This is Christmas idea number 10 in my countdown to Christmas. I’ll give you two Christmas decorating ideas that bring nature inside.  At the beginning of the month I was determined not to let the hustle and bustle steal my joy. It’s working! I am celebrating Christmas every day with a new idea.

While I do recycle, and am respectful of our planet, I am not a fanatic about going green. However, at Christmas time, it’s nice to bring nature inside. I blogged earlier about supporting a local church by purchasing a Christmas tree. There is nothing quite like the smell of pine to put you in the Christmas spirit.

We had to clip off some of the lower branches so I saved those, cut them and arranged them in glass vases. I filled the vases with sufficient water. Then I stuck some fake, red holly berry stems that I had purchased from a craft store ages ago to make several, pretty red and green arrangements.

Another decorating idea using nature is to place a candle in a hurricane lamp and pour real cranberries around the candle. Make sure you don’t fill it up so far that the berries will burn. It’s very – or berry – colorful and looks great.

As you decorate, put on some Christmas music. This is a fun way to practice a form of Christian meditation. Meditation isn’t just about mantras and silence. Meditation also means thinking and planning. You are thinking and planning to celebrate the day of Christ’s birth. So, when you are putting up your Christmas decorations, don’t think of it as a chore. Take this opportunity to meditate. You’ll feel more joy and less stress in the process.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulder. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6