My eldest daughter just got her driver's license, and I've made all the obligatory jokes with my friends about moving their mailboxes.

As the oldest drives off proudly to youth group, the youngest is whipping up angel food cakes from scratch, and is pounding away at her guitar, writing her own songs.

OK, they're still my children, but it's time to think about letting go.

My reaction to my new licensed driver surprised me. Did I think I would cry like the first day she was sent to school? We pulled into the driveway after the test, and she hinted, "The first place I want to drive is to the church."

I knew it was now or never, and so I pulled out my keys and handed them to her. The delight on her face was obvious. "Really?"

As she pulled out of the driveway, a fierce calm settled over me. I knew she had driven to church a bazillion times with me in the car, and she knew her way. When I realized she was staying at the church longer than expected, I took the next step and called her to ask her to pick up her sister from orchestra practice (sis is the accompanist now—at 13!). My words to her were, "Remember one thing … you and sis are the most precious things in my life, and you'll be responsible for them." I could hear the smile AND the seriousness in her voice when she answered, "I know, Mom."

Last night the eldest drove to youth group, and the youngest and I stayed home and worked together on that angel food cake I mentioned (egg whites—soft peaks—you bakers know the drill). I did a lot of the cleaning while she measured intensely and covered herself with flour. Then I left her to finish up and went out with some friends. I got three calls while I was out—two questions on baking, and one to let me know the elder was on her way home. (Insert sigh of contentment here.)

Not every day is that easy. I keep telling the oldest how hard it is to let go, and she listens good-naturedly and smiles, and the youngest laughs when I say, "You'll know how this feels when you have kids!!" But the truth is, I think we're ready for this. We've been becoming ready for a long time.

During the driver's test, my daughter had an administrator who kept her talking the whole time about her faith and why she believed what she did. They were comparing philosophers and getting into some pretty deep stuff, but she shrugged her shoulders later and said, "He's an agnostic, from what he told me." Didn't affect her faith in the least.

Yep, she's ready, inside and out. Not perfect, but ready.

My life is moving on, too. New opportunities as a writer, new venues for existing stories, a growing not-for-profit (please visit www.purityworks.com if you haven't already), a husband leaving a day job and into the life of a musician again, a friend moving out and onward to a new stage of life …

And it feels good. Not perfect, but good.

I think I'm ready, too.

May you feel secure as well in whatever you've been prepared for today.