An Update on Chandler!

C.J. Riley aka Paul
Dec 28, 2024
2 min read

Hey everyone! Gather ’round, because I’ve got an exciting update on our fearless (well, maybe not-so-fearless at first) feline explorer, Chandler! But before we dive in, I hope you all had a magical Christmas filled with joy, and that your weekend is kicking off to a great start! Ours sure is, and you’re about to find out why!

In our first post about Chandler, we had just welcomed him in mid-November. At that point, his favorite pastime was intense games of hide-and-seek! A one-sided game where he would do all the hiding and we would do all the seeking! For those of you who need a quick recap of his debut adventure, here’s the post to catch you up:

https://www.cjrileyonline.com/post/never-too-old-for-hide-n-seek

Fast forward to about two weeks ago, and our brave little explorer began emerging from his fortress under the living room table. Slowly but surely, he ventured out to claim new territory - his cat tree! The first few days, any sudden movement would send him darting back to safety - exit, stage left! (Snagglepuss fans, you get it!)

But by the end of that week, the tides began to turn. Chandler started staying on his perch longer, but in his “ready-for-liftoff” stare and stance - just in case, you know, humans moved too quickly!

Then, the real magic began. One day, out of nowhere, our cautious little guy took a bold leap - literally - and landed on Anita’s recliner! And as if that wasn’t enough excitement, the completely unexpected happened just before Christmas Eve!

Anita was about to sit in her recliner when Chandler was already there! He darted off at first (classic Chandler), but before she could settle in, he made a daring return - right onto her lap! Rubbing, purring, and full-on snuggle mode commenced! You should’ve seen our faces! We were dumbfounded and knew we better not move or else that would have been a fleeting moment! For a cat who doesn’t like surprises, he certainly had a few up his coat for us!

But wait—it gets even better! Feeling inspired, I said a little prayer to God, asking for the same special gift. And wouldn’t you know it, my Christmas prayer was answered the very next day! On Christmas Eve, Chandler climbed onto my lap while I sat in my recliner. Not only did he settle in, but he stayed while I napped! It was the ultimate gesture of trust!

This journey with Chandler has been one of faith, patience and love. Slowly but surely, he’s come to understand that we’re here to care for him and love him unconditionally. And this Christmas, God reminded us once again of His unconditional love and His abundant mercy and kindness toward us in the most unexpected ways!

Check out the latest snapshots of our little adventurer, and if you haven’t already, please subscribe to my blog from the home page. Thank you for following along, and God bless!