How Far is the East from the West?

In looking up references for silly holidays, I came across this one. April 25 is National East meets West day. Many kinds of sports teams hold annual East vs. West games. Most often, it's held by high school sports teams.It could be any club or organization that holds competitions, and can be geographically separated into any east and west groups. 

These special games usually serve a number of purposes, including:

• For charitable benefits
• Sports booster club
• To honor and/or showcase the best players of the season

On another note, Casting Crowns has a song, "East to West". Many times sitting in church a passage may be read and I think, "Oh, I know that song". When you are listening to songs, do you ever wonder which verse it may reference? The lyrics to the chorus are as follows:

“Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other”

East and West are referenced in Psalm 103:11-13 (NIV) as follows:

¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
   so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
   so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 ¹³ As a father has compassion on his children,
   so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him

Our heavenly father loves us from the east to the west, unconditionally.  Jesus died on the cross for US!  His hands were stretched from the East to the West—one scarred hand to the other.

Thank you, Jesus!

-Holly

www.smileteam4u.com

The Importance of Caring for Permanent Teeth



As the primary teeth come out (exfoliate), the permanent teeth begin to come into a child’s mouth. This process begins at approximately six or seven years of age. These teeth will continue to come in (erupt) as a child grows and develops into their teenage years. It is imperative that children learn good oral hygiene practices from young ages to maintain their permanent teeth for a lifetime.

Children need to learn how to brush properly (twice daily) with soft bristled tooth brushes, as well as clean in between their teeth (once daily) with floss or another interdental cleaning device. It is best if children brush their teeth with toothpastes that contain fluoride to fight cavities and decalcification (the loss of calcium from bones or teeth). In addition to daily oral hygiene, it is important that children visit the dentist every six months for regular check-ups and cleanings. This way the dentist can monitor any problem areas and apply fluoride treatments to assist in keeping permanent teeth healthy and strong. Many dentists will recommend that children have sealants placed on their permanent first and second molars in order to protect the chewing surfaces from decay. The chewing surfaces of teeth have grooves and pits which attract plaque and bacteria and can develop cavities (caries) quickly if not cleaned properly or protected with properly applied sealants.

Many parents need to monitor the types of food regularly eaten by children in order to keep teeth healthy and cavity-free. The best way to limit the build-up of plaque and calculus is to limit foods and drinks with high sugar quantities. Not only candy and soda, but breads and pasta are carbohydrates that contain large amounts of sugar which break down and stick to the teeth. If these sugars and other substances are not removed from the teeth promptly, they will cause plaque and calculus, which can only be removed by the dental hygienist at your general dentist’s office. Also, staying away from drinks like soda and other dark beverages reduces the risk of staining teeth, which allows children to maintain whiter, brighter smiles.

-Dr. David R. Sain

These tips are found in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

www.smileteam4u.com



The Importance of Caring for Primary Teeth

Have you ever wondered how important primary teeth (baby teeth) are or the best way to care for them? Sometimes people can forget that just because the primary teeth will eventually "fall out", it is still important to take care of them.

Primary teeth (also referred to as baby teeth) are the first set of teeth that come in to a child’s mouth. There are twenty primary teeth, all of which are important for the growth and development of a child. The primary teeth help children chew and speak, as well as maintain space for the permanent teeth to erupt at six or seven years of age. Primary teeth come in to the mouth (erupt) and fall out of the mouth (exfoliate) in a generally predictable series or order to assist the permanent teeth as they erupt into the mouth. If a child loses a primary tooth too early, the space allotted for the incoming permanent tooth may be lost and severe crowding may then be present.

It is extremely important for parents to encourage good oral hygiene practices in children from very young ages.  It is recommended that parents clean their children’s gums by rubbing moist cloths over a child’s gums after each meal. As the teeth begin to erupt, it is appropriate to begin using a tooth brush to clean a child’s teeth and gums. The best tooth brush to use on children who are teething are soft bristled tooth brushes as well as non-abrasive tooth pastes with limited amounts of fluoride. Younger children should be monitored closely so that unsafe amounts of fluoride are not consumed. Once a child learns to spit, the child may begin brushing his own teeth under parental supervision. It is always best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using new products (i.e. tooth paste, tooth brushes, mouth rinses, etc.).  As the primary teeth begin to erupt, children may experience discomfort or pain as the teeth are coming through the gums. Some acceptable practices to ease a child’s pain during teething is to rub the gums gently or give the child a teething ring. The Food and Drug Administration does not recommend administering topical anesthetics to children younger than two years of age.

