Introducing PAINTED PIXELS PAINTOGRAPHY!!!

Oh my goodness...I'm very excited to reveal a project that Josh & I (mostly Josh) have been working on!

Today's post is in honor of a new aspect that we have added to our small business. Drum roll, please....

PAINTED PIXELS PAINTOGRAPHY! http://studiobythecreeks.com/paintography

This is a sample of what we do. This is our little niece Miley!

Josh has been painting for years - both oil and acrylic. And now he is branching out into digitial painting. It's a very affordable (and beautiful) alternative to oil painting. I am SO excited about this and hope y'all like it, too. Please let me know what you think!!!

I'm still enjoying summer. Each day is a gift from God!

Mama & I picked fresh organic raspberries at her sister's house. We pick them every year, and they're delicious! A lot of them end up in my mouth before they make it to my bucket.

Eat your heart out, Martha!! haha I made this homemade chicken pot pie recipe for Jay, complete with a latticework top! It's a Paula Deen recipe.

In other news, I've started a new job!!! Previously, I worked at a school taking care of medically fragile children. It was a very good job, but it required a lot of heavy lifting. Now I'm going to be working at a company where I'll be training the new employees to give meds and give basic medical care. Very low stress and non physical. Plus, it's part-time!! It's going to be good for me. I'm so thankful for the opportunity.

Jay & I are also getting ready to launch a new aspect to our small business!! I'm SO excited about this and will be announcing it on here soon. In the meantime, if you want to check out our small business, here's the site: www.studiobythecreeks.com You'll also find out our real names if you stop by! :) Also, you can hear some of Jay's music on the downloads page. It Is Well is my favorite and was the first song I ever heard him sing. :)

As always, if you're unable to leave a comment (some have told me that it won't let them), you can email me. I LOVE hearing from readers. It makes my day. :) creekjc@nctc.com

God Bless You! I hope you have a wonderful day!!

Are You Kidding Me??!! - The Worst Blood Draw Ever!!!

I'm still getting my hcg level monitored until it returns to zero. So yesterday I went to our little clinic in town and had the worst blood draw of my life!! This tops the week before when the medical assistant dripped my blood down my arm and in to the floor.

Yesterday the little old man didn't wear gloves and stuck me 3 times WITH THE SAME NEEDLE!!!! That's right... He actually missed in my right arm, used the same needle to stick my left arm, missed it, and then stuck me again in my left arm without ever changing needles. Doesn't that make it get dull?? I would have totally freaked out, but at least it was my needle, as in it only had my blood on it and no one else's. I tried to overlook it, but I was still thinking about the whole experience as I lay in bed last night trying to go to sleep.

Even worse? The result was 9. NINE!!! SO close to zero yet so far away! Guess that means I'll have to have one more lab done, but you can bet that I'll be calling first to make sure he's not working that day!

I'm so done with doctor visits. I'm on the verge of making a decision not to pursue anymore recurrent pregnancy loss testing at this time. I have an appointment in Memphis next month. But Jay & I haven't decided whether or not we'll keep it.

Several months ago we took foster parenting classes but then I got pregnant before we turned our paperwork in. Now we have finished all the paperwork and I'll be turning it in soon. We're excited about that, as I have 2 nieces adopted through the foster care system. I love them dearly.

In the meantime, I'm trying to stay positive and hopeful and keep trusting the Lord!

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

This morning I got up bright and early & headed out to work in my flowers. It's kind of a therapy to me, medicine to my soul.

Yesterday afternoon I got my hair done! I love having freshly done hair, and to top it all off, she curled it for me!! Oh curly hair, you're so cute! Now, if I can only duplicate this look on my own!

As I mentioned before, Jay is loving it that I'm feeling better & also that I'm not working right now! I LOVE being home, and he loves it too! It means that I have time to take care of our home and, most importantly, feed him good food! :) I've been getting up & making him breakfast before he heads to work. Here, I made biscuits (with homemade blueberry jelly), sausage, bacon & a fried egg topped off with chocolate milk!

Today I'm thanking God for healing my heart & soul a little more every day.

Healing, Weeding & Resting

I'm healing every day. Physically, I am almost 100%. I worked out this morning on the elliptical for 20 minutes then lifted weights. Can't wait to get back in shape! I have 7 pounds that I'd love to lose. That's a summer goal.

I've been working in my flowers a lot. I pulled up so many weeds! We've filled up 2 huge lawn garbage bags. I've been planting new flowers as well. This morning I planted 48 pink & white impatiens! What a workout! It's in the 90's here, and sweat was dripping. I'm sitting here covered in dirt and grime. I'm fixin (that's a good KY word for you!) to take and shower and get cleaned up so I can start working on the inside of the house and make a good supper too. My husband is so happy that I'm feeling better. Yesterday I made him homemade cinnamon rolls (which took over 2 hours!) and tonight I'm making a new recipe - Caprese Chicken with Bacon.

