The day her Mama Died
Rhonda Childers is a Military Mom/daughter and a portrait photographer in the Bay area and Central Valley, California. It is her dream to make a positive difference in this world by sharing herself and stories while creating and capturing new ones with others. 100 years from now her legacy will live on through photographs and the positive difference she makes in the life of many children.
The day her Mama died, a big piece of her died, too. She learned this is a piece she could not fill. It is a piece that could not be replaced by anything, ever.
The day her Mama died she stopped breathing for a moment, too. She wondered how the world around her continued to go on.
The day her Mama died, she began a new life. Her new life was motherless. She felt like an orphan. It was different than before, in the most painful and heartbreaking way.
The day her Mama died she looked around and questioned everything. She questioned her faith, her last words, and every moment she spent away from her. Her questions will never be answered, but she kept asking anyway.
The day her Mama died she was in complete disbelief. She refused to accept this reality but it stayed with her. One day the reality sank in. That day was just as bad as the day her Mama died. She was frozen with heartbreak, confusion, and terror, the day her Mama died. She developed new anxieties and fears she never had before. Some days those new fears were debilitating.
The day her Mama died, she became an adult. The kind of adult who doesn’t have a mother. It was a different kind of adult than before.
The day her Mama died she longed for her hugs, her time, and her presence. This longing never went away.
It stayed with her, but so does her Mama, because . . .
The day her Mama died she gained the most beautiful angel.
She can’t see her Mama, but she is there, just as she promised.
The day her Mama died, she looked around and was grateful for all of the people there supported her and helped her pick up the pieces. The people who showed up are her people. She will never forget the ones who showed up; they are special.
The day her Mama died, she learned that she loved so hard, so deeply, so purely.. she grieved hard because of that beautiful love.
The day her Mama died, she learned that her Mama loved her beyond measure. She mothered her more beautifully than any story ever written. Her Mama believed in her more than she ever believed in herself. She realized that Her Mama took care of her like she was the most precious cargo on the planet, even as an adult.
The day her Mama died she realized, without hesitation, that she was the most amazing woman she had ever known and will ever know.
The day her Mama died she appreciated her more than she ever had, she prayed to have her back. Unfortunately, no prayers could bring her back. No wishes could make her appear. All she has is her memories and her Mama’s beautiful portraits that she hangs on the wall.
My First Born son I celebrate you and 28 years of blessings today.
Oh, my dear sweet child. If only I knew the things that I know now. You were my first child, and to be perfectly honest, I had no idea what I was doing. I had to learn it all with you, because of you I became a mother. And for that I am so grateful.
Oh, my dear sweet child. If only I knew the things that I know now. You were my first child, and to be perfectly honest, I had no idea what I was doing. I had to learn it all with you, because of you I became a Mother. And for that I am so grateful.
Nikolas
I fell in love as soon as
I heard your heartbeat!
God knew I needed you first to help mold me into the Mom I needed to be. You did that. From the sleepless nights you gave me when you were just an infant… to the times I couldn’t take my eyes off of you when you finally closed your eyes. From the time when I first heard your little laugh… to the time when we were both rolling on the floor in fits of laughter. From the time when you were inconsolable and I had no idea what to do… to the time when only Mama could make it all better. I have loved you more than I ever loved another human. I have prayed more than I ever even knew how to pray. You did that to me. I loved you from the moment your I saw your little heart beat. At that very moment when I met youI knew you were a boy. I knew I would name you Nikolas and call you Niko. I drove home from the doctor after seeing your heart beat grinning ear to ear. That truly was the happiest day of my life. Many happy days followed after that and you continue to make me smile. If the phone rings or even just a text my heart races and beats as strong as yours did the first day I met you on that ultra sound. Your first picture was taken that day. This was your first of a life time of pictures. From your first heart beat until my last heart beat I will pray for you!
You were so little yet you taught me so much about being a mom. I’m sorry that you were at the center of all of my trials and errors. I wanted so much to get it right. I think my expectations of you when you were that small were unrealistic. I spent so much time worrying and stressing that I didn’t allow myself to just enjoy the the simplicity of your childhood. You were my first. Never again will I get the chance to do it over. You grew so fast. One minute I was rocking you to sleep in my arms, and then I blinked and you were graduating college. Where did the time go? I am so thankful I captured these moments on camera and preserved or memories.
Sometimes, I wish I could go back and do it all again. I want to go back and cherish those moments. The moments I lost, stressing and worrying. The moments I savored playing, dancing, singing, riding bikes. We spent time together alone, just you and me until your sisters came along. I spent time just holding you.
I spent time reading with you, the naps we shared, the classes we took, the teams you played on and I coached. You were my entire world, you changed my entire world. You were my game boy, the man of my house and my heart. You turned out to be an amazing person, more than I could have ever imagined. Just know that I love you so, so much. That will never change. You will always be my first little love, nothing will take that away. I am so proud of the man you are. You are great example for your sisters and I couldn’t be more proud.
The truth is, my amazing son, you will always be my first child. You will always be the one who taught me how to be the best mom that I can be. You will always be my first baby…always. That will never change. You paved the road for your younger siblings. That was a big job, I know.
I've always loved you because you were my first miracle.You were new, you had an unused Nana, you had so many clothes your closet looked like Mama was having triplets. You were the original model for a mom who was just trying to figure out life for herself. You helped me figure it out life. I thought it was I that would teach you but know you have always taught me everything I know. Your sisters came along and things got crazy beautiful and you all shaped me into the Mom and person I am today. But my son you were the beginning!
Being a mom to you has been the greatest joy of my life. Know that I will love you forever. You grew up, I had to let you go spread your wings and become the person God intended you to be. I’ll never forget that you were the one who made me a mom.
Happy 28th Birthday Niko-Man. I love you with all my heart & soul.
Mama
“I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.” (Robert Munsch)
2019 Senior Team Model
A Once in a Lifetime Experience
Rhonda Childers Photography strives to lift the confidence through showing my clients their true beauty both inside and out. One of the best ways I do that is through the Senior Model Program. Each year, I select a limited number of Seniors to be apart of our senior model team, where they join a few peers to participate in exclusive portrait sessions and other fun events throughout their senior year of high school
What is a Senior Model?
Senior Models are representatives for Rhonda Childers Photography for their entire senior year of high school. Each senior is selected based on their personality, academics, and extracurriculars. No model experience is required. The senior model teams goal is to encourage each other as young people and to lift each other up.
WHY BE A SENIOR MODEL?
The senior model team is a BLAST!
You'll be a part of a family of people who encourage and inspire one another
You'll have the opportunity to participate in various photoshoots and events
You'll receive many perks that are exclusive to the RCP model team
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
Current Senior graduating class of 2019
Someone who wants to make a difference not only in their own life, but in the lives of others
Someone who is active on social media and in their community
Someone who is excited to represent RCP in their senior year of high school
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
Invitation to exclusive portrait shoots throughout the year
Individual senior portrait session the summer before your senior year
Cash for each referral brought to Rhonda Childers Photography
Make new friends
Community Service hours
Complimentary RCP senior model t-shirt
And plenty more!
SENIOR REP APPLICATION
Application is due now. Potential models must be available for a group shoot (date and time to be determined) A parent or guardian must sign the Senior Rep and Model Release contract in order for you to participate. Reps must be in Senior year of high school graduating in the class of 2019.
Who's Next?
FILL OUT THE MODEL TEAM APPLICATION & SHARE WITH A FRIEND, SOMEONE WHO WOULD MAKE A GREAT 2019 SENIOR REP.