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.
Senior Model Team 2020… all eyes on you!
It’s that time of year and I am super excited! My search for the 2020 Senior Model Rep Team has begun! I have so much planned for this year for the model Team and I want you to be a part of it! Think fun, adventure, personalized, and locations that reflect who you are all the while creating memories and images that you are gonna love! If you are Senior for the 2019-2020 school year, loves getting your picture taken, then this is for you!
A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE
WHAT IS A SENIOR MODEL?
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
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
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?
Current Senior graduating class of 2020
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?
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
SENIOR REP APPLICATION
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
Apply 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 2020
Who's Next?
FILL OUT THE MODEL TEAM APPLICATION & SHARE WITH A FRIEND, SOMEONE WHO WOULD MAKE A GREAT 2020 SENIOR REP.
I remember you! Memorial Day is everyday...
A parent's death makes a severe impact on a child, that then affects their own children and their children's children, and so on. First Lieutenant Russo went to UCLA, he was a track and football star. He met his wife Olga at UCLA. After graduation, they married and they started a family. He was killed in action on April 3rd, 1945 on Luzon. His death changed many lives. He left behind a wife and his one year old son. Lieutenant Russo named his son after himself, even though his Father Salvatore offered him a substantial amount of money to name the baby Salvatore after him. Lieutenant Mario Russo chose to name his son Mario after himself, in fear he may never return from war. The name Mario and photographs in a frame, were the only thing Lieutenant Russo could ever give his son. He died a hero yet he left behind loved ones now broken damaged and confused.
Little did he know that he was leaving behind a legacy as well. His future grandchildren and great grandchildren would never see him, only the photos that hang on their walls. They will only know him through the photos and stories shared by family but he is still so much a part of them. The more I learn about my grandfather Mario from my favorite Uncle Tony, he reminds me of my own children. They have followed in his footsteps in so many ways. The name Mario was a great gift to leave your son, but your family and your legacy was an even greater gift. We will continue to share our photos of our hero with the legacy he left behind. Lieutenant Russo lives on through us all. I just can't imagine how different my life would be if my grandfather was there when my father grew up. I am grateful for the photos and the stories I can share with my babies. Having these photos has taught me to appreciate and savor the past through images. I am thankful for all he has given us; veterans, intelligence, physical and mental strength, athletics, track stars. He now has great great grandchildren who will know and remember their hero through the photographs that hang on the wall, those pictures tell it all. With all that was given I sit back and watch my own daughters and one with her baby and their sacrifices they give for our country. Always remember .....All gave some, some gave all. So much sacrifice for our freedom. We all have a story to tell through photographs on the wall!
Rhonda Childers is a Military Mom 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.
My sailor girl
My soldier girl
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)
10 things I realized when I lost My Mother. Happy Mothers Day
The loss of my mom has placed me in a frame of mind I was not prepared for. A mother's love is like no other. Since she has been gone, I somehow find myself feeling incomplete. She was the wind beneath my wings. My Mama has been gone 15 years. She died on Friday February 13th, 2004. I found out on Valentine's Day and it broke me heart. I miss her everyday.
I never realized my mom was not invincible until it was too late. I grew up thinking she was a superhuman being. She could do anything she was a single Mom of 4 crazy girls. As I grew up I didn’t see she was ageing, too.
Before I knew it, I watched my superhero turn into an old person. So here are 10 things I want to share with you that I realized when I lost my Mama!
1. You'll realize how much you loved them.
We never really appreciate what we have till it's gone. There is so much irony in loss. You only realize how deeply you loved someone until they aren't there anymore.
2. You'll still want to call them when something happens.
Sometimes when your phone rings you catch yourself thinking its them. Then your in tears because you realize that they aren't here anymore.
3. You'll learn parents secrets.
You'll uncover details about your parents' lives that make you uncomfortable. You'll realize that they were actually people, not just parents, and you get it now! You will understand who they are and what they did more than ever.
4. Holidays become lonely and sad
Even if you have your own family, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas and any other special day will never feel the same.
5. You will be jealous of anyone who has parents that are living.
You'll envy anyone who gets to spend time or holidays with their parents. You'll lecture anyone if they complain about their parents for any reason.
6. The emptiness & sadness never leaves your heart.
You feel like an orphan. At times you will cry just as much as you did the day they died. The pain changes & subsides with time, but it's never ever gone.
7. You'll wish you savored the moments and took more pictures.
You'd give anything to have just one more moment with your parents. You will wish you could take one last photo. See their smile hear their voice one more time. So take those photos like they are your last because it could actually could be!
