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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.

An Annunciation Reflection: What God may be asking of us

March 24, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Lent, Open Window

Often it doesn’t matter what you decide to do for Lent. Sometimes your Lenten journey finds you. So, here we are.

A lesson in God’s love

March 23, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Lent, Open Window

Our younger son hurried into the room holding a water glass full of forsythia he had cut from the bushes in our yard.

Love is greater than distance

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

Going to the cemetery can be emotional, but it can also be very peaceful and spiritual. I think about what a fleeting time on earth this is for each of us.

An evening walk, March Madness fun, working from home, and more from our week (7 Quick Takes)

March 21, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Want to read about that topic that’s on everyone’s minds? Then you probably want to click away. These quick takes are distancing themselves from that conversation again this week as I share bits from our lives.

Making our own March Madness fun

March 16, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

In the midst of my nephew’s disappointment, he came up with an idea. Everyone in the family could pick two favorite fictional characters, and he would build a bracket.

It’s an Irish lullaby

March 16, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

There’s something about the rhythm, the soothing tones. You move from words into humming, holding the baby until he’s just tired enough that you can slip him into the crib. Then you tiptoe off to bed, fingers crossed that you can get a few hours of sleep.

Spring blossoms, old photos, baking, and everything except what’s on everyone’s minds in 7 Quick Takes

March 14, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Many of us have one topic on our minds right now, but my mother challenged me to write a 7 Quick Takes post that doesn’t mention it. And I do love a challenge. So, here we go.

Missing the holy water

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

Dipping your fingers into holy water on your way into Mass seems like a small gesture until you can’t do it. There was no water there. I could bless myself with a waterless cross, but I missed that tangible encounter.

The deliciousness of meatless Fridays, a child’s innovation, a Shamrock shake, and signs of Lent (7 Quick Takes)

March 7, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Uncategorized

I love Lenten Fridays so much that I always think I should give up something else besides meat those days.

“Are you from Iowa?”

March 3, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Lent, Open Window

A chance meeting with strangers added light to this Lenten journey.

A goody bag from church, charcuterie, the story of a super ball, and our Lenten prayer basket (7 Quick Takes)

February 28, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Last weekend we took a day trip to Frederick, and John suggested that we stop at St. Peter’s in Libertytown, Md., for Saturday evening Mass.

A Lent lesson from Call of the Wild

February 25, 2020
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Lent, Open Window

As we begin our Lenten journey, we cannot know what we will experience through these 40 days. We don’t know what obstacles and opportunities life will present. But Lent can change us in positive, beautiful ways if we are open to how God is working in our lives.

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