Home at Last, Home at Last…

Thank God Almighty, we’re home at last.  We’re doing well.  It has been a little bit busy but otherwise a great day.  Next update tomorrow, try to have video by tomorrow night.

Emme Blu Update

Emme Blu and Momma will both go home tomorrow (Friday).  We are very anxious to get home and get settled, at least as settled as you can get with a new baby.  So far all tests performed have returned normal results.  We are so thankful.  We will try very hard to do another video update (vlog) tomorrow evening. 

Emme Blu Is Here

As of January 13, 2009 at 9:07 pm Emme Blu made her entrance into this world.  She weighed in 9 lbs, 13 oz and is 21″ long.  This is not a typo.   She is a chubby cheeked little girl.  We are estatic.  Well Melissa is feeling the drugs and I am sleepless in Nashville.  My adrenaline is running so high it appears I’ll never come off my high!  I’ve tried to call as many as possible tonight but it became so late I had to stop.  Be sure to check out the YouTube link on the website for video and the “gallery” link for pics.

Melissa is resting well and relieved to have baby on the outside of her body.   

It’s been an amazing ride.  I was there to see it all and would not have missed it for the world!

Welcome Emme Blu Bunch to the family!

Still No Baby! But 5-5-5.

It’s 8:10PM and still Emme Blu has not shown any major signs of appearing.  At this time Melissa is dilated 5cm with 5cm to go.  We are now awaiting the doctor’s arrival to determine whether or not Melissa must have a Cesarean section.   

Now you are wondering what the 5-5-5 is all about.  Well we came in at 5am today.  At 5pm Melissa was dilated 5 cm.  And to add to the mix, when Melissa played volleyball for Augusta State University her jersey number was 5! 

These numbers do not increase contractions but do add an element of entertainment.

In Labor and Delivery

It is 10:55AM CST. Melissa and I have been in labor and delivery since 5:00AM. She is doing well. Epidural has been inserted and water broke. Some moderate contractions. Progress underway. I’ll keep you posted. Your prayers and thoughts are appreciated during this time. Pictures and hopefully video of baby will surface tonight. For now go to www.youtube.com/shannonbunch for video log (vlog).

Welcome to 2009

JUST A FEW MORE DAYS…

As you can imagine the countdown to Emme Blu is on!  We have now been cleared for induction on Tuesday, January 13 at an area Nashville hospital.  It seems like only yesterday Melissa called to say, “When you get home we have to talk”.  Of course, I thought I was in trouble.  Not exactly, just assisted in the trouble-making process.  Melissa and I are anxious but look forward to our years ahead with a child in our lives.  Just as I was preparing Cornish hens yesterday I thought how Emme will soon laugh at me dancing the headless fouls across the kitchen counter for their trip to the oven.  I do things like that without a child, it will only get worse.

 

THE BUNCH STOPS HERE

January, 10 2009 06:00 PM – Heidrick Holiness Church 

Barbourville, Kentucky 40906 – Love Offering

 

More info: 606.546.3839

 

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January, 11 2009 11:00 AM – Mt. Carmel Baptist Church 

Rt. 2 Box 298, Pennington Gap, Virginia 24277 – Love Offering

 

More info: 276.546.3105 or pastorrusty@aim.com  

 

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January, 11 2009 06:00 PM – Mt. Carmel Baptist  

Rt. 2 Box 298, Pennington Gap, Virginia 24277 – Love Offering

 

More info: 276.546.3105 or pastorrusty@aim.com  

 

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January, 25 2009 10:00 AM – Dicken Chapel Community Church 

Wisdom Dock Rd, Albany, Kentucky 42602 – Love Offering

 

More info: 606.387.0339

 

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January, 25 2009 06:00 PM – Twin Lakes Grace Fellowship 

Albany, Kentucky 42602 – Love Offering

 

More Info: 606.387.9378

 

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February 4 -6, 2009 07:00 PM – Lagarto Community Church 

Lagarto, Texas – Love Offering

 

More info: 361.547.3699 or donaldsont@caller.com  

 

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February, 7 2009 06:00 PM – Ricardo Baptist 

221 N. School Rd, Ricardo, Texas 78363 – Love Offering

 

More info: 361.592.7650 or cchristian@fcbot.com  

 

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February, 8 2009 06:30 PM – Country Bible Church 

9849 CR 3755, Taft, Texas 78390 – Love Offering

 

More info: 361.528.5429 or clmayo@gmail.com  

 

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February, 15 2009 11:00 AM – Flat Rock Baptist Church 

941 Flat Rock Rd, Villa Rica, Georgia 37075 – Love Offering

 

More info: 770.459.6128 or flatrockbaptistc@bellsouth.net  

 

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February, 15 2009 06:00 PM – Harmony Baptist Church 

1594 Bowdon Junction Rd, Carrollton, Georgia 30117 – Love Offering

 

More info: 770.832.3006 or hiscross@bellsouth.net or www.harmonybaptistchurchonline.com   

 

Check out www.shannonbunch.com for a complete listing of 2009 dates. 

 

BUNCH-TV ?

No I haven’t purchased on television station but you will soon be able to see and hear me and sometimes Melissa give news and entertaining updates.  This will be done in the form of a Vlog (video log) or web cast.  This is what I am attempting to do.  It will be very interesting and very unprofessional.  But this will give you a real person (mostly me) with real tones and attitudes.  Let’s just say I can be more expressive!  There are two ways you can watch these webcasts, go to www.shannonbunch.com and click on links for news or YouTube.  Here you will see and hear the latest developing news out of the Bunch household and from the road.  There will also be video of Baby Bunchkin as early as next Tuesday, January 13, 2009.    

 

…AND THERE WAS ROOM IN THE INN.

