• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

Showering a growing family with love

July 2, 2019
By Rita Buettner
Filed Under: Blog, Open Window

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

This weekend I was invited to a baby shower for friends of ours who are adopting a little boy from China. They’ll travel next month to bring him home, and I am beyond excited for them.The morning of the shower, as I filled gift bags with items the new mom and dad might be able to use for the flight home, it occurred to me that I have never been to another baby shower for a family growing through adoption—except my own.

I sat at the shower and watched my friend and her husband open gift after gift for their little boy. They unwrapped toys and clothes and stuffed animals. I was struck by how loved this child is already.

I found myself remembering how just 10 years ago I was sitting at my own shower, opening gifts for our son who was waiting for us in China.

At the time, John and I didn’t know all that lay ahead for us. We had a thousand questions about the journey ahead of us—to China and to parenthood and to this little boy we had never met. We were giddy and nervous and impatient and excited.

We knew our lives were about to change. It felt wonderful and daunting. But we knew we were on the right path. And we felt surrounded and supported by people who loved us and loved this child we were waiting to meet.

At the shower this weekend, I found myself remembering the moment I first took our son in my arms. In that instant, all my husband and I had to offer were a little toy airplane and lots and lots of love. It wasn’t enough, and yet it was everything.

Standing in a stark government office in Changsha, China, with my husband by my side and my son in my arms, I had never felt more certain that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

All the questions I had had before seemed irrelevant, and new ones were springing to mind. But we had years ahead of us to figure out the answers together. And what a magnificent journey it has been so far.

As I celebrated with my friends this weekend, I thought about how you work so hard to be ready to become a parent. You set up the crib, wash the clothes, decorate the room, and pack your suitcases with everything you think you might need. Maybe you even ask your friend who has two sons from China a bunch of questions and wonder whether the answers will apply to you. Some may and some may not at all.

Is anyone ever really ready to become a parent? You can’t possibly prepare. And yet, you’re as ready as you need to be.

I can’t wait for our friends to bring their baby boy home.

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Rita Buettner

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Reckoning with empire: A Catholic critique of American foreign policy in a nuclear age

Wide shot of a sunrise on the beach, with a figure standing toward the left watching the light come into the sky

We’re at the Beach. Let’s Go See the Sunrise

The ‘both/and’ pope

Can AI help the church evangelize?

Children of Abraham: Let us find another way to peace

| Recent Local News |

Gun-buyback exceeds expectations, previous totals

Radio Interview: The situation in Gaza with Catholic Near East Welfare Association

Patrick Brice sentenced to home detention for attacks on elderly pro-life supporters

Notre Dame of Maryland University joins with Milwaukee college to address teacher shortage

Sister Agnese Neumann dies at 95

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Gun-buyback exceeds expectations, previous totals
  • Calm seas, gentle breeze greet Connecticut bishop, faithful for ‘Blessing of the Fleet’
  • Pope prays world leaders recognize their responsibility for peace
  • Reckoning with empire: A Catholic critique of American foreign policy in a nuclear age
  • Radio Interview: The situation in Gaza with Catholic Near East Welfare Association
  • Green card policy change may leave immigrants seeking legal status vulnerable to deportation
  • Movie Review: ‘Freakier Friday’
  • Works of mercy are best way to invest what God gave you, pope says
  • Catholic women at Knights convention urged to ‘live on tomorrow’s joy today’

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en