The Chamberlain Family

Dear Family and Friends


It is with great joy that Martin and I would like to share with you the recent decision our family has made to pursue adoption. We are sure this may come as a great surprise to many of you, but after much prayer, fasting, and confirmation we feel certain that this is a road we are meant to now travel at this time. This letter will share a few of the things that have led us to this monumental decision. We hope that you will read and consider these things with an open mind and heart.
We have felt for a long time that there is a fourth child meant to be in our family. I have known there was a fourth since the minute Isaac was born. Our family is not yet complete. The spirit has over and over again reconfirmed this feeling. Yet we have been confused as to how best welcome this spirit in to our home. I have some health concerns, and as you know pregnancy is extremely difficult for me. Those avenues have not led us to where we want to be. We have spent agonizing months and years trying to make sense of how to deal with health issues and how in the world I would be able to have a healthy pregnancy. We feel this is no longer a feasible option.

We have spent a great deal of time researching adoption, talking to friends and professionals about the process and what all is involved. We apologize for not keeping you in the loop about our thoughts on this topic, but as it is such a personal decision we decided to keep the decision between Martin and I until we had received confirmation about what we are supposed to do.
We are certain that you may have opinions on the decision we have made. Please know that we love you and value your input. But also realize that we have already made a decision with the Lord’s help, and ask that you respect our decision to move forward with adoption. This is a highly sensitive topic for us obviously.

The next steps for us are to choose an agency to work with. We will most likely choose LDS Social Services. We then will need to complete an extensive home study designed to certify us as “good parents.” I wish I could tell you what kind of a timeline to expect – we have been told the process can be very quick (from a matter of weeks) to several years. We are in this for the long haul, and however long it takes we will be glad to welcome one special, chosen child of our Heavenly Father's into our home.

We love you all and are grateful to share this amazing, and somewhat scary, new chapter in our lives with you. Feel free to ask us about the process at any time as I’m sure we will be eager to share details. We know you will welcome this beautiful new baby into your hearts with the same love you have Alex, Olivia and Isaac.

All our love,

Heather and Martin