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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.

Baking cookies, the truth of the moose, carrots for the reindeer, trains, and a Christmas joke (7 Quick Takes)

December 28, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

I can’t remember the last time I laughed as much while baking.

Counting down to Christmas in 7 Quick Takes

December 21, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Christmas is coming, and bit by bit we are getting ready.

Every Advent gives you another chance

December 21, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

God knows we fail and gives us another chance, in Advent and in Confession.

Rejoice—even in an imperfect Advent journey

December 16, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

It’s the third week of Advent, and Christmas—which seemed so far off just a few weeks ago—is looming large.

Christmas sweaters and lights, birthday celebrations, sharks, and rice (7 Quick Takes)

December 14, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

We were invited to wear ugly Christmas sweaters to a work meeting, and somehow I realized I didn’t own a Christmas sweater.

Singing for your supper at a Christmas carol-themed party

December 10, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

’Tis the season for Christmas treats, Christmas parties, and Christmas caroling. So why not wrap them all into one delectable, delightful experience?

Gotcha Day, what St. Nicholas brought, and sweet tastes of Christmas (7 Quick Takes)

December 7, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Nine years ago today we met our older son. The past nine years have been the blink of an eye and yet forever, all at the same time.

Greatest gifts

December 5, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

The weeks leading up to Christmas are their own gift, offering a time for us to ready our hearts and consider the enormity of the real miracle of Christmas.

Advent: It’s the most wonderful time of the year

December 3, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Advent simply nudges us to make space in our lives for Jesus. It assures us that the Son of God is coming.

Train displays, parent-teacher conferences, December birthdays, fun with cardboard, and what’s left in the fridge (7 Quick Takes)

November 30, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

December starts tomorrow, so bring on train season! Actually, it’s always train season around here because we are a toy train family.

Table of plenty

November 27, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

We’re losing power for most of the day tomorrow. I know we’ll lose most of the food in our fridge, so we’ve been eating and eating—but we’ve barely made a dent.

Thanksgiving leftovers, lots of pie, sleepover fun, and more (7 Quick Takes)

November 23, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

~1~ Despite all my worry that the frozen turkey wouldn’t thaw in time, it thawed beautifully, and it cooked up even more perfectly. I watched my father pull it out of the oven, and it was gorgeous—and delicious. Everything tasted so good this year—my mother’s carrots and onions casserole, the mashed potatoes and gravy, the […]

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