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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.

Good fun with badminton, cooking and cutting hair at home, and more (7 Quick Takes)

July 3, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

We kicked off summer by ordering a badminton set, and it arrived this week. Our boys are quickly mastering the sport and surpassing me in skill.

Finches and freedom

July 2, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Freedom is a God-given gift for each of us, given to be used not just to let us grow and thrive, but to let us act and serve out of love for others around us.

Welcome to July

June 30, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

July is my favorite month of the year. I love the fullness of the heat and the humidity.

Our first grill, a car parade from afar, a 49th anniversary gift, and birdcage liner (7 Quick Takes)

June 26, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

In the excitement about getting pet birds, I have failed to acknowledge another significant change for our family. We got a grill.

Making a real hash of things

June 26, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window, Uncategorized

Maybe today you’re looking for something even more important than hash browns. Maybe you’re searching for hope or peace or comfort or an answer to a difficult problem.

Welcome to the summer of low expectations

June 22, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Most years when the school year ends, I take off from work for the first week of summer break. The boys and I have a week of fun. We hit arcades, eat and explore our way through the area, and sometimes throw in an overnight trip to see our cousins in New York. This year […]

The novelty of pet ownership, pandemic dreams, fireworks, and an anniversary (7 Quick Takes)

June 19, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

We are in a sweet honeymoon period with our new pet birds. Everything they do is fascinating.

Introducing…

June 18, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Our younger son has loved birds for as long as I can remember. And, at some point during this pandemic, he started asking for a pet bird.

Lessons from an unusual school year

June 17, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

What have we learned over the past three months?

Greeting uncertainty with optimism

June 15, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, The Domestic Church

Uncertainty can be scary. But just because the future is unclear doesn’t mean that what lies ahead is terrible.

St. Anthony’s feast day, feed the hummingbirds, the perfect egg sandwich, and more (7 Quick Takes)

June 13, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Even though St. Anthony may have had a way with words, he is quoted as saying, “Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak.”

99 Flyswatters on the Wall…

June 11, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Open Window

Everyone needs a little project during this stay-at-home time.

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