It's the day before Thanksgiving, and I'm feeling particularly thankful this year--for my loving family, incredible friends--both old and new--my health, my fabulous new job and for every day I wake up to the beauty of fall. But today, I'm taking this opportunity to write a Thanksgiving love letter to my husband, who will never know how very much I love him, because there aren't words to express it.

Though we'd known each other for about seven months, we really only dated three days before we decided to get married. Our wedding was very small--just the two of us and a blind judge in his chambers in Savannah, GA. No wedding gown, no wedding favors, no toasts or first dance--only a walk on the beach afterward. It was all we wanted and needed. We have a milestone anniversary coming up, and I'm toying with the idea of renewing our vows with family, friends and a big party, but I digress.

Over the years, we've been the typical married couple. We've had our share of "spirited discussions", and of course, we're now aware of each and every tiny, annoying--and sometimes, disgusting--flaw in one another. But it doesn't matter, because we're best friends, we love each other, we know one another's likes and dislikes and we know what really matters.

I count on him to point out the downside of my ideas so I don't make gigantic (and sometimes, costly) mistakes. He supports me in my endeavors, even though from time to time he thinks I'm crazy for putting forth the effort. We've been around the world together. He does his own laundry. He loves me just as I am--whatever size I might be that day. He makes me laugh. He takes care of our finances, because I couldn't balance a checkbook if my life depended on it, and he's preparing for our future. He's deprived himself of things I know he'd like to have so I can have some of the things I want. He's always willing to communicate, and I trust him implicitly. He makes me feel safe. He takes care of me, and I take care of him.

We used to admire certain friends--couples who appeared to have a solid, happy marriage. One by one, their marriages ended. One day we realized that we had become the role models. Thank you, W, for giving me the one thing in the world that matters most--unconditional love. Happy Thanksgiving! I love you more than you'll ever know.