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Meli Murray

@mmmelibee

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HI➡️WA🐝👩🏽‍🍳🤱🏽🤙🏼🐾🌺🌧☀️🌊🎶💃🏽♎️
Follow me @melisislandtreats 😋🍰

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A thousand pictures, or a thousand words… neither is enough to capture how I’m feeling right now, what this woman means to me, and how she has shaped my life…
What are the chances that she would be mine?
My aunty Lorraine was the first girl on her paternal side in about 100 years. My mom followed a few years later, they had 2 older brothers. My dad only had brothers (except a half-sister he never met but that’s a story for another time). Which means I technically only have 1 “real” Auntie. She also never had her own children, and neither did her brothers, which means, my Aunty Lorraine, only had us as offspring, her 3 nieces and 1 nephew. We got all her attention, and what amazing attention it was. A child’s dream of an aunty- so funny, so magical, so musical, so kind, so generous, and a boundless imagination.
And then, our dad died when we were all children, so then she became even more than an aunty to us. We moved to California to be in her orbit - She nurtured us, guided us, and loved us unconditionally.
When someone amazing is taken too soon, it can be easy to feel resentful and ask questions like “why her? Why was she taken from us?” And trust me, I am having those moments.
But, I am choosing to also ask questions like, “Of all the infinite possibilities of time and place and kin, Why was I blessed with this woman as my Aunty?”

My Aunty Lorraine passed away after a long battle with cancer on March 3. It’s hard to type those words. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that she chose Girls Day (and International Women’s Month) to let go. She embodied an effortless femininity, she was nurturing, resplendent, and graceful; and she cherished, supported, and encouraged strong female relationships.
She was present, true, strong, and brave to the very end.
I had much more to learn, but I did learn many wonderful things from her. Please help us keep her light alive by living as she did (suggestions in comments) 💖 if you need guidance, I’m sure you can find her, she is everywhere now ✨🦋🪷

I love you so much my Aunty Lorraine, I will miss you every single day 💜 we’ll see you in the fairies 🧚🏼

☀️ aunty wrote this song for my 28th birthday ☀️ taken in In the Stars by @mmmelibee

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3 years ago

Goodbye 39…. Hello 40! 💃🏽🪩💖
Reflecting on my last year, and looking forward to what my 40’s bring me ✌🏽
Relationships & connection are so important, they shape who you are and gently hold up a mirror to show you your true values. I am so grateful for all of the friends (old & new) and family who have been there for me this past year, I love you all so much (even if you’re not pictured here)! You know who you are 💕 taken in Washington by @mmmelibee

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13 days ago

Happy Autumn friends! 🍎🎃🥧🍁🍂
I’ve been taking a break from @melisislandtreats but I still wanted to offer my spreads to friends and family who may want to purchase some as holiday gifts 🎁
I will be taking PRE-ORDERS this year- there may be some extra flavors available last minute but no guarantees. All pre-orders must be in by Sunday 10/25! 💌
8oz jars $15 each (local pick-up or shipping, jars will be ready mid November).

Flavors:
🟠Mango Jam
🟡POG (Passion Orange Guava) Butter
🟣Ube Butter
🟤Coconut Caramel Sauce (VEGAN) taken in Indianola, Washington by @mmmelibee

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24 days ago

Home ❤️
10 years married ❤️
14 together ❤️
I love you @jamesleemurraymusic ❤️
Swipe to see our relationship through the years! ❤️

2005 (when we met)

2012 (start dating)

2013 (moved in together)

2014

2015 (engagement night)

2016 (newlyweds)

2017 (pregnant)

2018

2019

2020

2021 (pregnant)

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

First Christmas card together (2013)

Wedding Day! (2016) by @mmmelibee

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a month ago

I’m turning 40 in a month! 🥳 Also, here’s some pics from the summer ☀️💖 by @mmmelibee

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a month ago

Happy to celebrate this man and the father that he is, thank you @jamesleemurraymusic for being someone that’s easy for all of us to love. Happy Father’s Day 💕 by @mmmelibee

