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Rita Buettner

Rita Buettner is a wife, working mother and author of the Catholic Review's Open Window blog. She and her husband adopted their two sons from China, and Rita often writes about topics concerning adoption, family and faith.

Rita also writes The Domestic Church, a featured column in the Catholic Review. Her writing has been honored by the Catholic Press Association, the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association and the Associated Church Press.

Praying Through the Fear

February 11, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

The search was continuing. I thought about keeping our son home from school. Schools not far from us had been closed, but ours was open. Our son was eager to go, and I had to believe that he would be safe there. I have to have faith in our school leaders and teachers and law enforcement. We can’t live every day in fear.

What does it taste like?

February 5, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Some questions are difficult to answer. What is it like to receive the Eucharist? What is it like to believe that this life we are enjoying is just a part of a whole extraordinary journey that leads us to God?

An open letter to Marie Kondo: Thanks for sparking my joy

January 28, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window, Uncategorized

Dear Marie,
I’m grinning ear to ear. I hear you’ve given up on a tidy house—and that you’re happier for it.

Happy Chinese New Year! Welcome to the Year of the Rabbit (7 Quick Takes)

January 23, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Chinese New Year is absolutely my favorite holiday. It’s a chance to celebrate a new beginning and a special animal in the zodiac by connecting with friends and family and food.

How is God like a flyswatter? (answered by ChatGPT and a human)

January 19, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Dolly Parton said, “I feel closest to God when I write.” That’s how I feel, too. So, it’s hard for me to believe that any kind of computer program or artificial intelligence can write the way a person can, bringing light and beauty and emotion to the written form.

Abundance in the New Year, Rubik’s cubes, random selfies, and more (7 Quick Takes)

January 15, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window, Uncategorized

Whenever I have avocado toast for breakfast, I remember the year that my New Year’s resolution was eating avocado toast more often.

The Story of the Missing Pizza

January 12, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

The other night I ordered a pizza for dinner. When a text came through saying the pizza had been delivered, I checked, and there was nothing on our porch. For whatever reason, our house doesn’t show up properly on every GPS, so I wasn’t shocked. I called the pizza place and explained what had happened. […]

Quick Pick-up

January 8, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

Sometimes we are seeking transformation when what we really need is more gentle growth.

Celebrating Epiphany and other late-Christmas fun (7 Quick Takes)

January 7, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

It was Epiphany Sunday when we received the referral to adopt our older son, so this time of year always makes me smile. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are wonderful gifts, but that phone call brought the best news we had ever received.

Returning a Christmas Gift

January 5, 2023
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Hi Santa, I’m sorry, but I’d like to send this back. Yes, I know we had asked for a Christmas break again this year, but this wasn’t quite what we had in mind.

Christmas treats, victories, and memories (7 Quick Takes)

December 29, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

We’ve reached the point in our Christmas break where I am not entirely sure what day of the week it is. What I do know is that we are still in the midst of our Christmas celebrations.

Gifts under a Christmas tree

A Christmas Eve Miracle

December 27, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

On Christmas Eve morning, we woke up to find that our furnace had stopped working.

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