Why I am Here

In 2004, the day following my divorce from my first wife, I discovered that my great-grandparents had fled Germany to avoid persecution. Since that day, I have began to study Jewish Holidays, the culture, and as much as I can about the religon. I have quit eating pork, began to celebrate Hanukkah, and the various reasons why our Jewish people do the things we do. Since that fateful day, I have remarried to a very supportive wife who has assisted me in the "re-discovery" of myself. Sheri (my wife) has gone out of her way in so many occasions to ensure that I get as much infomation as I can about my heritage. We have even chosen the apporiate first names for our unborn child, Zemira for a girl, and Micah for a boy. We have also decided to ensure that we celebrate both Chirstian and Jewish Holidays to give the child a chance that I never got; to know why he/she is here. So, every year since we have been together, we celebrate both her Christian and my Jewish Holidays so when the time comes, we will be able to fully explain both holidays to our children. I have also learned that there is a huge number of Jewish people just like me who are married to Chritian Spouses. To make matters even more interesting, I am also in the Marine Corps. This keeps me very busy with a very shifting work schedule (where I do not work the same days every week)

Here is my question to you:

Is it wrong for me to say that I am Jewish simply because my heritage says I am one, or am I not allowed to call myself one because I was never raised in that fasion, nor did I go through the proper "procedures" to become Jewish?

Have a good day, and Mazal Tov!!