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4 months ago

Here’s to the boys - the sweet ones, the thoughtful ones, the curious ones, the nerdy ones, the silly ones, the not-afraid-to-show-love ones… the ones that show their strength with quiet confidence, care, honesty, and resilience.
Happy Boy’s Day, and Happy Birthday to my brother @kaseyimoniz ! Henry and Kasey remind me so much of each other that I often mix up their names even when they’re not together 😆🥰
Love you guys 🩵🎏
#boysday #tangonosekku by @mmmelibee

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5 months ago

Happy Girl’s Day - to my bird, my butterfly, my queen of nature, my justice warrior, my tiny dancer, my girl Aya 🌸 Girl’s Day has become bittersweet for us 💖 We lost our Aunty Lorraine 2 years ago today. We miss this woman terribly, every single moment of every day, but we carry her love and essence with us as best we can. She was inspiring and magical, whimsical and delightful, curious and open, warm and welcoming, so infinitely loving. She was also a nurturing mentor for countless young women & girls; She changed so many lives for the better. I found this entry/poem today in her 2013 journal. A perfect read for a young girl, or your inner child, or anyone needing to hear it:

What is it I want to tell you dear child?
What is it I would have you know
forty years earlier than me?

I would say DANCE! Yes dance
and dance some more.
Dance and sing and strum your song.
Pick up your feet
Pick up your flute
Pick up your pen
and write your song
and write your life.
Not as your father hears it
but as you do,
as your heart does
as its bursting inside to be
as the blood in your soul
wants to live its truth.

What if I told you you have
only now,
that there is no yesterday
and no tomorrow.
Would you believe me?
It’s true young one.

There is only now,
so take your scarf
from your neck
and turn it into a kite.

NO ONE WILL WRITE
WHAT YOU WRITE

#hinamatsuri🎎 #livelikelorraine by @mmmelibee

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7 months ago

I didn’t get a chance to shout out this wonderful man on his actual birthday because we were on a much needed and beautiful trip in the San Juan Islands (more photos to come)!
❤️ Happy 40th Birthday my love @jamesleemurraymusic, you built a family, a home, a business, and a music filled life in your last decade, all with love, passion, and heart. Looking forward to seeing what you create in this next one - I hope it’s filled with adventure, inspiration, self care, reflection, and joy ✨ Cheers to you 🍻 taken in Washington by @mmmelibee

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8 months ago

Happy Birthday to these two little wonders! 8 and 4! 6 days apart, they even had the same due date. Aya and Henry are so naturally different from each other, but also have lots of similar interests and get along so well (and yea, of course they fight too 😅). I love watching them overcome challenges, grow, and figure out who they are. They both have such kind hearts, and they fill my cup with love every day ❤️❤️❤️ by @mmmelibee

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10 months ago

I was looking through Lorraine’s journals this week, trying to find the one where she was 39 (like me!) so I could celebrate her birthday today in an age appropriate way 😁 Coincidentally, I found a 10th birthday note she wrote me when she was 39, with all of these beautiful wishes for me. I don’t strive to be like her in every way, but no one else comes close as far as inspiration. She was not perfect, even though it seemed like it to us kids… she had a lot of insecurities and struggles, less so as she got older. But she didn’t let it jade her, she worked through it very intentionally, through journaling, movement, music, nature, friendship, humor, spirituality, adventure, and curiosity. She nurtured herself, she knew her relationship with herself was the most important, the foundation to everything else. Her aura was radiant as a result, and anyone that met her could feel it.

I miss her so much you guys. So so much. Happy Birthday Aunty Lorraine ✨🦋💖🧚🏼🐾🦔🪩💃🏽🪷
Please don’t forget to honor her today by spreading some light & love into the world, God knows we need it. by @mmmelibee

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a year ago

This beautiful bestie of mine is 40 today! We met in our early 20’s and as she says, she “forced” me to be her friend (every introvert needs an extrovert)😅 but the truth is, we’re soul sisters and I can’t imagine my life without her in it. We’ve now been 3,000 miles apart for 13 years, but it hasn’t changed our connection 💞
@maliastorm thank you for existing, thank you for being a constant in my life, and the best example of a strong, loyal, and unconditionally loving friendship.
Happy Birthday my dear friend! 🎂 I celebrate you today 🥂 by @mmmelibee

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a year ago