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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.

Rock, paper, scissors…champion!

March 18, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

It all started Saturday morning as Daniel and I were driving to his First Communion Workshop.

A little slice of Ireland: Irish soda bread recipe

March 16, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Recipes

It’s not St. Patrick’s Day until I’ve filled the house with the smell of freshly baked Irish soda bread, full of that distinctive caraway seed flavor and the soft raisins. Yum.

Professional photos, 17 for dinner, a spontaneous date night, and a photobombing selfie (7 Quick Takes)

March 15, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

We haven’t had professional photos taken of the boys in almost four years, so I scheduled a shoot last week, got them all dressed up, went to the mall, and they posed for the camera.

Let’s do lunch (even if there’s not time)

March 12, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

I stopped at the grocery store, bought way too much food so she’d have enough for a few days’ worth of lunches, and headed to her house.

Card playing, crockpot worries, a meatless meal idea, how to swallow pills, Lenten prayer, and Pokemon (7 Quick Takes)

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

Our children love playing cards. I try to carry a deck of cards with me wherever I go, and they have saved me many times.

10 pieces of encouragement (not advice) for parents-to-be

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

Last weekend we went to a baby shower for friends who are expecting a baby girl. I was supposed to write down a piece of advice for the parents-to-be, and I could not think of a single thing to say.

Wearin’ of the Green

March 7, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Commentary, The Domestic Church

I’ve never been to the Emerald Isle. But throughout my childhood, my mother made sure my siblings and I knew we were Irish.

Introducing the small victory jar: The next chapter in the story

March 6, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

For weeks now, I have been looking for a container to gather the small victories my colleagues and I celebrate in the office.

It’s time that we pick…7 takes that are quick

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

Dr. Seuss was born 114 years ago today! In honor of his birthday, let’s do this in rhyme….

A small and simple gesture of sympathy

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

A batch of cookies. There’s nothing extraordinary about it. But sometimes when you feel you can do nothing, you look for one small thing you can do.

A sleepover phone call, Year of the Dog festivities, a birthday party venue change, and a surprise autograph (7 Quick Takes)

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

I realized I’m a very uneven party thrower. I go way over the top ordering stickers to make Hershey kisses into Dog kisses, but I don’t start food prep for the party until about an hour before guests arrive.

Easy ways to celebrate Chinese New Year, homework issues, a road trip, and the Statue of Liberty

February 15, 2018
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Today we start the Year of the Dog, which is somehow much more exciting than the rooster or the goat. We are all quite excited about it.

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