Rita Buettner, Author at Archdiocese of Baltimore

September 8, 2017

Mothers are detectives, celebrating brothers, a lesson in humility, and a trumpet (7 Quick Takes)

At the end of each school day, you might think that our children happily share every detail about recess, math class, lunch, what their teacher told them, and how many friends they made.

Rita BuettnerBlog, Open Window

September 5, 2017

The emotions of the first day at a new school

Today, you see, was not just the first day of the school year. It was the first day of a school year at a new school.

Rita BuettnerBlog, Open Window

September 4, 2017

The cat at the crab feast

He wasn’t even supposed to be there. The 15-year-old cat had been at the vet the day before. His health was failing, and there was nothing more that could be done.

Rita BuettnerBlog, Open Window

September 1, 2017

Blogging about blogging and a day trip to Virginia

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend a gathering of Catholic women bloggers in Front Royal, Va. We drove down as a family of four, and my husband and our boys went off to explore Skyline Drive and the Skyline Caverns during the day.

Rita BuettnerBlog, Open Window

August 31, 2017

Kite flying, Brothers’ Day, our staycation, skipping school supplies shopping, and excellent corn dogs (7 Quick Takes)

My sons and I have been staycationing this week as we get ready for the school year to begin.

Rita BuettnerBlog, Open Window

August 29, 2017

Talking to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton about the start of the new school year

Last week I told the boys that today would be our pilgrimage day—that we would pick a destination and go pray for a great school year.

Rita BuettnerBlog, Open Window

August 28, 2017

Nothing to fear but the Ferris wheel

As I stood on the ground and watched them go up, I was suddenly scared. God has entrusted my husband and me with raising these two amazing children, and I just put them on a ride that would take them far up into the sky.

Rita BuettnerBlog, Open Window

August 27, 2017

Praying for victims of Hurricane Harvey and finding inspiration in a priest in a kayak

What a frightening time for the people who are affected by the flooding from Hurricane Harvey in Texas. They are in desperate need of our prayers—prayers for those who are being rescued and those doing the rescues, along with prayers for many who are still waiting and hoping that they will be able to stay...

Rita BuettnerBlog, Open Window

August 25, 2017

When cousins come to town, screen safety, the eclipse, shuffling, and a mini-reunion (7 Quick Takes)

My niece and nephew are spending the week with my parents, and with Daniel’s Gotcha Day, soccer practice, and other excitement, the week has been getting away from us without any solid cousin time. So yesterday I took our boys over to play.

Rita BuettnerBlog, Open Window

August 23, 2017

Kicking off the soccer season (and looking for my rose-colored glasses)

As we prepared for our first practice of the year, I may not have been the most excited member of the family. Soccer is a great sport, but I’m just not a fan of extracurricular activities that throw our lives into a tailspin for months.

Rita BuettnerBlog, Open Window

August 22, 2017

Celebrating Gotcha Day six years after meeting our baby boy

Having the opportunity to be this little boy’s mother is an amazing blessing. It’s also an astonishing gift for me, especially since I wasn’t sure I would ever be a mother—never mind a mother of two sons who were born on the other side of the world.

Rita BuettnerBlog, Open Window