Thanks to all for the encouragement!!!!
Of the 10 songs I'm learning I can't play any of them all the way thru without mistakes. That's what gets me. I still plonk my D chord quite a bit which blows my mind! Nothing comes out consistent. One day a song sounds good, the next day I'm learning it for the first time again.
I have to have variety cuz it would drive me insane if I worked on only 1. I didnt't just start out with 10, I've gradually added ones I thought were easier than what I had. All my songs are really ez. Total I'm only playing 6 or 8 different chords. So I'm getting lots and lots of repetition.
So I sit down with my 10 pages and start with the first 1. Which is Stand By Me by the way. This is the 1st song I learned and still play it every practice session. I play that at least 2 times thru. If it sounds good I move on, if it sounds bad I'll struggle maybe 2 more time thru. So on for the other 9 songs.
I don't try to copy the original. I find one that I think sounds good and looks ez to play and use it to learn off of. Youtube is an amazing educational tool for me as is Chordie.
As for making a song my own, I can't play a whole song thru so I'm not at a level where I can puposely make something sound different. I know it takes practice practice practice. At this point I don't care about progressing, I just want to be consistent.
Keep Rockin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~