Saline County Teen Honors Mother in Memorial of Lights
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: November 30, 2012
The gate is shrouded with sparkling lights, inviting you to park and watch as reindeer clad in crystal strands seem to graze.
Welcome to 16-year-old Kris Hudson's winter wonderland.
"It's hard. But what I'm doing to help, is this. This helps me," he said waving his arm to encompass the entire display.
There are 10,000 twinkling lights. Every piece is in its place for a purpose.
"The angle is the center -- the highlight of it all," he said, pointing to a pink angel. "The angel is my mom."
Kris's mother isn't here to decorate with him as she did his entire childhood, after taking her own life in August of 2011.
"When it lights up here to see it light up, 'Hey mom' and she's there," he said with a smile.
The light extravagazna is in its second year, a memorial to his mother, a way to feel close during a time when missing a loved can make you feel far from happy.
Overwhelming loss of loved ones is something Dr. Howard Turney, a family counselor, sees many struggle with during the holidays.
"Anniversaries of someone's death and the holidays can bring back lots of memories, like just a year ago we were doing this and it can make people sad and unhappy," he said. "Sometimes, they just need someone to reach out, keep them in the present, and be willing to listen. They need to talk about it, and not keep it pinned up inside."
Instead of dim thoughts, Kris is coping by lighting up other people's lives in honor of his mother.
"Yeah, she won't be here for my graduation, my wedding, or when I have my first kid," he said. "But people see this and they're so amazed that a 16-year-old would do this, and it makes them smile. That's how I try to help others. I put up the lights, they can enjoy them, and it makes their lives a little brighter."
"It's real important for them to reach out to other people and for others to reach out to them," Turney said.
Kris shares his story to let others know there's more to the pretty facade, a bigger message to those on the brink.
"Each one of these bulbs are the amount of people who do care and do not want you gone," he said. "My mom felt like a burden, but she wasn't. She was in a lot of pain, and so I hope that what happened relieved her of that. But it's hard to talk about, and this helps me and others."
It's a lesson his mom taught him, that everyone, at some point, should be shown the bright side.
Kris hopes that others are inspired by his lighting display. He's asking if they are that they donate a dollar or two to Salvation Army to help others who are struggling with their own obstacles during the holidays.
Welcome to 16-year-old Kris Hudson's winter wonderland.
"It's hard. But what I'm doing to help, is this. This helps me," he said waving his arm to encompass the entire display.
There are 10,000 twinkling lights. Every piece is in its place for a purpose.
"The angle is the center -- the highlight of it all," he said, pointing to a pink angel. "The angel is my mom."
Kris's mother isn't here to decorate with him as she did his entire childhood, after taking her own life in August of 2011.
"When it lights up here to see it light up, 'Hey mom' and she's there," he said with a smile.
The light extravagazna is in its second year, a memorial to his mother, a way to feel close during a time when missing a loved can make you feel far from happy.
Overwhelming loss of loved ones is something Dr. Howard Turney, a family counselor, sees many struggle with during the holidays.
"Anniversaries of someone's death and the holidays can bring back lots of memories, like just a year ago we were doing this and it can make people sad and unhappy," he said. "Sometimes, they just need someone to reach out, keep them in the present, and be willing to listen. They need to talk about it, and not keep it pinned up inside."
Instead of dim thoughts, Kris is coping by lighting up other people's lives in honor of his mother.
"Yeah, she won't be here for my graduation, my wedding, or when I have my first kid," he said. "But people see this and they're so amazed that a 16-year-old would do this, and it makes them smile. That's how I try to help others. I put up the lights, they can enjoy them, and it makes their lives a little brighter."
"It's real important for them to reach out to other people and for others to reach out to them," Turney said.
Kris shares his story to let others know there's more to the pretty facade, a bigger message to those on the brink.
"Each one of these bulbs are the amount of people who do care and do not want you gone," he said. "My mom felt like a burden, but she wasn't. She was in a lot of pain, and so I hope that what happened relieved her of that. But it's hard to talk about, and this helps me and others."
It's a lesson his mom taught him, that everyone, at some point, should be shown the bright side.
Kris hopes that others are inspired by his lighting display. He's asking if they are that they donate a dollar or two to Salvation Army to help others who are struggling with their own obstacles during the holidays.
