It's kind of long, so I totally understand if you want to skip to the recipe.
Christmas break came, and we were home for 5 weeks. During this time the guy that I had been "really good friends" with came to the realization that we weren't meant to be. We truly were only friends. I was devastated because I really thought it could go somewhere.
But God had other bigger and better plans for me. After three days of feeling sorry for myself, I finally decided that I just needed a break from boys. They just end up breaking your heart anyway, right?
My friend Grace invited me to join her and her group of friends for dinner or church or something like that. I really don't remember what we did first. She was dating a guy named Troy. Guess who Troy's best friend from his home back in Indiana was? You got it. The cute driver that I had met months ago. We both hit it off again and started talking. Talking led to us to start meeting for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our "dates" all consisted of church and food.
We dated for a few months before "going steady". About halfway through the semester, Grace and her sister decided they wanted to visit their grandma in Daytona Beach. I also had an aunt and uncle that lived near there.
The rule is that you can leave for the weekend, ONLY if you have relatives that you are staying with. We got our parents permission and turned in all the necessary paperwork. Now the catch was the boys were going with us. Troy had some relatives a few hours from Daytona, I think, but my guy had no one.
Soooo, he dialed direct assistance and found someone with the same last name as him, changed the number slightly, and turned in his pass. He was the one with the car, after all. We left for the weekend of fun knowing that if we were found out it was the end of our college career there. They don't take disobedience very lightly.
Why we even did this? I don't know. It seemed like a good idea at the time...we really thought no one would ever know. Our passes were almost all legit. We spent the entire weekend in Daytona at the beach. The girls stayed at Grandma's house, and the boys had a hotel on the beach. During the day we met up and played at the beach and had dinner together. We got back Sunday night, and everything seemed fine.
I am thankful that God was working in the situation. I knew that I deserved my punishment for breaking the rules. Do I wish they had shown some grace and tried to restore us? Yes, but that wasn't God's plan.
He wanted to teach us a lesson in humility and obedience. It has been a hard story to tell over the years, but it gets easier each time. Plus, we are able to see the humor in all of it now. Am I proud to say I got kicked out of college? Yes and No! No, because I broke the rules and had to pay the consequences and that is very humbling. Yes, because funny as it is...it is kind of an honor to be kicked out of that particular school. (I do mean honor very lightly)
Recipe
Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes
Chocolate cupcakes with a cheesecake pudding center and a raspberry buttercream on top makes these treats disappear whenever we take them to parties.
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
For the Filling
- 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant cheesecake pudding mix
- ½ cup milk
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 ¼ cups Cool Whip, thawed (from an 8 ounce container)
For the Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup shortening
- 4 tablespoons raspberries, smashed (keep juice with it)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 24 raspberry M&M’s
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon shortening
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Place 24 liners in a cupcake pan.
- Prepare the cake mix according to the directions on the back of the box. Fill liners ¾ full and bake for 18 minutes or until the tops spring back. Let cool completely.
- In a small bowl, whisk the milk and pudding mix until creamy and thick.
- Beat the cream cheese until creamy. Add the pudding and beat again. Fold in the whipped topping.
- In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and shortening. Add the smashed raspberries and salt and beat again.
- Slowly add the powdered sugar until all is incorporated. Beat the frosting until fluffy.
- Using a melon scoop or cupcake corer, cut the center out of the cupcakes. Fill with cheesecake filling and top with raspberry buttercream.
- Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds. Stir until creamy.
- Spoon into a plastic baggie with one tip cut off. Drizzle over the tops of the cupcakes. Keep refrigerated. Top with raspberry M&M's right before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 226Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 111mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 1gSugar: 27gProtein: 1g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Unknown
Awe--Happy Anniversary!! I'm sad about the leave silently policy they had--no good byes for me. 🙁 Hope you have had an amazing day!!
Chrissy Farnan
Wowie! That's a story to tell for sure. Happy Anniversary!
