The Gateway
Little white Doggies
This past weekend my big brother, Philip, and I spent time with our dad for Father’s Day. We helped outside of his home with some much-needed projects as my dad lives on 5 acres near Medina Lake… in order to arrive at Daddy’s property and 100-year-old homestead, we must cross the Medina Dam.. Yes, for reals— it’s actually the county’s private property but my Daddy has access since this is the ONLY way to enter his property. Pretty crazy!
Our family grew up spending countless hours on the lake—water skiing, boating, camping, and working outside. Some of my earliest memories involve sunburned shoulders, wet towels, lake water, and long days outdoors.
We also worked hard manicuring landscapes and maintaining country properties. We know and appreciate working outside and just because I know some of you will be curious, we have no issues with the Texas heat in the middle of June.
It was a Father’s Day weekend that was less about gifts and more about finding ways to help our father, bring value to his property, and show him love and care the best way we could.
As I reflected on years past and moments in time spent with Daddy, one simple memory surfaced that somehow survived them all.
I was probably five or six years old, standing in the tiny bathroom of my grandmother’s modest home in San Antonio.
My dad was standing beside me, teaching me how to brush my teeth.
Except he never called them my teeth.
He called them my “little white doggies.”
To this day, I can still picture that moment.
The small bathroom.
The sink.
My dad standing there coaching me.
It’s funny how life works.
There are so many things I’ve forgotten over the years, yet that simple memory remains.
A few weeks ago, I mentioned it to him.
He laughed and said,
“That’s funny you remember that.”
He had forgotten it completely.
I hadn’t.
And that made me think about how often the smallest moments become the ones that stay with us.
One simple memory that somehow survives all the years.
The truth is that I don’t know exactly why that memory stayed with me when so many others faded.
Maybe it was the nickname.
Maybe it was the tiny bathroom in my grandmother’s house.
Or maybe it was one of those moments when my dad was simply trying to connect with me the best way he knew how.
Our relationship wasn’t always easy, and it has certainly evolved over the years. In many ways, I feel like I got to know my dad more as an adult than I did as a child.
Looking back now, I wonder if this was simply one of those moments when a father was trying to teach his daughter something important—or perhaps just trying to connect in a way a little girl could understand, especially knowing how much I loved animals.
Whatever the reason, it stayed.
Recently, while learning more about oral health and nitric oxide, that childhood memory resurfaced again.
Like many people, I spent most of my life thinking oral care was simply about keeping my teeth clean and avoiding cavities—which I have done well to do!
In fact, my dentist likes to tell me I am not going to make him rich. He even teased me recently that my checkup was “boring.”
It’s a good thing to have a fun dentist because going to the dentist is not actually that fun.
Over time, however, I’ve learned that our mouths are home to an entire ecosystem—one that may play a much larger role in our overall health than many of us realize.
As I’ve listened to my friend Dr. Nathan Bryan share his research on nitric oxide over the years, I’ve become increasingly fascinated by the connection between oral health and overall wellness.
I’ve trusted Dr. Nathan’s work and personally used his product line for well over a decade. What first drew me to his work wasn’t marketing—it was the depth of research behind it. Since 2014, I’ve also personally experienced benefits from using his products, which only increased my interest in learning and sharing more.
As one of the world’s leading researchers in nitric oxide, he’s spent years helping people understand how small daily habits may influence the body’s natural systems in ways many of us never consider.
One of those discoveries led me right back to that little bathroom and the memory of my dad teaching me to brush my little white doggies.
Scientists now understand that beneficial bacteria naturally found in the mouth play an important role in processes that support the body’s production of nitric oxide.
That realization stopped me in my tracks.
What if oral care isn’t just about our teeth?
What if it’s about creating the right environment?
That question immediately reminded me of something I’ve written about before.
The environment we create matters.
Whether we’re talking about our physical bodies, our spiritual lives, our relationships, or even the thoughts we allow to occupy our minds, environments shape outcomes.
Before nutrients enter the body...
Before digestion begins...
Before oxygen is delivered where it’s needed...
Everything first passes through the environment of the mouth.
In many ways, it serves as a gateway.
The older I get, the more I appreciate that health is rarely built through one dramatic decision.
It’s built through small daily choices.
A morning walk.
A nutritious meal.
A good night’s sleep.
Time spent in prayer.
A grateful heart.
A willingness to keep learning.
And yes...
Even brushing our little white doggies.
This Father’s Day, I found myself grateful for a memory I didn’t know I still carried.
A simple moment.
A simple lesson.
A simple connection.
One simple memory that somehow survived all the years.
And perhaps that’s the beauty of life.
Sometimes the things that shape us most aren’t the grand events we expected to remember.
Sometimes they’re the quiet moments that stay with us long after everything else has faded.
Some lessons arrive in the moment.
Others reveal themselves decades later.
And perhaps part of wisdom is simply paying attention to the things God quietly uses to shape us.
If you are Curious to explore further for yourself…
I’ve been using Dr. Nathan Bryan’s products for over a decade and continue to learn from his research on nitric oxide and overall wellness.
If you’d like to learn more about the products and resources I’ve personally been exploring, simply scan the QR code below.
As always, continue learning, asking questions, and becoming a good steward of the body God has entrusted to you.
Live Radiantly— Monica
Important information and very well written sweetie. Blessings.
Such a wonderful story. I have such great memories with my step-father... As he gets older, I struggle knowing that our time together grows shorter but I will always have memories that truly made an amazing impact on my life... I am so grateful God brought such an amazing man into my life. Thanks for sharing Monica. God Bless!