About

Hello! Welcome to Delighted Hearts!

In the process of creating a Bahá’í home, especially after becoming a mother, I began to reflect deeply on the following Sacred Writings about the role of art and beauty and how they affect our souls:

“All Art is a gift of the Holy Spirit. When this light shines through the mind of a musician, it manifests itself in beautiful harmonies. Again, shining through the mind of a poet, it is seen in fine poetry and poetic prose. When the Light of the Sun of Truth inspires the mind of a painter, he produces marvelous pictures. These gifts are fulfilling their highest purpose, when showing forth the praise of God.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

“It is natural for the heart and spirit to take pleasure and enjoyment in all things that show forth symmetry, harmony, and perfection. For instance: a beautiful house, a well-designed garden, a symmetrical line, a graceful motion, a well-written book, pleasing garments—in fact, all things that have in themselves grace or beauty are pleasing to the heart and spirit.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

I wanted to create a festive environment at home for the Bahá’í Holy Days that would not only help us make memories with our children, but also nurture their Bahá’í identities through activities that bring their hearts closer to the Sacred Writings and the history of the Faith in an inviting, artistic way. As we labor in the vital work of serving the Plan of the Universal House of Justice, these home-based activities support us in the essential task of educating our children.

“O ye loving mothers, know ye that in God’s sight, the best of all ways to worship Him is to educate the children and train them in all the perfections of humankind; and no nobler deed than this can be imagined.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Recognizing that other families may have similar needs, and wishing to share what has worked for our own family, I founded Delighted Hearts, which began as a simple Etsy shop and Facebook page offering decorations and children’s activities.

This website was a natural progression. Here you will find ideas, tutorials, and resources to help you celebrate the Bahá’í Holy Days and Festivals, as well as tools for everyday life. You will also find links to additional items such as books and décor.

Why “Delighted Hearts”? The name was inspired by this beautiful quote:

“When the heart is filled with love everything seems beautiful and delightful to us.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

It is my heartfelt hope that you enjoy this page and the resources available to you and your family.

With love,
Melissa

Melissa’s work has been featured on the following websites:

Melissa Charepoo’s Children’s Books for Ayyam-i-Ha, the Fast & Naw-Ruz

“The Life of Baha’u’llah”: A New Children’s Book by Melissa Charepoo

Melissa López Charepoo is a Bahá’í, wife, and mother who has combined her professional training in the fine arts as an architect with her love for the Teachings of the Bahá’í Faith to create meaningful and delightful resources that nurture children’s hearts.

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design and a master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Puerto Rico in 2006. She now lives in metro Atlanta, GA, with her husband and their two boys, who are the joy of their lives. In addition to designing decorations, writing, and illustrating, Melissa enjoys baking, reading, and crafting. She also cherishes the privilege of serving her community as a Bahá’í children’s class teacher.

© Melissa López Charepoo · All rights reserved.

Copyright Information:

  • Please note that all gift resources shared on this website are for personal, “as-is” use only. Do not alter, reproduce, copy, redistribute, or create new documents or products using any images, printables, or files provided as gift resources.
  • Please do not reproduce or use photographs in any form.
  • Sharing the link to this website or blog through social media or email is always welcome and appreciated.