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.

Ooh la la! Let’s have French onion soup for dinner

November 6, 2017
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Recipes

We don’t always have the time and money to slip away to a lovely French restaurant. So I decided to make French onion soup for dinner.

Farewell to soccer practice and Halloween, hello to stuffed peppers and November (7 Quick Takes)

November 2, 2017
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

It’s November! How did that happen? I am hearing people mention Thanksgiving as if it’s just around the corner.

Trick or treat: Procrastinating and still mostly winning at Halloween (Five Favorites)

October 30, 2017
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

How is it Halloween already? Here are five tricks-or-treats (you decide) as we head into this fun-filled holiday.

Chaperoning a field trip to St. Mary’s City, our first family hotel stay, a poetry reading, and The Irish Blessing (7 Quick Takes)

October 27, 2017
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Ever been to St. Mary’s City? I hadn’t gone until this week when I chaperoned a fourth grade field trip there.

How we talk about death with our children

October 25, 2017
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

I am not in any way an expert. I am just feeling my way and trusting that the Holy Spirit is leading us through these conversations.

Meeting new twin cousins, a free car seat, funeral preparations, and a Thomas Merton quote (7 Quick Takes)

October 19, 2017
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

We dropped in on our new twin nephews and cousins this week. They are absolutely precious.

Screen Time (in rhyme)

October 17, 2017
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

A little poetry to mark an ordinary every day memory

Joy and sorrow, remembering a much-loved brother-in-law, and other moments from the week (7 Quick Takes)

October 14, 2017
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

We are grieving the loss of a young and much loved husband, father of four, brother-in-law, son, brother, and uncle.

A rose and an answered prayer (or what happened after our child care fell apart)

October 9, 2017
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Two weeks ago when I was praying a novena to St. Therese, I asked her help on a number of things. I explained to her about our children’s transition to their new school.

Birthday celebrations, an inflatable pug, goalie lessons, and orange you glad it’s time for 7 Quick Takes

October 7, 2017
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Our 4th grader is learning the state capitals. If you’ve never had a child learning the state capitals, maybe that doesn’t sound like an excuse. But I consider it a part-time job.

The joy of gift-giving (or a special moment on the Feast of St. Francis)

October 4, 2017
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Uncategorized

It seemed as if I had all summer to hunt for a statue, and though I kept my eyes open, I couldn’t find the right one in time for his birthday.

Driving away the shadows

October 4, 2017
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Saints

St. Francis of Assisi must be one of the best-known saints. But I didn’t feel a special connection to him until 14 years ago when I went on a retreat.