Discovering the power of faith formation programs September 15, 2018By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window On Catechetical Sunday, I am feeling so very grateful to our parish and the catechists who care so deeply about our children’s faith. We are definitely not alone on this journey.
Finding comfort in the Blessed Mother’s sorrow September 15, 2018By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Life is so good and full of so much wonder and joy. But life can also be difficult and painful and sad. When it is, we know we can go running to our Blessed Mother, and she will understand.
A visit to the Basilica, a message in a pancake, the joy of a soccer-less autumn, and more (7 Quick Takes) September 14, 2018By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Getting to daily Mass isn’t even a goal most of the time, but yesterday I managed to slip downtown to the Baltimore Basilica for Mass, and it was just what I needed.
Boots on the ground (but not on a field trip) September 12, 2018By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window It’s the rainiest week of the rainiest month of the rainiest year. At least it feels that way.
Fabric of Faith: A Q&A with Theresa Conlan of Happy Nest Home Goods September 10, 2018By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Theresa Conlan of Happy Nest Home Goods is releasing her first cross stitch patterns this week! We took a few minutes to chat about her art, her business, and her faith.
Clouds, a new school year, puzzles, fishing, when things fall apart, and more (7 Quick Takes) September 7, 2018By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Don’t you just love clouds? I don’t think I look up at the sky often enough. I saw this one last night, and I loved how it was lit up from behind like a lightbulb.
A day that takes the cake September 5, 2018By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Our younger son has been asking me to bake a cake.
“Raven” about a wish that came true September 1, 2018By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window When you’re counting down to an event, it seems to take forever to get there. And then all of a sudden, it’s time! And you’re there! And it’s all happening in a wonderful rush.
How we are squeezing every last ounce of summer out of this vacation (7 Quick Takes) August 31, 2018By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window ~1~ Summer vacation is ending. It’s time I acknowledged that. I like to take off the last week of August to help get our sons ready for the school year. But somehow, with school starting on Tuesday, I realize that our school supplies are only 95 percent together, the summer writing assignments are not complete, […]
When you wish upon an Instagram picture… August 25, 2018By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window For their birthdays and Gotcha Days, our boys always get to pick something special for dinner. So as we were counting down to our younger son’s Gotcha Day—the seventh anniversary of the day we met one another—I asked him how he wanted to celebrate.
Hibachi fun, a surprise, sitters, finding a new hangout, and conference planning (7 Quick Takes) August 24, 2018By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window For our younger son’s Gotcha Day, we took him to a hibachi grill. He was excited to go, but then when we got there, all he wanted was a plate of fried rice.
Remembering the day we met our son seven years ago August 22, 2018By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Back in December 2009, I was standing in the lobby of the U.S. Consolate in Guangzhou, China, with friends who had just become parents through the miracle of adoption.