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.

A wet spring, patients and patience, Legos, bees, and planning a paper plate party (7 Quick Takes)

May 25, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Spring has sprung! Or maybe we’re headed straight into summer! But I am so happy to see sunshine and hear birds singing. It’s also been an incredibly moist spring. As I was walking to a meeting at work the other day, I noticed we were growing a beautiful crop of mushrooms on campus.

When the impossible becomes possible (Thanks, St. Rita!)

May 22, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

The morning of St. Rita’s feast day I said a prayer to my patron saint, who also happens to be the patron saint of hopeless cases. It’s not the first time she’s heard from me, and it won’t be the last.

Memories of our wedding day

May 20, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

It wasn’t a royal wedding. We didn’t have a horse and carriage and the queen didn’t have to approve my gown. But I can still remember many details of the day.

Remembering Father Tom

May 19, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

When I first met him, he was wearing overalls and a tattered white shirt and a smile that lit up his whole face.

Baseball before the storm, commencements of the past, Mother’s Day, and seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark for the first time (7 Quick Takes)

May 17, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

The other night we thought our little league game might be rained out, but we managed to get a few innings in before the coaches called it a night. The sky was getting really dark when our 8-year-old stepped onto the mound to start pitching.

Thoughts on our little boy’s First Communion day

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

This weekend our younger son made his First Holy Communion.

Appreciating our teachers, last-minute First Communion party prep, homemade s’mores, and more (7 Quick Takes)

May 11, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

It was Teachers Appreciation Week this week, and I’m not sure I’ve ever sent more than a note to a teacher before.

Sounding out the words

May 9, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

How wonderful that, even when life isn’t easy and we struggle to be all we can be, our Father is watching us with a divine love that is beyond understanding.

When you can’t do it all

May 8, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

I’m carrying grocery bags from the car to the kitchen when I hear our second grader yelling.“Mom! Mom! Can you roll this baseball to me?” Before I can respond, he turns and looks at me. “Oh, forget it,” he says. “Your hands are full.” Then he runs to the door and holds it open. I […]

Cheering for the Orioles, One Beautiful Dream, conversation contests, geeking out, Pokemon, and holy water (7 Quick Takes)

May 4, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Last weekend my uncle gave us two tickets to the Orioles game, so Daniel and I jumped at the chance to go.

Slops for Dinner

May 2, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

On nights when my husband is working late, our boys and I often eat slops.

Chalk drawings, children who grow too quickly, and highlights of a full week in rhyme (7 Quick Takes)

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

Let’s wrap up National Poetry Month with 7 Quick Takes in rhyme!