, the miracle of popcorn, dot-to-dots, cooking every day, and local churches (7 Quick Takes) July 23, 2017By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window It’s summertime and the cousin visits are starting! Four cousins were in town for the weekend, and four more arrive tomorrow. We live in Baltimore because we love Baltimore, but it’s nice that we have one set of grandparents, two aunts, an uncle, and two cousins who live here.
Speeding through life July 19, 2017By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window It was a long summer evening, and I had a few errands to run. Both our boys wanted to come along with me, and I always enjoy having company.As we were walking between stores, the boys saw a long open stretch of sidewalk ahead of us, and they took off running. “Wait for me!” I […]
A Reflection on the Blessed Mother: “Do whatever he tells you” July 15, 2017By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window I always remember the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel because my brother Ricky married his wife, Christina, 12 years ago that day. They had a gorgeous wedding. But John and I often laugh remembering that day.You see, their wedding was supposed to be a breeze for us. Neither one of us was in […]
