Choosing gratitude even when it’s not easy November 20, 2019By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window It’s easy to be grateful when the sun is shining and everything is humming along beautifully, but it may be more important to be grateful when we hit a bump in the road.
Field trip fun at the Maryland Historical Society, Grandma’s mashed potatoes, birthday Legos, and a moving art exhibit (7 Quick Takes) November 16, 2019By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window This week I tagged along on a fourth-grade trip to the Maryland Historical Society.
“Mom, don’t wave at me” November 14, 2019By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Weekday mornings are a chaotic whirlwind of packing lunches and serving breakfast and making sure the right child has the right trumpet on the right day.
Seeking joy in the busyness of life November 12, 2019By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window This fall has been a season of abundance. I have too many things to balance, too many competing priorities, too many problems to solve, and too many reasons not to go to sleep on time.
National Adoption Month, the time change, a trip to First Fruits Farm, and more (7 Quick Takes) November 7, 2019By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Even before we were married, John and I had talked about adoption. But talking about adoption is not the same as deciding to adopt. Coming to that decision can be difficult, and I feel so fortunate that John and I came to it together.
The gift of a shooting star November 5, 2019By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window The other night our son was outside with his father, scanning the heavens, when a shooting star streaked across the sky.
Halloween costumes and emotions, November prayers, St. Verdiana, and more (7 Quick Takes) November 1, 2019By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Even with all the worry about the weather, we got in a beautiful night of trick-or-treating, winding our way through our Halloween-happy neighborhood.
Voting to change the date of Halloween: Trick or treat? October 29, 2019By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Rain is in the forecast for Halloween night, so our neighborhood created a poll. Suddenly, I found I was allowed to vote on which night Halloween would be.
A day at the races, searching for costumes, homemade birthday cards, and more (7 Quick Takes) October 25, 2019By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window, Uncategorized Our friend Theresa invited us to go to the Maryland Million with her, so our boys and I headed down to Laurel for a few hours at the races.
The magnificence of an underwhelming autumn October 19, 2019By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Maybe there’s a little extra wonder when we almost overlook that evolution—in nature and even in ourselves.
Checking in on the school year, origami for everyone, a rainbow, and the pillow everyone needs (7 Quick Takes) October 17, 2019By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window Six weeks or so into the school year I’m feeling a little out of my depth.
A special moment during Communion October 13, 2019By Rita Buettner Filed Under: Blog, Open Window It was a simple exchange—but I was struck by the power and the beauty of that interaction between a husband and wife.