Sue Alexander
wow i would not have made it a week in a school like that! It is fun story though:)
Anita Kehn
A very interesting love story! I've not heard of that college but I do believe it has made men and women out of lots of boys and girls! The rules do seem a little extreme but once in awhile that is good for us too. Happy Anniversary and most certainly stay together forever ~ that is IMPORTANT!! Now I'll have to go back and look at the cupcake recipe!!
Mel
It's crazy to think back on all the 'coincidences' which get us together with people! I bet your parents weren't too thrilled - but it does sound like strict rules! Even stricter than BYU where some of my friends go.
Thanks for sharing this recipe and have a great anniversary!
keri @ shaken together
What a sweet love story, Jocelyn!! My hubby & I met on a blind date! Oh, and those cupcakes? LOOK AMAZING! Pinning.right.now.
Mandy
Happy Anniversary! I loved your story...so romantic ;). So you, Aimee, and my anniversaries are close to each other. Mine is June 30th. Love the pics, too.
Karyn - Pint Sized Baker
What a story to tell! I bet your kids roll their eyes each time they hear it 🙂 Best Wishes to you and your family! Happy Anniversary!
Sophie
AWW how cute! Thanks for sharing the story… And as for the cupcakes, those are pretty dang cute too! YUM!
amy (fearless homemaker)
oh my goodness, what a story! soooo glad it all worked out for the best in the end. happy happy anniversary to you + your husband - hope you have a perfect day!
Hayley
I love your story! How romantic and rebellious but truly adorable. I can't believe PCC was so strict! Yikes... but hey, at least you have this wonderful story to tell which I'd be proud of. You gained a hubby and in that, really SO much more than "just a husband" but a best friend, life partner, etc., as well as three kick-butt kids which I think vastly outweigh being kicked outta college. Sure, I bet the wounds were fresh at first, but in retrospect this is one of those stories I can imagine you guys telling everyone once you get older, or telling your kids on the back porch with some of these cupcakes! I love the pictures, too 🙂 Happy Anniversary!
Julie
Both the cupcakes and your story are adorable!!!
Michele {The Scrap Shoppe}
Oh my goodness, Jocelyn! What a story! I would not have pegged you to be that much of a troublemaker. 😉 I'm so glad it all worked out for you two in the end! Pinning these delicious looking cupcakes. 🙂
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
What a great story, and I love those pictures. I can't believe they kicked you out. But it all worked out in the end and that's what matters. Happy Anniversary!!! 14 years...wow.
Alyssa
I love all the old pictures that you put up. I'm glad it all worked out in the end! Happy Anniversary. Plus, the cupcakes look amazing.
Call me cookie
Happy Anniversary!!! You have a great story to tell! I haven't seen these M & M"s!!!! What a gorgeous looking cupcake, I love the raspberry and chocolate combo!! Yum!
Katie @ Loves of Life
I've heard stories about that school!!!! Different sidewalks for guys & girls. Is it true? I think this story is kinda bad-A. I'd be a little proud, I mean.... 🙂
Rebekah
That's a great story! I briefly considered going to Pensacola Christian....but I wasn't crazy about all those rules (especially the dress code!) and I got a full scholarship to the University of Ark. near home so I could live with my parents and not spend any $$. If I had gone to PCC, we probably would have met....I was in college from '95-'99. 🙂
Those cupcakes sound fabulous....my husband's favorite combo is raspberry and chocolate. Add cheesecake in there and he'd be in heaven!
Aimee
Love your story. You are such a rebel 😉
As for the cupcakes...want to know what I did with the raspberry m&m's you sent me? I made a chocolate cake with a raspberry buttercream, and decorated the cake with the m&m's. Man, if my post was ready to go I would totally be putting it up this minute!!!
I love that we have SO SO SO much in common, but I love that you are more of a rebel than me, hehe!!
Nat
Oooh--So cute! I mean those cupcakes look amazing, but I love that trip down memory lane! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Nat
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