In early December Melissa and I were making a 4 hour trip to Corbin/Barbourville, KY.  We left on a Thursday evening planning to drive straight through until a combination of snow, ice and freezing rain caught up with us in Somerset, KY approximately 60 miles from destination.  About this time Melissa was becoming very nauseated and discomforted.  (And despite popular opinion this was not a derivative of my driving.) 

I felt it was best to stop before we left the Somerset city limits.  For those who are not familiar with the area, between Somerset and London, KY is a 35 mile stretch of absolutely nothing but hills and hollers.  Very few folk live on the main road and no businesses exist, not even a gas station.  So as we made our way to the Holiday Inn Express Melissa’s sickness ensued.  I pulled up to the door, assisted her out of the Tahoe and followed her to their public restroom.  She was sick.  We then went to the front desk where a very friendly clerk came to the counter as Melissa takes a seat in the hotel foyer.  I looked at the clerk and stated, “Sir, we are from Nashville, TN traveling to Corbin/Barbourville, KY the weather has stopped us and my wife is great with child.”  He smiled.  I asked him if this story sounded familiar.  I assured him we would do our best not to have a stable and manger experience.  He quickly instructed me where the nearest hospital was located and gave us 50% off the regular room rate.  This should have been the point in the story where the angelic choir began to sing, “Glory to God it’s not the highest and on earth good deal toward men!”    

 

SIRIUS XM RADIO HOLLY

During the holidays Sirius/XM radio adds a few extra channels to their regular programming just to accommodate the season’s music.  This year one of those channels was Holly.  To my delight, I recently learned that my current radio single One Lamb, One Cross, One Time had been receiving airplay.  My music can also be heard throughout the rest of the year on Enlighten XM channel 34 and Sirius channel 67.  You can help keep my music playing on satellite radio just by going to www.sogoradio.com, click on request   

 

WALTER LEFT US HIS PRESENT

I’ll keep this one short and simple.  Just before Christmas a thunder storm came through the area.  Walter hates ‘em.  In a frantic moment Walter hikes his leg and pees on the Christmas tree.  That’s it.  Just thought it was news-worthy.

 

SINGING WITH THE SAINTS

On December 12 I along with Pastor Herschel and Miss Doris Walker & Shane Martin hosted the first Singing with the Saints (SWTS) in over 5 years.  Hopewell Baptist Church in Corbin, KY was kind enough to allow us the use of their facility for a great night of gospel music.  SWTS brings together a host of local and regional artists to form a “homecoming” style performance.  Ernie Dawson and Heirline were our featured group this time.  Even with snow, sleet and freezing rain nearly 500 people packed the sanctuary.  With the second half of the show being Christmas music I feel the weather was nearly perfect.  I suppose if the weather had been nice the fire chief would have been there writing citations.  If you would like to have a DVD copy of this night please contact Shane Martin to place your order, brothershane@jesusishope.net or call 606.523.9424.  With many different artists and over 2 hours of music, this is one video you’ll want to get.  Of course, I am on it!  That’s priceless!       

 

CD SALES FALL DURING LAST QUARTER 2008

It was quite a hard hit coming into the last quarter of 2008 as my CD sales fell 50%-60%.  Signs of the economy have once again hit the Bunch with a punch!  However, it’s not just me.  As the trend typically goes, music sales increase even during hard times.  People often turn to music as a source of comfort, whether it is Christian or secular.  My business thoughts were confirmed in a January 1^st newspaper article released by The Tennessean written by Peter Cooper.  The following statements are a small piece of that article. 

Country sales — which include tallies from albums not played on mainstream country radio, such as the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss Raising Sand collaboration — wound up at around 47,650,000. That’s down 24 percent from last year’s total. And last year’s total was the lowest for country in SoundScan’s 19-year history. Only classical music had a bigger dip, at 26 percent.

Sales of Christian and Gospel music, much of which is produced in the Nashville area, were down 12 percent for the year.

Album sales declined 14 percent across every genre, and though growth in overall music purchases is up 10 percent, that increase relies on digital tracks, ringtones and other comparatively small purchases.

Even in digitally downloadable form, the album is something of an endangered species: Digital album sales decreased by 8.6 percent.

“We’re in a moment of transition,” said Scott Borchetta, president of Big Machine Records (yes, Swift’s label). “If we’re smart, there’s still a lot of business out there. But extravagances are gone for the moment.”

To read the entire article click on The Tennessean. 

 

FACEBOOK.COM

About the time I was learning the ins and outs of MySpace a new social networking internet site has taken the country by storm, FACEBOOK.COM.  This site is one of the most interesting methods to reacquaint you with people you haven’t seen or heard from in years.  I know that I am nearing my 20^th high school anniversary and I am finding people and they are finding me every day.  Whether or not you already have a facebook account you may find me by clicking here.  I warn you it is addicting.    

 

More Songs from My Sunday Best on MySpace

Recently a few songs not previously loaded on MySpace are now available.  If you have not purchased the new album maybe listening to some of these songs will persuade you to buy now! 

 

TRUE STORY

One of my precious partners, Anita has a grandson, Dakota who is 9 years old.  Grandma was driving (of course) with grandson buckled in for the ride.  Both are avid Shannon Bunch fans and listen to my music often while in the car.  One recent evening caught them listening to my new album and more specifically track # 3, At the Cross.  This is the old hymn that many of us know.  When it got to the chorus it sings, “…it was there by faith I received my sight…”  Dakota turns at this point and asked his grandma, “Does Shannon know I have a girlfriend and what here name is?”  Anita replies, “I think I told Shannon.  Why do you ask?”  Dakota said, “Shannon just sung about my girlfriend, Faith.  He just said, ‘it was there by faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day.’ 

This is one true story I’ll never forget.  I thought it would make you smile.