Love Lessons

The letters consist of three parts, which Alton and Patricia say they usually write before bed.

"Dear Alton," Patricia wrote after a fight. "I still feel separated from you because of last night."

"I feel honored you think I'm a great parent," Alton wrote.

"I love you for giving the children their baths," Patricia wrote.

"I love you for fixin' my supper plate tonight," Alton wrote. "It was good."

Alton says these questions could be, "How do I feel when you're sick? How do I feel when you're short with the children? How do I feel when you do something special for me?"

Find out how to start journaling with your spouse.

While Patricia and Alton write love letters every day, it doesn't mean they're never upset with each other. Alton says there have been days when their only communication is the love letter.

At those times, Patricia says, "I usually write, 'I love you today.' Period. No reason. That's because I'm making the decision to love him that day. … Sometimes we get angry. We don't like each other at the moment, but we still love each other."