rita buettner commentary BlogOpen Window A Reflection on the Blessed Mother: “Do whatever he tells you” Rita BuettnerJuly 15, 20178 min read I always remember the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel because my brother Ricky married his wife, Christina, 12 years ago that day. They had a gorgeous wedding. But John and I often laugh remembering that day.You see, their wedding was supposed to be a breeze for us. Neither one of us was in […] BlogOpen Window Summer fun, sushi, Pokemon, Italian ice, board games, and fencing (7 Quick Takes) Rita BuettnerJuly 14, 20174 min read ~1~ Our sitter from last summer started back with us this week, and the boys have had a blast. They are staying busy at playgrounds, riding bicycles, baking, building ropes out of duct tape, getting snowballs, going to the library and the dollar movie, and doing who knows what else. The other day they caught […] BlogOpen Window What’s for dinner? Just wait and see. Rita BuettnerJuly 10, 20172 min read When I came home at the end of a full day, our children were stalking the kitchen, looking for food. And I had no idea what I would be making for dinner.It’s a good thing I always have chicken in the freezer, I thought. As I pulled it out, though, I noticed the date on […] BlogOpen Window Being a tourist in our own town, Pokemon fun, chili paste, the Fourth of July, and more (7 Quick Takes) Rita BuettnerJuly 7, 20174 min read ~1~ Do you call those flying insects that light up fireflies or lightning bugs? I call them fireflies, but my mother says they are lightning bugs. I can’t decide why I don’t use the same term she does. ~2~ I have been off from work this week and enjoying my staycation with our boys. This […] BlogOpen Window Catching fireflies and memories Rita BuettnerJuly 5, 20172 min read Dusk is falling as we head outside. It’s time to catch fireflies.Our boys run around the yard, chasing the fireflies as they light up and then fade into the dim evening light. Their little hands reach into the bushes, down toward the grass, and up into the sky, as they try to capture the magical […] CommentaryThe Domestic Church Conversation and a cup of tea Rita BuettnerJuly 3, 20174 min read When I mention my sister’s baby girl, her eyes light up with pleasure. A few minutes later when she asks about my sister, she is surprised – and ecstatic – to hear that she has a baby. BlogOpen Window Summer in full swing, snowballs, and socializing at kids’ birthday parties (7 Quick Takes) Rita BuettnerJune 30, 20174 min read ~1~ With 12 full weeks between the end of one school year and the start of the next, we have a carefully woven tapestry of sitters and camps and time hanging at home with my husband and me. This week included Bible Camp, and the boys had even more fun than they expected to—though I […] BlogOpen Window Waiting on our hydrangea and learning a lesson in patience Rita BuettnerJune 28, 20172 min read What is it about hydrangeas? I can’t say they’re my favorite flowers because I’ve said that about azaleas and forsythia and roses and tulips, and I’m obviously very fickle.But we did have hydrangeas on the tables at our wedding, lovely blue blossoms I cut from the bush in my parents’ yard and inserted into dollar-store […] BlogOpen Window My journey from Platform 9¾: How I first encountered Harry Potter Rita BuettnerJune 26, 20173 min read As a young newspaper reporter in Southcentral Pennsylvania back in July 1999, I was assigned to go to a bookstore on a Friday night for a book release party. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was coming out, and dozens of children were expected to attend—in costume and full of excitement.I had heard of […] BlogOpen Window Summer reading, a drawing of the Easter Bunny, Father’s Day, and water balloons (7 Quick Takes) Rita BuettnerJune 23, 20174 min read ~1~ Summer is really here! We went to sign up for summer reading at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. The boys’ aunt (my sister) works there, so we always register there. It’s a terrific program—and I would say that even if we didn’t have an aunt working there. We always stop to see the fish […] Previous 1 … 85 86 87 … 91 Next