It gets said around here that "Piecing is harder than DBing," and for most, that's absolutely true. And even more challenging is that the skillsets required for each are not only different, in many ways they are ENTIRELY OPPOSITE.
The good news for you? I think your skills are very conducive to piecing, and you're going to be very good at it. (Not as sure about your wife, and it "takes two to tango," as they say, but still . . . )
Just thought I'd throw that out there, since I'm usually the resident "Mr. Gloom-and-Doom."