Curt Iles

I write to have influence and impact through well-told stories of my Louisiana Pineywoods life.

December 17 Christmas Jelly “Too Much?”

Christmas Jelly

Too Much Jesus?   As you’ve noticed, many of the stories in Christmas Jelly are about Jesus. He is what Christmas is about. We make no apologies for making him front and center of this book. Once I heard a powerful sermon by one of my favorite preachers, Jason Townley. As the message ended and crowd left, I shook his …

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December 16 An Old Feed Trough

This is chapter 16 from my short story book, Christmas Jelly An Old Feed Trough   When Mary birthed Jesus ’twas in a cow’s stall, With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all. – “I Wonder as I Wander”   The old barn looks snakey. You may not realize snakey is an adjective. It can mean “overrun with snakes.” …

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December 15 The Hardest Day of the Year

The Hardest Day of the Year     Christmas Eve is not when you expect to stand at the cemetery. I’m here with my friend, Julian Campbell. We’re selecting a gravesite for his sister Kathleen, who died yesterday after a brave ten-year battle with cancer. It’s fitting I’m with Julian. He and his family helped bury my dad. Now I’m …

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December 14 Christmas Jelly for you: The Warm Glow of Giving

  We’re blogging Christmas stories. If you enjoyed today’s post, you can read others at www.creekbank.net. Yesterday’s post, “Medic”, is a reader favorite and tomorrow’s, “The Hardest Day of the Year” is especially poignant for those who’ve lost a loved one. The Warm Glow of Giving It’s the kind of December day Louisiana is famous for: cold and foggy, with …

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December 13 A serving of Christmas Jelly: “Medic”

Medic   “Medic. Medic.” Nazi sniper Unerfeldewebel Franz Schmidt didn’t know English, but in the case of the nearby wounded American soldier, he didn’t need to. The man’s anguished cries were beyond words. Medic. Help. It was somewhere in Belgium on Christmas Eve 1944, and Schmidt had never been colder in his thirty-two years. But he was in a lot …

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December 12: Buried Treasure- Thoughts for Christmas

This is the latest installment from Christmas Jelly, our latest short story collection. We’re serving one serving per day. Enjoy today’s story! Buried Treasure       I open the old wooden box and pour out a small pile of old coins, dog tags, buttons, bullets, medallions, and other metal objects. It’s my dad’s treasure chest. These items found by my …

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December 11: Thoughts on Forgiveness

Tall Pine

Each day in December, we’re spooning out a helping of Christmas Jelly. Today’s story features two illustrations of  forgiveness.  Christmas is a tough time for those with “issues”: hurts from the past, wounds that haven’t healed, bitterness, and regret. Christmas is also a great time for extending forgiveness. These two stories illustrate the strength and power of  pure forgiveness. On …

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Dec. 10 A Story for You: “No Room at the Inn”

Copies of Uncle Sam and Christmas Jelly

A word from Curt:  Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thanks for being part of the Creekbank Family. I believe you’ll enjoy one of my favorite stories, “No Room at the Inn.”   From Christmas Jelly: No Room at the Inn They say revenge is a dish best served cold. It was natural—every child in the church Christmas program …

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Dec. 9: Your Daily Helping of Christmas Jelly “New Birth in N.O.”

  Each day during December, we’re featuring a chapter from our Christmas short story collection, Christmas Jelly.   If you enjoy today’s story, share it with your friends.    New Birth in New Orleans Christmas 2005 It’s Christmas in New Orleans, but we’re not here to see the bright city lights. We’ve brought supplies for Katrina victims. It’s been three months …

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December 8: “No Room at the Inn”

No Room at the Inn They say revenge is a dish best served cold. It was natural—every child in the church Christmas program wanted to be either Joseph or Mary. Tom was a ten-year-old and wanted the Joseph role in the worst way. Not only did he fail to get the coveted role of Joseph, it went to a rival …

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Dec. 7: The Best Present: Journal 1

The Best Present It seemed to be the worst Christmas present ever as I unwrapped it. I now value it as the best I’ve received.   It was Christmas 1973. I was a seventeen-year-old high school senior.   The present was from my Uncle Bill. Always my favorite uncle. He still is. I held the cheap brown booklet in my …

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Dec. 6 : Another Serving of Christmas Jelly

My short story collection, Christmas Jelly, was written in 32 chapters.  This allows you (the reader) to enjoy one chapter per day beginning December 1 and ending on January 1. Here’s today’s serving of Christmas Jelly! Enjoy!  The following fictional short story comes from a story told to me by the Miller and Lindsey families of Dry Creek, Louisiana. Enjoy! First Christmas …

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Two More Spoonfuls of Christmas Jelly: Dec 3 and 4

My short story collection, Christmas Jelly, was written in 32 chapters.  This allows you (the reader) to enjoy one chapter per day beginning on December 1 and ending on January 1. Here’s your fourth helping of Christmas Jelly. Enjoy! December 3 Chapter 4 Stolen Christmas Trees     “I know I tagged a tree in this area.” My neighbor Mitzi Foreman walks through …

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