Tooth decay (cavities or caries) can develop in primary teeth. Parents should limit the consumption of sugars, juices, formula, and milk which can cause decay to form. It is best to clean a child’s mouth out after they eat or drink in order to protect against tooth decay. Allowing children to fall asleep with a juice or milk bottle is strongly discouraged so that the sugars from these drinks are not allowed to stay on the teeth for long periods of time and form into plaque and calculus (a hard build up of calcium phosphate and carbonate, with organic matter, deposited on tooth surfaces).

Regular visits to the dentist are encouraged to allow for care and maintenance of primary teeth, while also allowing children to become familiar and comfortable with the dentist. Many times, if a relationship of trust is built between a dentist and a patient, dental anxiety can be minimized.  The American Dental Association recommends bringing children to the dentist after their first tooth erupts or right after their first birthday. These visits will not only allow the dentist to continually check and clean a child’s primary teeth, but it will allow the dentist to evaluate for habits that affect a child’s teeth. These habits include thumb or finger sucking, which can change the way in which the jaw bones grow and can cause orthodontic and orthopedic concerns as the child grows and develops.

-Chalice

These tips are found in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

www.smileteam4u.com

He is Coming Again!

Easter is a wonderful time of year not only because Spring surrounds us with reminders of the renewal of life, but also because we are able to celebrate the Living Son of God, Jesus Christ. This season allows children (and some adults) to escape into a fairy land of bunnies, candy, and pastel colors; it allows families to gather around a meal, enjoy fellowship, and spend the most precious commodity they have: time. A very important reminder for me this year is not only to spend time participating in Easter egg hunts and choosing the perfect meal for dinner, but to spend time with the Lord. It seems that we so rarely reflect on the fact that we were given time on this earth to worship and be in fellowship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; God gave us time to be in communion with Him. 

When you are headed to church this year, remember that when you participate in the fellowship of the Saints, the corporate gathering of the church, you are partaking in a sacrament that allows believers in Christ to get a glimpse of the new creation that is to come. That new creation encompasses what we were originally intended to be: in complete fellowship with the God of Creation. We can also celebrate the life of Christ, the lives of those who have gone before us, who have taken up their citizenship in heaven (Philippians 3:20), and the life we have yet to embrace within the heavenly dwellings. Yes, it is the death, resurrection, and life of Jesus that we celebrate at Easter; but let us direct our attention to the understanding that Christ died, rose from the dead, and is living today so that we may be in fellowship with Him in this time and place. If we spend time with Christ, we are able to become more like him by knowing his ways, which prepares us for the glorious day when we are called to rest in the new creation to become what we were fully intended to be: in complete fellowship with our Creator, where time has no limit. So this Easter, embrace the communion of the saints, spend some extra time with Jesus, and be encouraged, then, as we hold fast to the truth:

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:14-18

Hallelujah – He is alive, He actively holds power over death, and He is coming again to take us to the place where He dwells!

- Stevie

www.smileteam4u.com

Ms. Nancy Retires

It isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart.
- Author Unknown

This week we are celebrating Ms. Nancy. After 24 years of working with Dr. Sain and the Smile Team, she is retiring. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to work with her for those 24 years, starting one month after she did.

Nancy has always had a smile for everyone that walked in the door or called on the phone, and usually some laughter to go along with her smile. She truly has a servant's heart.

My favorite thing about Nancy is that she always has a story to tell. A long time ago, we used to call her “Rose” from the “Golden Girls” because she always had a St. Olaf story to tell. One of my favorites is when she was younger. It was her sister's turn to run the vacuum cleaner, but she wouldn't do it. Nancy ended up running the vacuum. At that time, her sister had very long hair. She happened to be laying on the floor watching t.v. with her hair spread out behind her.... some how, it got in the way of the vacuum and Nancy vacuumed it up. Oops! I have a feeling that her sister wished she had done her own chores. Being one of 6 children and having 3 sons, she has so many stories to tell, most of them being pretty hilarious.

Nancy not only uses her voice for telling stories & laughter, but to sing, too. She is a member of “Southern Lights”, a Southern Gospel trio. God has given Nancy a beautiful voice and she uses it to sing praises to His name. Not only has she brightened our lives at the office, she brightens the lives of people who get to hear her sing. At Christmas, she and Ms. Shelli will sing Christmas carols for us, only they use a microphone that makes them sound like chipmunks... once again, much laughter follows!

I love the funny side to Nancy, but she also has a very kind side to her, too.

Nancy and I have been through so much together through the years. She has been a friend through thick and thin. We have celebrated weddings and births and mourned deaths together. She has a very caring spirit. She loves her God and it is truly evident in everything she does.

I am going to miss not working with her, but am excited for her, too. Those grandchildren of hers are going to enjoy all of the time she will be able to spend with them, spoiling them rotten, and loving them while she is doing it. I am sure that Avery, her boys and daughters-in-law will enjoy having her home more now, especially if she is cooking for them, which, by the way, she is very good at, too!

