• 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
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • 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
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

Showering a growing family with love

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

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

Primary Sidebar

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.

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Praying for healing for our pet

An invitation from God

‘Annunciation’: Salvation and the words of the air

Fully entering into the Triduum

Question Corner: Jesus became man so I could become God?

| Recent Local News |

Maryland entrepreneurs get support for start-ups at local Catholic universities

Cathedral of Mary Our Queen to host world premiere of Passion setting

RADIO INTERVIEW: 52 Masses – Quest Complete

Catholic Charities’ William J. McCarthy Jr. named Loyola’s Business Leader of the Year

Sister Joan Cooper, O.S.F., dies at 94

| 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

  • Diocesan officials call mass shooting at Nashville Presbyterian school ‘sad, shocking,’ urge prayers for victims, families
  • Maryland entrepreneurs get support for start-ups at local Catholic universities
  • Cathedral of Mary Our Queen to host world premiere of Passion setting
  • RADIO INTERVIEW: 52 Masses – Quest Complete
  • ‘Pray for God’s hand’ over Mississippi: destructive tornado kills, injures dozens
  • Maryland family connects with Poland’s Ulma family, murdered by Nazis
  • National Eucharistic Revival aims to form disciples on mission with new Easter series
  • Confession is ‘encounter of love’ that fights evil, pope tells priests
  • Laws, lawsuits and adult involvement needed to save kids from social media ‘harm,’ say experts

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED