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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.

Field trip fun at the Maryland Historical Society, Grandma’s mashed potatoes, birthday Legos, and a moving art exhibit (7 Quick Takes)

November 16, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

This week I tagged along on a fourth-grade trip to the Maryland Historical Society.

“Mom, don’t wave at me”

November 14, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Weekday mornings are a chaotic whirlwind of packing lunches and serving breakfast and making sure the right child has the right trumpet on the right day.

Seeking joy in the busyness of life

November 12, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

This fall has been a season of abundance. I have too many things to balance, too many competing priorities, too many problems to solve, and too many reasons not to go to sleep on time.

National Adoption Month, the time change, a trip to First Fruits Farm, and more (7 Quick Takes)

November 7, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Even before we were married, John and I had talked about adoption. But talking about adoption is not the same as deciding to adopt. Coming to that decision can be difficult, and I feel so fortunate that John and I came to it together.

Tell me a story

November 7, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

Stories help us incorporate memories and traditions into our family. They help us know who we are.

The gift of a shooting star

November 5, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

The other night our son was outside with his father, scanning the heavens, when a shooting star streaked across the sky.

Halloween costumes and emotions, November prayers, St. Verdiana, and more (7 Quick Takes)

November 1, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Even with all the worry about the weather, we got in a beautiful night of trick-or-treating, winding our way through our Halloween-happy neighborhood.

Voting to change the date of Halloween: Trick or treat?

October 29, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Rain is in the forecast for Halloween night, so our neighborhood created a poll. Suddenly, I found I was allowed to vote on which night Halloween would be.

A day at the races, searching for costumes, homemade birthday cards, and more (7 Quick Takes)

October 25, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Uncategorized

Our friend Theresa invited us to go to the Maryland Million with her, so our boys and I headed down to Laurel for a few hours at the races.

The magnificence of an underwhelming autumn

October 19, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Maybe there’s a little extra wonder when we almost overlook that evolution—in nature and even in ourselves.

Checking in on the school year, origami for everyone, a rainbow, and the pillow everyone needs (7 Quick Takes)

October 17, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Six weeks or so into the school year I’m feeling a little out of my depth.

A special moment during Communion

October 13, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

It was a simple exchange—but I was struck by the power and the beauty of that interaction between a husband and wife.

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