Heart Beyond the Canvas-Lakela Dos Santos

02/08/2024

Blessed to be a blessing that our Lord be glorified 🙌🏾🥹💍 Thank you, Kareem and Mya

06/05/2024

CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE, ALEJANDRO! 🎓🎉


Heart Beyond the Canvas - images📸

10/04/2024

Queen City Pregnancy Resource Center
"Night For Life" fundraiser
A beautiful ministry investing time, talent and treasure into Adonai's most precious resource...human life🍼
A blessing to share in the meal, music and the message of hope rising with some of my kingdom family from Hope of Israel Congregation.

04/04/2024

💍
Marriage is the perfect metaphor. We change and refine our behaviors once married because we chose a covenant with our partner.

Spending so much time with one another, sharing a home and bed develops this beautiful intimacy. This is what the Lord desires for and from the couples that follow Him.

Pursue holiness so that we have intimacy with our wonderful holy Father.

Pursuing holiness stems from a heart change not legalism.

Messiah loves us more than we could ever comprehend 💜

Have You Been Chasing the Wrong Things? Rediscover the Life-Giving Pursuit of Holiness.It's so easy to unconsciously drift into chasing empty things instead ...

02/04/2024

Minister to your marriage💞

🌥Sunrise walk and prayer 🙏 with hubby, Sergio Dos Santos, and my image to document the precious time and the Lord's glorious creation.📷

21/02/2024

💏🏾"I forgive you. Is forgiveness as simple as saying those three words? Occasionally, it might be. Other times, it’s much more complicated."

ENGAGED COUPLES 💍the Bible is crystal clear about forgiveness...it is non-negotiable.
Let's schedule your Premarital Preparation sessions with me where we will walk through successful conflict resolution and much more.

Invest in your marriage today!

I forgive you. Is forgiveness as simple as saying those three words? Occasionally, it might be. Other times, it’s much more complicated. The truth is, forgiveness is a crucial part...

10/02/2024

"Love one another..."

If you are local to Charlotte, consider giving of yourself for the oppressed in spirit.

VOLUNTEER at Charlotte Rescue Mission alongside Cody's Crew.

Feed and be fed 💕

We want to give a HUGE shoutout to our dedicated volunteer groups for their ongoing support of the work we do here at Charlotte Rescue Mission. One noteworthy example is Cody's Crew, a team that tirelessly serves the men at Rebound, our men’s recovery program. If you’re interested in the backstory of Cody’s Crew, and why they are so passionate about addiction recovery, read the backstory below:
How does a mother navigate the pain of losing her son to fentanyl-laced substances in the comfort of her own home? In the case of Lori Hawes, her shattered heart gravitates her back to the transformative work of the Charlotte Rescue Mission. Regularly, she and a devoted group of friends and supporters come through our doors proudly ready to serve. They’re simply known as "Cody’s Crew."
Every time they show up, this compassionate group’s efforts extend beyond just the kitchen, but they also intentionally deliver conversations filled love and empathy to men like her son Cody—individuals yearning for a deeper understanding of true nourishment. Cody was a man who believed in the work of Charlotte Rescue Mission, and so appreciated our dignified treatment of all. Despite his talents as a cook, his passion for photography, and his affable nature, Cody, grappling with addiction for 14 years, tragically passed away on May 2, 2021, at the age of 32.
Yet, Cody's legacy persists, driven by a mother unwilling to witness another's child meet a similar fate. Lori stands as a poignant reminder, echoing the sentiments she imparted to her own son:
There is no shame in addiction.
You are not alone.
Pat, who was our Assistant Food Services Manager, has mirrored Lori's indomitable spirit and shares her own painful journey, having lost her daughter Ebony to fentanyl-laced drugs at age 45. Cody, a culinary mentor to Pat, had been on a redemptive journey, working tirelessly to combat the disease that leads residents to our doors. Tragically, his journey was cut short. Yet, Pat, fueled by love for Cody, has extended that love to his crew, noting their transformative impact.
Teri, another crew member, resonates deeply with Lori, sharing the trials of addiction and recovery. Together, they represent a community of kindred spirits, united by the battle against opioid and alcohol addiction that claimed the lives of 70,600 Americans last year.
Cody's Crew, beyond their culinary talents, engages in acts of kindness year-round at the Charlotte Rescue Mission, from holiday cards, hosting game nights, providing therapeutic coloring books, or beautifying outdoor spaces. Lori invites others to join this mission of compassion—whether it be by yourself, with family, or a church, civic, or business group.
In the face of grief, individuals find comfort in diverse ways—whether through tears in the dark or the sharing of personal experiences. There is no prescribed path, only the commitment to navigate each day as best as one can. Cody’s father, Richard K. Mogensen, encapsulates his family's journey in a memoir, "Cody’s Story – A Son’s Death, A Father’s Battle Against Opioids."
And as for Cody's mom? The food, crafted with love and purpose, become a tangible testament to her enduring story of resilience and compassion.

23/01/2024

SEEKING AN ENGAGED COUPLE:
* who've been together for at least a year
* desire a deeper understanding of what to expect from marriage to my future spouse from a biblical viewpoint

This isn't therapy, but connected coaching... in a casual and supportive way.

