Counted Cross Stitch - Frustrations overcome!

I've never done cross-stitch. I love seeing completed framed examples. While shopping to redecorate the kitchen (Roosters, sunflowers and crows), I saw a Rooster Counted Cross Stitch kit that I really loved and thought I could do it. Three-and-a-half years later, I am not even a third of the way done.
The kit was poorly designed, especially for a beginner (and I really shouldn't have picked something so challenging), the colored weren't marked or designated. I had to look a the picture and guess.
I eventually tried to find some DMC color matches and failed.
My friend is really good at this and I went over and we spent the day figuring out what to do with this. The conclusion: frog it and start again. We worked out the DMC colors needed and she gave me advice on getting this started. Then she kindly suggested I start with something easier and come back to my rooster. I'm working on some cute sunflower and corn designs and she gave me a racoon pattern to start on after these are done.
The frustration is finally OVER! I feel like a Kindergartener, and a little bit embarrassed, but I truly needed to start simple with this kind of needlework. I am outlining the corn at the moment and am going to at least get started on the racoon. I cannot do another simple one right after this. If all goes well, I might be able to start on the Rooster by July.