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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.

A Lent full of promise, steak success, cooking with children, and more (7 Quick Takes)

February 27, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

This Lent holds a different kind of hope and promise.

Pandemic Stories (or why there’s a Nerf gun in the tub)

February 25, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Our daily lives are different in so many ways, transformed suddenly almost a year ago and then evolving bit by bit every day.

A pandemic Lent, ox cookies, and Valentine’s gifts (7 Quick Takes)

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

In many ways, it feels we have been in one long Lent for almost a year now.

Do nothing for Lent

February 18, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Lent, Open Window

Many years for Lent I take on too many goals and give up too many things. A few days into Lent, I invariably realize I have failed at everything I planned to give up and take on.

God prepares us for the unexpected

February 18, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

We so rarely know what will be asked of us on any given day. All we can really do is accept each task as it’s placed in front of us.

Xin Nian Kuai Le! A Chinese dumpling recipe

February 14, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window, Recipes

Remember way back at the beginning of the pandemic when we were all jockeying for yeast and discussing sourdough starters? It seems like a distant memory. Lately, I feel I’m thinking more about which local restaurant I want to support tonight.

Our Chinese New Year festivities and other highlights from the week (7 Quick Takes)

February 12, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Welcome to the Year of the Ox.

Need a laugh? Meet the Zoom kitten attorney

February 10, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

I’ve been thinking just how much we all need to laugh right now.

A winter walk with friends

February 6, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Yesterday, many, many months since our last visit together, my friends and I decided to get together for a walk.

Winter beauty, food and fun (7 Quick Takes)

February 6, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

~1~ A few months ago, my husband installed Christmas lights on our back deck. We have always admired our neighbors’ string of multicolored lights on their back deck. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I look out our bedroom window and see theirs and think how cheerful and friendly they are. […]

Thank you, God, for the snow

January 31, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

It’s elegant and beautiful, covering the trees, spreading across the grass, and changing everything.

BLTs, the finches’ favorite music, and more (7 Quick Takes)

January 29, 2021
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

The other evening I couldn’t think of anything I wanted to eat. Then I opened the freezer and saw some bacon.

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