2019 December Faulkner Lifestyle

apartment in Conway on a tight budget. I
design because it’s fun for me, but also for
entertaining. My husband and I both really
enjoy inviting friends and family over and
cater to them. I try to keep it where children
and adults alike can enjoy the décor.”
Brent and Jessica have been married
since 2013, and are enjoying Christmas
this year with Cove Caroline, who is 3,
and John Ridge, who is 9 months. “Brent
typically acts as the supervisor. He sits
and watches football and critiques and
gives me feedback. He says he enjoys
it, and I believe he does, because I
married someone who sings, ‘O Come
All Ye Faithful’ all year round! He loves
Christmas as much as I do and we hope
to pass that love onto our children.”
great-grandparents built in 1954 and my
Papa (Ronnie Mobbs) grew up in.”
Jessica said she has been decorating and
designing for as long as she can remember,
and it’s the actual work that she has always
enjoyed the most. “Now, we try to make
it fun, we listen to music and finish by
reading the Nativity, Luke Chapter 2, in
the bible before we top the tree,” she said.
“I would always help my parents decorate
our tree and my MaMaw decorate their
home. I started doing this on my own
while I was in nursing school. I remember
decorating my boyfriend’s (now husband)
The Brainerds say it’s important that
their children understand the value and
the true meaning of Christmas. “We try
to keep our topper as a star each year
as it represents the star of Bethlehem.
Cove Caroline is now 3 and this is the
first year that she’s really been into and
understood what we’re doing. She tells
me, ‘Oh Mommy, my tree is so pretty’,
and wants to help decorate and put
ornaments on the tree,” Jessica said. “She
told my mother, Ronda Woodrome,
recently, ‘Mimi, that’s not a ball, that’s an
ornament!’ She’s quite the little sassafras.
John Ridge is only 9 months, in the last
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