I don't get homesickness too often, but when I do.. it hits hard.

It is almost July already, and summer is in full swing. Back home in Minnesota, summer time means boating, lakes, campfires, outdoor festivals and parties, concerts, and more lakes. In fact, if there's one thing I miss most about the Midwest (other than my loved ones) it's the lakes.

Since my husband was at JRTC for a month, he has earned quite a bit of leave. However, the road trip to Minnesota is a long one that we've made many times. We plan to do it again in the fall before he deploys, so we decided not to go home this summer. Now all I can think about is all that I'm missing out on.

Georgia summers are hot, to say the least. Some days they feel like hell. After living here for close to two years now, I've learned that high temperatures every single day can be just as depressing as a ferocious Minnesota winter. I've found myself trapped inside in the AC more often than not. It's hard to beat the heat.

Community pools are packed with splashing children.. not exactly the oasis I'm looking for as a childless 20-something. Of course I love the ocean, but it is at least an hour from Fort Stewart. I miss my home of 10,000 lakes, where getting to the beach is as easy as grabbing a towel and walking down to the water. Taking a dip in a pond or lake down here is a scary option.. unless you enjoy sharing the water with alligators.

And the bugs here... don't even get me started. Yesterday I swept up a dead scorpion in the kitchen and almost wet my pants. I've had two run-in's with fire ants in the past month.. leaving my foot covered in painful, pimple-like bites.

I don't mean to be hating on Georgia. There are certainly a lot of things to love about this state. I'm just homesick.

There are plenty of perks to being an Army wife. My husband has a stable job that makes a good amount of money, and I'm proud of him daily. I've met new people, seen new places, and gained a world of appreciation for the men and women who devote their lives to this country.

But I don't know if I will ever really feel "at home" in the military lifestyle. It is almost as if I am just waiting for the future, for being able to choose where we want to live. Waiting to be closer to our families.

It is a sacrifice that all active duty members and their spouses make, and the reason why I have so much respect for anyone who can endure it.