Arkathon
I have worked with professional geologists who are YEC's, OEC's and atheists. One YEC geologist I worked with was very much like you, but perhaps more confused than you. At least he had a degree in geology and accepted what he learned as reasonable based on the available evidence.
But obviously he had a problem reconciling geology with YEC beliefs. Like you he came up with all sorts of "theories" in an attempt to reconcile the two, including postulating theories like the water for the flood came from volcanic eruptions, the speed of life had changed over time etc.
He started out with the assumption that the bible was true and therefore had to change geology and physics to fit in with his first assumption.
The points I would like to make are :
1. This individual was confused and spent a lot of his time pondering this reconciliation problem.
2. Science does not say there is no god.
3. There is no need to bring in cosmology to show that the universe
( Earth )is ancient.
4. Simply rejecting the bits of science you do not like does not, by default, mean that YOUR god, or any god, is the alternative answer.
I have also met religious gelogists who accept mainstream geology, but at the same time accept god. One explained to me that he believed geology was science and his belief was a faith. This, I believe is the way it is. They are two seperate things. You will only become sad and confused if you try to reconcile science and religion.
If you believe in god as the creator etc, why can't you simply accept that in faith? If he exists, he exists. Trying to prove that he exists via science or pseudo-science I think cannot be done. And in any event will not alter the fact that he exists or does not exist.