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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.

When Christmas doesn’t go as planned

December 23, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Christmas, Commentary, Open Window

Whatever your Christmas looks like this year, I hope you find your way to the manger, and that you encounter moments of beauty, hope, and joy.

It might be time to get ready for Christmas and more in 7 Quick Takes

December 19, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

We aren’t ready for Christmas, but Easter’s in the bag.

The joy of a Yankee swap

December 16, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Christmas, Commentary, Open Window

When I mentioned that I was participating in two Yankee gift swaps this week, my family didn’t sound that enthusiastic.

An unexpected Christmas gift

December 14, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Christmas, Commentary, The Domestic Church

Whether we have recognized how God is at work in our lives or missed some of the clues, Jesus will be waiting for us to come running to meet him in the manger on Christmas morning.

A visit from St. Nicholas and other highlights from our week

December 11, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

This is always one of the busiest, most wonderful weeks for our family, so I have lots to share in 7 Quick Takes.

Find light in the darkness

December 7, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Christmas, Commentary, Open Window

Sometimes God taps you gently on the shoulder.

Delightful lunches, holiday craft fairs, and other Advent fun

December 5, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

There’s such beauty to the statement, “The chef prepares the salmon medium-well. Does that work for you?”

christmas tree with white lights

Discover joy on your Advent journey

December 4, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Christmas, Commentary, Open Window

And there was so much grace. So much love. So much joy.

Jesus is with you this Advent season

November 27, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Christmas, Commentary, Open Window

That’s the beauty of Advent. No matter what we do to prepare, no matter what we take on for these weeks leading up to Christmas, Jesus awaits us.

Spaghetti pizza with a friend and Thanksgiving feasting

November 26, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Luckily, there is no calorie-counting in blogs posted during Thanksgiving week because this post is packed with treats.

What’s for Thanksgiving dinner? Food debates

November 24, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Here are some of the charged topics you might have to navigate during Thanksgiving dinner.

School bus worries, after-school treats, instant coffee, and more (7 Quick Takes)

November 20, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

I hope your week went well. I’m looking back on ours and sharing 7 Quick Takes. ~1~ The school week opened with concerns about a school bus driver strike. I tried to arrange my work schedule so I wouldn’t be far from our sons’ school in case they were stranded there and needed a ride […]

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