A Homecoming of the Heart | Mary Alice and Jolene’s Thornwell Reunion

When Mary Alice stepped onto Thornwell’s campus, it wasn’t just a visit, it was a homecoming.

She arrived with a group of friends from Foothills Presbyterian Community, eager to share the place that shaped her childhood and gave her roots that have stood strong for a lifetime. Mary Alice first came to Thornwell when she was just five years old. She grew up here, on these sidewalks, under these trees, inside the walls of love, care, and Christ-centered community that define who we are.

As we walked through campus together, telling stories and sharing laughter, something remarkable happened.

Midway through the tour, Mary Alice mentioned a name, Jolene Nalley. A fellow Thornwell child. A lifelong friend. Someone who had walked the same journey, at the same time. Mary Alice didn’t know that Jolene now lives just a few minutes away from Thornwell.

But we did. And in that moment, we knew what to do.

With one quick phone call and open arms waiting, we were able to bring these two Thornwell sisters back together again.

What followed was pure joy.

Mary Alice and Jolene embraced like no time had passed. They laughed and cried, sharing how much they loved each other. They shared memories only they could understand, of childhood days filled with sunshine, challenge, love, and growth. Over and over, they told each other just how much they cared for one another.

And everyone around them felt it, the sacred, unshakable bond that forms when children grow up wrapped in a community that holds them close, even through the hard things.

Their visit was brief, but the meaning was deep. In those few precious moments, we witnessed what we have always known to be true: At Thornwell, we don’t just care for children, we are family.

And family lasts forever.

Want to learn more about our mission of building lasting connections for children and families? Visit thornwell.org and discover how you can be a part of stories like Mary Alice and Jolene’s.