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.

Soup for January, the beauty of a sky and snow, a new hoverboard, an Epiphany house blessing, and more (7 Quick Takes)

January 10, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Something about January puts me in a soup mood. This week I made Italian wedding soup.

My favorite thing to do when it snows

January 8, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

When I hear snow is coming, I can’t wait to start baking.

Reflecting on a spontaneous trip to St. Anthony’s Shrine

January 4, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Maybe 2020 will simply be a year to be open and receptive to how God wants us to experience His love, wherever we are.

Still celebrating Christmas, homemade donuts, and hopes for the New Year (7 Quick Takes)

January 3, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Recipes

Are you still celebrating Christmas? It’s only the 10th day of Christmas, and the Three Kings haven’t yet arrived. Our tree is still up, and we have been exchanging final gifts with friends and baking cookies.

Embrace all the New Year brings

December 31, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

We can’t know what lies ahead. As much as we might not like uncertainty, there’s also a gift in not knowing what the future holds.

Discover a beautifully told story with the new ‘Little Women’ film

December 30, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

“Little Women” has been performed many times, but my favorite rendition doesn’t feature Elizabeth Taylor or Winona Ryder.

Stories from Christmas, a Star Wars birthday cake, a new flyswatter, and more (7 Quick Takes)

December 27, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Stories from Christmas, including how an Old Bay ornament made its way to our tree

There’s something special about a baby

December 26, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

God knows how the Infant Jesus will capture our attention—if we just let Him.

Advent: It’s not over ’til it’s over

December 23, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Open Window

We’ve made it this far. Ready or not, Christmas is coming. But this last little stretch offers a sliver of time.

First snow day of the season, candy cane caprese, paper-towel penguins, school concerts, and more (7 Quick Takes)

December 20, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Recipes

Unexpected snow days are always a hit.

’Tis the season to make a photo calendar

December 18, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Every Christmas our family presents my parents with a beautiful calendar full of grandchildren pictures. Everyone loves the calendar. Everyone except, well, maybe the person who knows the calendar is going to be her responsibility the next year.

A live nativity offers a lesson in joy

December 15, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Open Window, Uncategorized

Our fourth grader may have only had one brief job to do, but he embraced it wholeheartedly. He held the Star proudly and peered through the center of it with an enormous smile. His eyes, his smile, and his whole face were full of joy.