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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.

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.

When the end of Advent is a scramble to the finish

December 18, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

In these final days of Advent, I am way behind on my preparation for Christmas.

Finding our way through the darkness

December 13, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

At this time of year, alarm clocks seem to go off during the middle of the night. But we have to get up and get the day started, even when it looks like midnight outside. So, I climb out of bed and make sure my high schooler is awake. I ask him what he wants […]

Journeying toward Christmas

December 4, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

When we were waiting to adopt our older son, we had a long to-do list.

Ready or not, it’s Advent

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

Maybe you didn’t even realize Advent had started. You feel like you’ve fallen behind. Advent will rush by, and Christmas will come, and you’ll never catch up.

Thanksgiving leftovers, Grandma’s gravy, and a road trip (7 Quick Takes)

November 26, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

~1~ I had thought that this would be the first Thanksgiving we would spend with extended family since 2019. By Wednesday afternoon, however, I could see that that wasn’t going to happen, thanks to a few sicknesses running through the family. My mother told me she would be happy to share the food she had […]

Pass the gravy

November 21, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Christmas, Commentary, Feature, The Domestic Church

May this season of gatherings offer us opportunities to open our arms and hearts to others – and to be ready to entertain angels along the way.

Start the day with a smile

November 19, 2022
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

I groaned as I saw the frost on my car. And then I saw the smile.

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