8. You'll feel loss for the grandchildren they will never know and great-grandchildren they'll never meet.
The family photos you won't get to take, the holidays you'll never spend together. A lifetime of memories you have not been able to have will be forever missed. So if you are blessed with family get those family portraits they will last forever when you print them. They will be loved and cherished by you and your future family for many years to come.
9. You won't be able to function at times.
One minute your fine then suddenly your in tears when someone or something reminds you of your parents. You'll feel sick & beside yourself. You'll wish more than anything that your Mama was there to make you some soup and take care of you. At times you will want to go somewhere only you know.
10. You will understand the importance of family like never before.
No one else is ever going to love you unconditionally like your parents. We spend years wishing our parents would get off our backs only to realize they were the ones that really ever had our backs!
Those of us that have lost our parents, understand and we miss them everyday. They may no longer be here on earth, but their legacy will live on through us. As life passes by we lose our parents, some sooner than others it changes us. We learn to appreciate the little moments take more pictures savor time with our own kids. Hopefully the memories we make will comfort them when it’s our time to go to heaven. I do find peace in knowing my mother is in paradise and is no longer suffering here on earth. She is home with our heavenly father. We will be together again one day. What lessons did you learn after losing your parents? Let me know and make sure you share this blog with your family & friends. If you are blessed to still have time with your parents let this be a reminder to show them some love. “The greatest lovers are Mothers” ~Mary Rivers; Yup thats my beautiful great grandmother at 94 in the article below she was a gem!!
The transcript for article above.
ARGUS . Fremont- Newark. Sunday. May 11, 1975
"The world’s greatest lovers are mothers." The above message comes directly from, choose one (A) A bumper sticker distributed by a maternity wear manufacturer (B) A graffiti collection in a Berkeley restroom. (C) A Mother's Day card made by Mary Rivers, 94 a resident of Crestwood Convalescent Hospital Fremont. How did you guess? Mrs. Rivers is the author of that line. An avid card sender, she's been known to mail dozens of invitations for her own birthday party. One year the huge piles of valentines she received truly astonished one of her daughters, Sister Leonarda Rivers. When questioned about the onslaught of cards, Mrs. Rivers confessed, "I threw out the bait first." She'd prevailed upon several relatives to mail batches of her heart-shaped notes early in February. But Mrs. Rivers insists her Mother's Day card isn't bait. This time is different; this time it's because we have to take care of the children." she told her daughter. After establishing once and for all who the greatest lovers are, at least in her estimation, she goes on to plead. "So let us join together, m o t h e r s , grandmas, and great-grandmas (she is all of the above), and. with a mother's love in our hearts, help make this world a better home to live in." In her ninth decade, she finds much joy in being "young enough to care and make sacrifices for God's children." and appreciates the care she herself receives from visitors and hospital staff members. She pays them the highest compliment she can imagine: "They're very good; they have the mother's caring." As the mother of 9 children of her own and 16 foster children, the grandmother of 17. and the great-grandmother of 23, she still has a roll of caring for others. Now she tries to demonstrate that concern by giving her family a good example. How does she do that? "I listen and keep the mouth closed," Mrs. Rivers said laughing and making lip-zipping motions. She hesitated to comment on mothers today, at first dodging her daughter's questions and saying, "I feel love for the mother, because I was a mother; I know what it is." With repeated questioning. she eventually conceded, yes, mothers are different now. "How are they different?" They give more liberties to girls." "Too many?" Said with a smile:"Yes." After thinking a moment, she remembered meeting some women who weren't cut out to be mothers, and said she thought mothers should avoid working outside the home if possible. Does she think the job of motherhood is becoming more or less difficult now? That , too, took some thought. -It's easier in one way, because you have somebody to help educate the children, but it can be hard. Sometimes the fathers aren't good; they don't help them out." Good mothering doesn’t ensure good children, though, she indicated. It's not always the mother's fault if the children get into trouble. -Sometimes the children keep bad company." she said. Among her daughters and foster daughters are mothers who make her very proud. They told me they had a good lesson with me." Mrs. Rivers said. She was pleased to see some daughters become mothers while one became a nun. "That's good, if they're happy and you're happy." she told Sister Leonarda. "I like you to be what you want. You love and care like a mother, but you never can have that feeling, the mother's feeling." With that loving feeling may come sacrifice. She didn't deny that. After her husband died in a farming accident, she had to manage the ranch and her family with help from neighbors. But she said she wasn't sorry for what she suffered. Would you do it again?" Sister Leonarda inquired? Her mother laughed "That's very hard to answer." Finally, she said, that yes she'd have a big family and take care of the foster children again, if I were young again. "I don't refuse life."
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.
What the cup?