* Both partners need to be open and honest
* Bible believing (assessment is scriptural based)
* willing to do a quick online quiz (30-45 minutes)
* and chat with me during three 60-minute sessions. Ideally, within 30 days of beginning.
* We'll explore your relationship strengths and weaknesses through playful activities and personalized tips.
* For couples encountering abuse, cheating, or addiction safety, prayer and a licensed therapist is strongly recommended!

WHY?: I am a lover of the Lord with a BA in Sociology and MA in Human Services Counseling with a Marriage & Family concentration from Liberty University. I have not helped with premarital counseling since graduating and I feel the Lord leading me back ☺️.

IS THERE A COUPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO WALK THROUGH PREMARITAL COACHING TOGETHER? 💍
There will be no cost for my time 😁

01/01/2024

🎉❤️🙏🏽

08/12/2023

CONGRATULATIONS, Travis and Yolanda❣️Thank you for entrusting your intimate union to me🥰

Venue: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Officiant: Heart Beyond the Canvas-Lakela Dos Santos
Photographer: Roman
video credit: Lakela Dos Santos

04/12/2023

🌟 "Embark on a Journey of Love with Heart Beyond the Canvas! 💖 Explore the Magic of Classic Elopements - Timeless, Intimate, and Unforgettable.

Our Services: https://heartbeyondthecanvas.com/services

26/11/2023

When you understand the Lord is never late...you wait differently.🙏🏾

26/11/2023

🙏In this season of gratitude, I am thankful for a second connection to an organization with heart. I met Lori Hawes of Cody's Crew at an interest meeting to serve along side The Sandbox and Mara Campolungo. I jumped at the invitation to pour into what these ladies are doing for humanity. ❤️

Fun morning on Tuesday at Community Matters cafe and then tour of the new Charlotte Rescue Mission with Derric McElheney and Cody's Crew.
Enjoy the photos.

20/11/2023

gotsandbox.org

🙏 ❤️

📸

Helping families face their child's cancer or life-altering illness.

17/11/2023

💍Elopement Experience | Vow Renewal Experience**
💕✨ Experience the blessing of love intimately shared and captured on film forever. Elopement & Vow Renewal Experiences that turn your dreams into cherished realities. 💍📸

16/11/2023

Cody's Crew
"Recently, I was honored to be interviewed by Carolina Impact on Charlotte’s PBS station. They invited me to share Cody’s story, and how I turned my pain of losing Cody into purpose by starting Cody’s Crew.

After Cody passed, I looked for ways to help me cope with my unimaginable grief and volunteering was one of the suggestions recommended. A year after Cody died, I reached out to the Charlotte

Rescue mission. Cody had attended this rehab facility twice before passing away from a he**in overdose laced with fentanyl. While nothing will bring Cody back, volunteering at Charlotte Rescue Mission (CRM) has been extremely rewarding for me and my group of friends who volunteer with me. I started Cody’s Crew more than a year and a half ago. We cook and serve lunches at CRM for about a hundred men at a time. We host monthly game nights, holiday craft nights, and Bingo nights. We have undertaken the beautification of their outdoor sitting area and update the dining room centerpieces seasonally. We offer the men respect, compassion, our time, and love. We listen to their stories; we pray with them and encourage them to continue this fight! The men look forward to our return visits! Cody’s Crew volunteers have always paid for all treats, decorations, endless crafts, games, bingo prizes, plants, holiday cards, stamps, etc. out of their own pockets. I would like to ask for donations to help with these events for the men. I am asking for donations of any size. My Venmo is included here. All donations go directly to serving the men of Charlotte Rescue Mission. Cody’s Crew cannot thank you enough. Serving these precious men is an honor. If you are interested in volunteering with Cody’s Crew, please let us know.

My goal in sharing this interview is to honor my son, Cody, stop the stigma of addiction, spread awareness, add new volunteers to our crew of extraordinary volunteers, and raise money to support our events for the men at Charlotte Rescue Mission. Please feel free to share this on your social media.
Thank you,
Lori Hawes (Cody's mom)
https://www.pbs.org/video/carolina-impact-october-3rd-2023-p5axhp/?source=social&fbclid=IwAR07tq1l3jTIdH-cUSBNQJOJ6n126Nnw0Bf1_QuYrWxrXkcPHA3Lr-KnLYk

https://www.venmo.com/u/CodysCrew

11/11/2023

Thank you for you service and sacrifice 🙏🏽

11/11/2023

💍Classic Elopement💍
✨ Classic never goes out of style! Dive into the elegance of our Classic Elopement, where love takes center stage in the most timeless way. 💏

07/11/2023

💍These scriptures provide guidance and inspiration for married couples, and they can be a source of strength and comfort during difficult times.💍

💜Genesis 2:24: "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."

💜Ephesians 5:25-28:"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...

💜1 Corinthians 13:4-8: "Love is patient, love is kind...

💜1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives...

04/11/2023

💍Celebratory Vow Renewal💍
🥂✨ Because some promises deserve to be celebrated again and again. Our Celebratory Vow Renewal service – marking milestones with love and joy. 💖