I'll also miss it when Dr. Sain walks by and fusses at us for talking. Of course, it is always work related ... we would never just stand around and chat ... not us.

Well, Nancy, we all wish you the best of luck with your retirement. The office will not be the same without you here. It will definitely be quieter, but we will miss you and the laughter that you bring with you where ever you are.

- Holly

www.smileteam4u.com

Recipe of The Week: St. Patrick's Ice Cream Sandwiches

  

St. Patrick's Day is quickly approaching, and soon, people will be strolling the streets of Middle Tennessee, and all over the country, adorned in green. Did you know that St. Patrick's Day was not a widely celebrated holiday until the 1970's? Irish-Americans used St. Patrick's Day as a way to celebrate their Irish heritage. Now, those that are not of Irish decent partake in this celebration, perhaps even you.

So, what better way to celebrate this Irish holiday than by eating St. Patrick's Day inspired ice cream sandwiches? That's what I thought; there is no better way!!



What You Need:
- Cake Mix (I used Devil's Food)
- Ingredients on back of cake box (it is best to follow the recipe for a pound cake. This will make your cake more dense allowing it to be easier to cut and form the sandwiches)
- Mixing Bowl
- Mixer
- Cookie Cutter (I chose a shamrock shaped cookie cutter, just to be festive)

*Serving Size: 6

ingredients

 

What You Do:
- Preheat oven to 350*
- Bake cake as instructed on box (following the pound cake recipe)
- Remove cake from mold and allow to cool completely
- Slice cake into two seperate layers (lengthwise)
- Place in freezer
Only do the following steps if you would like to cut the ice cream in the same shape (I just scooped the ice cream on with a spoon and used a knife to smooth)
- Take a pan or cookie sheet and line with parchment paper, then empty carton of ice cream on to cookie sheet
- Cover with a layer of parchment paper
- Smooth out ice cream so it is evenly distributed (I used a glass dish to help me) and freeze (for at least 3 hours. I left mine over night)

Let's Start Baking!

place ingredients into mixing bowl (*being sure to make the pound cake recipe)

                                                                             
                                                                              MAGIC!

bake/cool/cut lengthwise

empty carton of ice cream on to cookie sheet (lined with parchment paper)

place second piece of parchment paper on top of ice cream and smooth

FREEZE!!

How to Assemble:
- Remove cake from freezer
- Cut out shapes in cake (be sure to cut an even number)
- Then either spoon out the ice cream on to the cake cutout or if your ice cream is hard enough you can cut the ice cream into shapes and then place onto the cake cutout
- Place another cake cutout onto the top of the ice cream and VOILA'!

cut out shapes in cake (being sure to cut an even number)

layer ice cream and place top piece of cake to make sandwich

Yum! Now, take a big bite!

(or if you are being "good" freeze again until ready to be served) 



                                           Happy Eating - Chalice

www.smileteam4u.com

You Live Where?

Have you ever wondered how towns get their names? While watching news coverage of storms the other night, meteorologists kept zooming in on little towns some people have probably never heard of, which made me a little curious.

Some towns are named after animals like: Little Crab, Squirrel Flat (did someone run over a squirrel and decide to name a town after it?), Frog Pond, Gnat Hill (this is Tennessee; I know there are plenty of gnats), Possum Trot, and Beaver Hill. Some are named after hills and valleys like: Minor Hill (is there a Major Hill somewhere?), Middle Valley (what is it in the middle of?), Happy Hill (that sounds like a nice place to live).

Mt. Pleasant is located near Mt. Joy. There is also a town called Friendship (those all sound really idealic, don't they?). There is a town called Bible Hill (now that sounds like a really good place).

Here are some others that caught my attention: Yell (is that located in a holler?), Moss, Only, Prospect, Lick Skillet (did you know this town got its name after hungry campers made a dinner and one camper showed up after all of the food had already been eaten? So he licked the skillet, thus the name, Lick Skillet), Wheel, Sharp Place (is there a Dull Place?), Speck, and there is even a town named Nameless (Nameless has several legends about where its name originated from. One of those legends is: when the residents applied for a post office, they left the place for their town name blank and the post office sent the application back stamped "Nameless". The name, or lack there of, stuck).

Now, I know you usually do not sit around thinking about unusual town names, but the more I thought about it, the more I wondered, "Where did these names come from?". I looked up a few on the internet, to see if there were stories behind their names, but did not have much luck. Maybe you will be able to find some more silly town names if you decide to do a little research of your own. Have fun!

-Holly

www.smileteam4u.com