Seriously, I have a coffee obsession. People always wonder, what I'm addicted to more the coffee or the cup? I seriously have a thing for coffee it makes me happy, it brings me comfort. One of my earliest memories as small child is sneaking sips of my mothers coffee (she drank it with cream no sugar) I grew up with coffee, it's my comfort food. Our home is somewhat decorated like a coffee house it's comfortable, “Childers Coffee Café”. This love, OK my addiction for coffee is a little out of control, but whatever gets me through the day. I've acquired quite the collection of coffee cups. Each and everyone of them is very significant to me and has very special meaning, they have become a part of me. As I reflect on the years that have past coffee has been a big part of my life. So honestly I wonder what I am savoring? Is it the coffee, the cup or these coffee moments? What am I holding on to? To me coffee is life or maybe it's just life is like coffee? Let me share with you one of my favorite inspirational coffee stories.
Life is like a Cup of Coffee.
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor.
Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: “If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.
While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.
Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee.
In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.
What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups, and then you began eyeing each other’s cups to see who had the best one.
Now consider this said the professor “Life is like a cup of coffee”,
and life is the coffee, the jobs, money and position in society are the cups.
They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.
“Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee”.
So Savour the coffee, not the cups.
The happiest people don’t have the best of everything.
They just make the best of everything.
Live simply, Love generously, Speak kindly, Care deeply.
Life is like a Cup of Coffee : Author unknown
Senior favorites for the class of 2017
Check out the best of the best high school seniors. I've had the opportunity to capture some great moments this year. I gave my high school seniors an experience and together we made some great memories. I always enjoy spending time with each one, getting to know them and bonding with them. We are saying goodbye to 2016 and hello to 2017. It's time to reflect back at each of the senior sessions. I gave each one title even though multiple titles can apply to some or all of them. I chose a characteristic that stood out the most. Please enjoy the class of 2017 senior favorites of Rhonda Childers Photography. Feel free to share! Congratulations to each of them. I am beyond excited to see where life leads them after high school. I adore these Patterson High School seniors and feel blessed to be able to be a Patterson California photographer in the central valley. Shooting in studio and as an on location photographer.
MOST SWAG
Angel Rojas
Angel loves cars and shoes but this guy lit up the city with his great fashion sense. We had an amazing shoot from Santana row to San Francisco. He was definitely celebrity status for the day, in fact several people inquired about him. We just said “Sorry, no autographs.” and moved on with our photo shoot. I have no doubt he is ready to take on the world.
KINDEST
Janiah Wallace
Janiah is one amazing young lady, she is beautiful inside and out. She has a good head on her shoulders and will surely have a successful future. I feel so blessed to have met this girl, she restores my faith in humanity. This young lady is truly sent from Heaven. She is sweet, funny and such a kind soul. She literally warmed my heart. This young lady will make a huge difference in every life she touches.
BEST EYES
Isabel Contreras
This girl is amazing, she has beauty and brains. Her eyes smile and make you smile with them. She is sweet and and humble as they come. We had so much fun on her photoshoot! She is a brilliant young lady, she is so wise and independent. I have no doubt her future is bright as her eyes!
BEST SERIOUS FACE
Martha Curiel
If looks could kill? This girl has a smile that lights up any room but watch out for her resting B**** face, it is fierce. She is a daddy's girl and she even gets her beauty from him, especially her serious mug face. This girl was so much fun she even hijacked my Snapchat, she is a girl after my own heart. Gotta love beautiful, clever and witty girls.
MOST PHOTOGENIC
Nicole Canals “Lexi”
To know Lexi is to love her, she is picture perfect! She rocked her photo shoot and was up for anything. We had a blast. Lexi she is always laughing, joking around and she has the sweetest, loving heart. She knows when to have fun and when to be serious, the camera loves Lexi and so do I. We had a blast making memories all over the city. Beautiful Lexi is going take on this world single handedly no doubt.
BEST HAIR
Shayla Guerrero
Shayla wanted a backdrop filled with buildings so that what's I gave her. Her photoshoot was in San Francisco, it was windy and crazy as we went up as high as we could. This girl straightened her curly hair and it embraced the crazy wind this day. She is a natural born model and knows how to strike a pose. I adore this girl and feel beyond blessed to capture this milestone for her. I am excited to see what the future holds for her.
MOST LIKELY TO ROCK ANY POSE
Emilio Gallegos
He had his heart set on a shoot in San Francisco. We were pushing the yearbook deadline and working with his mother's busy work schedule. We managed to squeeze a session in the city on Halloween. This boy is as determined as I am, he is definitely up for anything and everything. I warned him when he chose me as his photographer that it was going to be an experience, and I definitely gave him one. This guy was ready for anything, I was beyond blessed to have him as my last Senior for 2016.
