Hi and welcome! Nice to have another "old gal" like me...you've ony got me by 2 years. You'll soon be as addicted as the rest of us, so get used to it.
Sounds like you are possibly pushing too hard and that's why the blades are bending and breaking. Let the blade do it's work and don't force it. Or your blade may be too small for the thickness and type of wood you are using. You just need to practice, practice and practice tons more, but you'll get the hang of it.
You've found a great place to learn and pick up tips, plus plenty of free patterns. Look back through some of the older posts and you'll find answers to questions you didn't even know to ask! So many people on this forum with so much knowledge and they readily share it.
Glad you joined us.
Nancy