Emotionally, I'm getting stronger every day. God is healing my heart one day at a time. This is a good place to be... a period of resting. I'm perfectly content right at this moment to not know what's next, to just rest in the Lord and know that right now I can just relax and trust Him with all my heart!

When I went to my RE in Nashville he was optimistic that we will still be able to have a baby. But he didn't offer many more testing options. Instead, he recommended a recurrent pregnancy loss specialist in Memphis. That's over 4 hours away, and Jay and I are just not sure that we are ready to proceed with more testing. It's very draining, very time consuming, and expensive. I made an appointment for the end of July. That way we'll have time to think about it and seek God. If we don't feel like the timing is right, then I'll cancel.

Have any of you ever gotten to the point where you said, No more testing! No more specialists! No more medicines! It doesn't help anyway!

I am on the verge of that but not 100% there yet. Part of me feels like I have done all that I can reasonably do to find answers as why I keep having miscarriages. But then there's a little part of me that says, "But what if there's just one more test that be done that will find the answer??"

We don't have the answers yet. We don't know what we're supposed to do. And that's okay. My Father is the One who has all the answers, and I know that He will lead us and show us the way. Thank You, Lord!!

God Bless you all! I hope that you're doing wonderfully!

I've also been told by more than one blogger that they're unable to leave comments on my blog. If you're unable to do so and would like to leave a comment, here's my email address:

creekjc @ nctc.com Without the spaces, of course! :)

Post-op Appointment

I got a good report at the doctor!! Now....

Summer's on!!!!!!!

I can lift, exercise, bend, stretch, clean, pull weeds!!!! Woohooo!!!! Thank You, Lord, for a good report!

Frisk is My Name and Barn Swallows are My Game

Can you believe this little cat stayed indoors for over 2 years? These pics were from a little outside excursion he had. Now he stays out all the time & loves it!!

Don't worry, no barn swallows were harmed in the taking of these pictures! But he thoroughly enjoyed snaking along in the grass and jumping out at them as they swooped over his head. If you ask me, I think the barn swallow had jut as much fun as he did!

Hoping to be Cleared!!

Tomorrow's my follow-up appointment, and I'm hoping to be cleared for all normal activities!!!

I'm ready to be able to work in my flowers and clean my house really good.

And in the meantime, there's a job prospect on the horizons. More info to follow.... :)

I hope you're all doing wonderfully! I thank God for feeling a little more like myself each & every day.

One Week

It's been one week since my surgery. I'm only a little sore now and even laid on my stomach for a few minutes last night in bed. I still have pain in my neck from all the gas they put in my belly, so that position didn't last long. But I'm doing so much better. I got out of the house today with Jay. We ate at Olive Garden and did some shopping.

I was cleaning a couple of days ago and found the ultrasound picture of our sweet little baby. I could hardly look at it, and I couldn't stop the tears from coming. Jay stayed strong and said that it just wasn't meant to be.

I don't know if I will ever want to try again. When I go back to the doctor for my surgery follow-up next week I'm going to ask him his opinion. I know that it's up to God, but I do value my good doctor's advice and opinions. Right now I feel so drained emotionally and physically that I know I need some time. Jay & I are thinking seriously of adoption. We always knew we wanted to adopt. But just thought it would be later after having biological children. Now it looks like that may not happen....or at least not soon. Adoption is a wonderful thing. I love adoption, and I absolutely adore my 2 adopted nieces and adopted nephew. And I definitely believe that somewhere out there (maybe not born yet) is a baby that God, in his infinite love and wisdom, is going to place in my arms to be mine, for me to be Mama to.

And maybe someday God will change my heart and give me hope for a biological child again as well. I know that I'm hurting right now and that I need time to heal. And I know that He can do miracles. So I'm not making any definite decisions right now other than that I am going to trust Him with all my heart and follow His leading.

I serve a good God. Even in the midst of my pain I feel Him with me.

I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5

Healing One Day at a Time

Physically I'm getting better quickly. I'm still sore but feel a little better each day. I'm spending a lot of time with my parents every day and getting totally spoiled. I love it!

Emotionally I'm healing as well. I know it's going to take time. Being off work and spending time with my family has been a HUGE help to me. My family is so supportive and loving and understanding. I'm so thankful.

I'm trusting in God. I'm not mad at Him. Although I don't understand why this happened, I know that He is good, and I trust Him with all my heart. I'm still so sad for my baby... But I know that he or she is with Jesus now.

The Lord is my strength.

Thank you all for your continued prayers.